Iraqi Cadet Enters Class of 2010

Colleges and Universities A-Z Military Academy - West Point
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<p><a href="http://www.usma.edu/publicaffairs/directorscorner/NYP_23june06.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.usma.edu/publicaffairs/directorscorner/NYP_23june06.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>W. Pointer from Iraq loves Apple to the Corps</p>

<p>By Daniel Friedman
New York Post</p>

<p>June 23, 2006 </p>

<p>The first-ever Iraqi accepted as a cadet at West Point discovered America is a friendly place - and found New York to be "like a piece of paradise." </p>

<p>Jameel - his first name is being withheld - spent his first full day in America yesterday as he prepared to start a six-week basic-training course along with 1,320 incoming cadets next week. </p>

<p>He's one of 15 foreign students admitted this year to what Jameel calls "the best military academy in the world." </p>

<p>He learned English at a Baghdad school founded by Jesuits and by watching movies. His favorite was "Patton." </p>

<p>After graduation, he'll serve in the Iraqi military. </p>

<p>West Point is keeping him under a low profile, with no photos allowed. But Jameel, 19, is hardly worried about his safety. </p>

<p>"You are at risk every time you walk down the street," he said of his homeland. It is better to die holding a rifle than as a civilian." </p>

<p>Jameel arrived in New York Wednesday after an exhausting, 20-hour flight. </p>

<p>The only possessions he brought are a picture of his family and a copy of the Koran. </p>

<p>He quickly got acclimated to West Point, even to the fanaticism of Army football. </p>

<p>"I can sense here the 'Beat Navy' thing is a big deal," he said. </p>

<p>He said he found America "very friendly," and has already learned how to give a U.S.-style handshake, maintaining eye contact and with a firm grip. </p>

<p>Aside from getting a military education, his goal in America is to meet President Bush "and tell him that my mother thinks he is a prophet, because he took the devil out." </p>

<p>It took a year to get this far, including physical exercises and training with U.S. forces in Iraq. </p>

<p>Jameel realizes that when he graduates in 2010, he may face fighting in his homeland. </p>

<p>Asked how he feels about fighting Iraqis, he said, "You can't call Saddamians and Ba'athists Iraqis. They've been killing Iraqis for 30 years." </p>

<p>He said he wants to become an officer, help rebuild the Iraqi army and eventually go into politics. </p>

<p>And run for president? </p>

<p>"Of course."</p>

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<p>yeah well this makes sense.</p>

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<p>not like withholding his first name is going to keep him protected at a school that refers to everyone by last name</p>

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<p>Good for him!</p>

<p>Iam sure withholding his last name is more for family members back home than anything else. I wish him the best of luck!!</p>

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<p>Maybe John Murtha should come up and visit him.</p>

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<p>Murtha was a DI at Parris Island at one time in his military career. I imagine he would fit right in at "Beast."</p>

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<p>Absolutely, he does a great job of crucifying Marines and sailors in the press before criminal investigations are concluded, or trial. A man with no honor, a great influence for cadets.</p>

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<p>Yomtvraps,
take some time and look at his record of service to our country. You may not like his political views, but to call him "a man with no honor" is just an ignorant statement.</p>

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<p>His prior service does not change what he is doing right now.</p>

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<p>Here is a quote from Congressman Murtha's official bio:</p>

<p>"... he has been a trusted adviser to presidents of both parties on military and defense issues and is one of the most effective advocates for the national defense in the country. He is ranking member and former chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, a Vietnam combat veteran and a retired Marine Corps
colonel with 37 years of service, a rare combination of experience that enables him to understand defense and military operations from every perspective."</p>

<p>Based on my understanding of the hierarchy of congressional subcommittees, the chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee controls one of the largest budgets, and holds one of the most influential positions next to Judiciary in the
House. I don't think they appoint slackers or imposters to such positions. </p>

<p>A wise person once said that the best way to get yourself out of a hole is to stop digging.</p>

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<p>Purple Heartbreakers </p>

<p>By JAMES WEBB
Published: January 18, 2006 The New York Times </p>

<p>Arlington, Va. </p>

<p>IT should come as no surprise that an arch-conservative Web site is questioning whether Representative John Murtha, the Pennsylvania Democrat who has been critical of the war in Iraq, deserved the combat awards he received in Vietnam. </p>

<p>After all, in recent years extremist Republican operatives have inverted a longstanding principle: that our combat veterans be accorded a place of honor in political circles. This trend began with the ugly insinuations leveled at Senator John McCain during the 2000 Republican primaries and continued with the slurs against Senators Max Cleland and John Kerry, and now Mr. Murtha. </p>

