Tell me something good
CCW:
Sorry if I offended you. I truly am.
I only started asking questions when I saw the previews of the Hackett ad that makes it look like both the president endorses Hackett and Hackett led troops in Iraq. The "follow my marines" part struck me as an odd turn of phrase, one I had never heard before.
The military is structured so that there are combat leaders and support staff. I was a JAGC officers and always staff. I commanded no combat units, although my roles at times related to operations. We are just as much a target as anyone else though and every job can be equally dangerous in the Middle East.
Not all officers in the service are "combat arms" but in the Marine Corps everyone is a riflemen first including the officers. So Major Hackett is trained as an infantry officer.
I think Hackett's implied combat role is what got me thinking and asking, especially since he never comes right out to say what he did.
This is not to say that being in harm's way in any role is not worthy of praise. I have said repeatedly and believe that there is no unimportant job in the war.
So why be coy about your role? Why imply in some peculiar language that you had a combat role? I have been around marines for over 30 years, I just never heard one use those phrases to describe what they do or why.
I am not comparing Hackett to myself or anyone else. I am not cutting down any duty in the service. I am making comments and asking questions related to his advertisement and how he words things.
I certainly hope your relatives, my stepsons and every other sailor, marine, airman and soldier gets home safe.
By the way my wife and I are part of a group called Support 4 Troops, which collects supplies of personal items and snacks etc to be shipped to specific service persons or small units. Anyone interested in helping can email me at eminamyer@cinci.rr.ocm.
Again sorry CCW. No offense intended, but I can understand how it can be taken that way. My point was to question the ad not the service itself.
Mr. Minamyer's actions inspired to fire off two e-mails urging friends in Cincinnati to vote for Mr. Hackett and to give an additional $50 to the Hackett campaign. This kind of swift-boating on a small scale seems to me to be way beyond the pale of decent political discourse.
klw1963, thanks for your support of the Hackett campaign!
When Hackett says; "that is why I was fighting with my marines in Iraq" that is claiming he had a combat command. That is what a marine would mean by saying that, at least every marine I know. The issue is whether Hackett is being truthful in his ad. I have written him to get a clarification on his exact role.
I was just getting read to answer your 1st comment, but I will start with the shorter one first.
I read at Ohio 2nd that you had e-mailed the campaign with questions. I do hope that you get answers. I know that you will share them with us.
Thank you for your apology. As I stated, the point of your post was to be critical of Hackett and not all service members, but it can be read that way.
As for the "follow my marines" line, I am unsure what you don't understand about that? I took it as, he's a marine, the marines are in Iraq, so he volunteered to go be with the corp in Iraq. To me it is no different than when a person says "follow my God" or "my country". Then again, I have heard service people use the term "follow my Air Force" when speaking of the first Gulf War.
I guess my biggest complaint with your posts is that it so picky about what Hackett's specific duties were in Iraq. I just don't see how it is relevant to the debate. If he were claiming to have saved a city or carried 40 injured people on his back, I could understand wanting verification, but he is not making outlandish claims. Every single service member in Iraq is in harm's way. You know this. I am sure your family was not comforted by the fact that you were in a non-combat role in the first Gulf War. You were there, therefore you were in danger.
This story was in the Post today. His tank overturned in a water-filled ravine and he drowned. Look at his sister's face - Do you think she cares what he did minute by minute?
CCW
Thanks. I do understand your point. If you do not see the issue as one of whether his ad is accurate I respect that. I too hope Hackett answers my email and I will post it.
I know from personal experience that the cause of a death is not relevant to the family. We lost sailors who drowned in an oil tanker they had boarded to try to keep afloat, but which sank rapidly and took them to the bottom. We had aircrew crash. I myself nearly had to ditch in high seas and had what I'll call a hard landing on the deck.
My wife can tell you how she felt when the priest called her from Diego Garcia when I got so sick and my heart had stopped. She was not allowed to come to see me there and I could not be evacuated. I'm sure that was hard for her.
I was an IG and still I felt in danger most of the time. Major Hackett probably felt the same way.
Seeing things the way I do, I would hate to see someone think they have to puff about service over there. I ask the questions to find out if he did.
Anyway, I think this may be another one of those things we disagree about. I still enjoy reading and contributing to your blog. I agree with much of what you say and gain something from the rest.
Chao.
Yes, I do think this another thing we will disagree on.
I have watched the ad over and over and I just don't see where he is making any claim that sounds misleading. The only thing I noticed is that Democrat is not anywhere in the ad. I did think that was odd, but I didn't notice it the first time watching the ad.
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