OT: U.S. Marines show patience and resolve

[Dutch]

Quotes from the men who are sitting on the outskirts of Fallujah, ready to respond to last weeks horror's. A vast majority of the Iraqi's have no interest in what happens in Fallujah, but I know a vast majority of American's do. So hopefully the Marines will do the right thing. I think they will.

hxxp://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=2026&ncid=2026&e=1&u=/latimests/20040403/ts_latimes/troopswaiteagerlytoreenterfallouja

"I've got a lot of hate inside me, but I try to put that aside," said Sgt. Eric Nordwig, 29, of Riverside, a veteran of the battle that toppled Saddam Hussein (news - web sites). "We just sit and take it and be mortared."

The time has come to "clean up the town," he said.

"Fallouja is a barrier on the highway to progress. We're going to eliminate that barrier without damaging the highway," he said.

"The circumstances on the ground have changed…. Our operation as a result will change," he said.

"Obviously, we have very competent people who have, since the beginning of the war against terrorism, had the ability and know-how to put together a blueprint to, No. 1, identify the perpetrators of the terrorist actions and, No. 2, to hunt them down and eliminate them," Hunter said.

"It's hard" to be patient, said Lance Cpl. Michael Shaffer, 22, of Owensboro, Ky. "Unfortunately, I know it's more a mental fight than a physical fight. If we go in and tear up the place, the Iraqi people will resent that and we'll just have more trouble."

"We're going to have to do something and do it quick," said Lance Cpl. John Randall, 21, of Grove, Okla., a veteran of last year's invasion. "We're just sitting around taking mortars at night."

Navy combat medic Thomas Cupo, 30, of Margate, Fla., said the challenge was to keep the horrific images of the burning SUVs and mutilated bodies from governing his attitude toward the Iraqis.

"You can't let it get inside your head," Cupo said.

[Axxon]

Originally Posted by Dutch

"Fallouja is a barrier on the highway to progress. We're going to eliminate that barrier without damaging the highway," he said.

I like this quote and very much and agree with it. I have always been against our entering Iraq but we have. Rather than dwell on the past, I'd rather focus on the future. It seems that the men are seeing it the same way in regards to the future anyway. I like it very much.

I wish you the very best in your mission Sgt. Eric Nordwig. Keep safe and keep up the good but thankless work.

On the other hand, I don't know if this is possible given the complexity of it all.

Still, it's nice to know that the men in the field see it as a worthwhile goal to follow.