<p>Military people past and present have good reason to wonder if the current administration truly values their service beyond its immediate effect on its battlefield of choice. The casting of suspicion and doubt about the actions of veterans who have run against President Bush or opposed his policies has been a constant theme of his career. This pattern of denigrating the service of those with whom they disagree risks cheapening the public's appreciation of what it means to serve, and in the long term may hurt the Republicans themselves. </p>

<p>Not unlike the Clinton "triangulation" strategy, the approach has been to attack an opponent's greatest perceived strength in order to diminish his overall credibility. To no one's surprise, surrogates carry out the attacks, leaving President Bush and other Republican leaders to benefit from the results while publicly distancing themselves from the actual remarks. </p>

<p>During the 2000 primary season, John McCain's life-defining experiences as a prisoner of war in Vietnam were diminished through whispers that he was too scarred by those years to handle the emotional burdens of the presidency. The wide admiration that Senator Max Cleland gained from building a career despite losing three limbs in Vietnam brought on the smug non sequitur from critics that he had been injured in an accident and not by enemy fire. John Kerry's voluntary combat duty was systematically diminished by the well-financed Swift Boat Veterans for Truth in a highly successful effort to insulate a president who avoided having to go to war. </p>

<p>And now comes Jack Murtha. The administration tried a number of times to derail the congressman's criticism of the Iraq war, including a largely ineffective effort to get senior military officials to publicly rebuke him (Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, was the only one to do the administration's bidding there). </p>

<p>Now the Cybercast News Service, a supposedly independent organization with deep ties to the Republican Party, has dusted off the Swift Boat Veterans playbook, questioning whether Mr. Murtha deserved his two Purple Hearts. The article also implied that Mr. Murtha did not deserve the Bronze Star he received, and that the combat-distinguishing "V" on it was questionable. It then called on Mr. Murtha to open up his military records. </p>

<p>Cybercast News Service is run by David Thibault, who formerly worked as the senior producer for "Rising Tide," the televised weekly news magazine produced by the Republican National Committee. One of the authors of the Murtha article was Marc Morano, a long-time writer and producer for Rush Limbaugh. </p>

<p>The accusations against Mr. Murtha were very old news, principally coming from defeated political rivals. Aligned against their charges are an official letter from Marine Corps Headquarters written nearly 40 years ago affirming Mr. Murtha's eligibility for his Purple Hearts - "you are entitled to the Purple Heart and a Gold Star in lieu of a second Purple Heart for wounds received in action" - and the strict tradition of the Marine Corps regarding awards. While in other services lower-level commanders have frequently had authority to issue prestigious awards, in the Marines Mr. Murtha's Vietnam Bronze Star would have required the approval of four different awards boards. </p>

<p>The Bush administration's failure to support those who have served goes beyond the smearing of these political opponents. One of the most regrettable examples comes, oddly enough, from modern-day Vietnam. The government-run War Remnants Museum, a popular tourist site in downtown Ho Chi Minh City, includes an extensive section on "American atrocities." The largest display is devoted to Bob Kerrey, a former United States senator and governor of Nebraska, recipient of the Medal of Honor and member of the 9/11 commission. </p>

<p>In the display, Mr. Kerrey is flatly labeled a war criminal by the Vietnamese government, and the accompanying text gives a thoroughly propagandized version of an incident that resulted in civilian deaths during his time in Vietnam. This display has been up for more than two years. One finds it hard to imagine another example in which a foreign government has been allowed to so characterize the service of a distinguished American with no hint of a diplomatic protest. </p>

<p>The political tactic of playing up the soldiers on the battlefield while tearing down the reputations of veterans who oppose them could eventually cost the Republicans dearly. It may be one reason that a preponderance of the Iraq war veterans who thus far have decided to run for office are doing so as Democrats. </p>

<p>A young American now serving in Iraq might rightly wonder whether his or her service will be deliberately misconstrued 20 years from now, in the next rendition of politically motivated spinmeisters who never had the courage to step forward and put their own lives on the line. </p>

<p>Rudyard Kipling summed up this syndrome quite neatly more than a century ago, writing about the frequent hypocrisy directed at the British soldiers of his day: </p>

<p>An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please; </p>

<p>An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool - you bet that Tommy sees! </p>

<p>James Webb, a secretary of the Navy in the Reagan administration, was a Marine platoon and company commander in Vietnam.</p>

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<p>James Webb was also a USNA grad.</p>

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<p>Murtha is a subject that just makes my blood boil. I'll make a quick response here, and I'm stop talking about the subject. If someone else wants the last word, they can have it.</p>

<p>First of all, noone ever questioned his service record on this thread. He is a Vietnam veteran, and we should all be thankful for his service, as I am.</p>

<p>That said, his service as a Marine Colonel does not mean that his word is not disputable on military affairs. He is a politician, and has been for over 30 years now. There are quite a few things about Murtha that I disagree with, especially:</p>

<p>His belief that the U.S. needs to leave Iraq, like we "did in Somalia". OBL himself said that he believed that the 9/11 attack would be successful because the U.S. will not enter a war where we would take casaulties. He specifically mentioned how quickly we left Somalia, and how that shaped his strategy. Murtha was one of the big advocates of that decision, and uses it as an example of what we should do in Iraq. If you follow recent events, Somalia is quickly becoming a place we may have to revisit... That's his opinion, and he's entitled to it. I disagree with it.</p>

<p>Now what makes me furious about the guy, is when he came out and condemned the Marines and sailor involved in the Haditha massacre incident. Those guys hadn't been formally charged, the criminal investigation wasn't completed, and the sure as heck haven't had their day in court... and they have a much different story than what Murtha put out as fact. It's a shame that a former Marine Colonel doesn't give Marines the benefit of doubt, and publically slander/libels them for political gain. The incident still hasn't been resolved, and if those guys are found not guilty, one could only hope for an apology from Murtha. I somehow doubt that would come. To me, his handling of this is definitely without a shred of honor.</p>

<p>I also find Murtha's involvement and handling of the Abscam scandal to be telling of his character. If you can find a relatively unbiased source, Abscam is an interesting read. I doubt you could find one at this point, but the quote along the lines of "I'm not interested... at this time," on tape.. I don't see how you could come out of that in a positive light.</p>

<p>As for the editorial usna09mom posted: There are dirty tactics used by both parties. The extreme left and right represent the least people in America, but they both shout the loudest. Maybe my emotions are getting the best of me, but if we were in a declared state of war, I wouldn't mind seeing Murtha charged with sedition. I don't totally discount his ideas for how to deal with Iraq, but he way he supports his ideas... I have a definite problem with.</p>

<p>That's all I have to say about that... take it as you will.</p>

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<p>You are WELCOME to disagree with him, thats not in question. Where you cross the line is saying "he has no honor" which is an absurd statement, given his service to the nation, both past and present. "Honor" isn't some abstract concept to be kicked about based on political ties or beliefs. Murtha is an elected representative of the people in his district who, like his republican counterparts is performing his responsibilities by speaking out as he believes. His honor is not in question, and to charge him with sedition for what he says in the public forum is both un-American and dangerous. I would say the same thing for any of his conservative counter-parts.</p>

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<p>AP Associated Press
June 21, 2006
"WASHINGTON - Seven Marines and a sailor have been charged with murder in the April death of an Iraqi civilian, the Marine Corps said Wednesday.
All eight also were charged with kidnapping, according to a Marine statement issued at Camp Pendleton, Calif. Other charges include conspiracy, larceny and providing false official statements."</p>

<p>yomtvraps,
All I heard Congressman Murtha say before the Marines/sailor were officially charged was something to the effect that it looks really bad. Are you privy to any of the information that is available to a ranking member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee who also advises Congress on military matters? Do you get your news from mtv?<br>
Come back after you've spent nearly 40 years in the military and public service and share your wisdom with anyone who's willing to listen.</p>

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<p>"American presence in Iraq is more dangerous to world peace than nuclear threats from North Korea or Iran, Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., said to an audience of more than 200 in North Miami Saturday afternoon." This is a real inspiration to our troops Iraq.</p>

<p>Benedict Arnold did a great service to this country when he captured Fort Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain. But that doesn't make Arnold a great American. Same goes for Murtha.</p>

<p>You Californians worry about getting the French Flag as the new state banner and us Pennsylvanians worry about getting rid of Murtha as a state congressman.</p>

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<p>"Benedict Arnold did a great service to this country when he captured Fort Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain. But that doesn't make Arnold a great American. Same goes for Murtha."</p>

<p>No logic to that argument. Murtha wasn't and isn't a traitor. His service record both in and out of the military bears that out. Political rhetoric bashing the French or decorated veterans in our own armed forces seldom holds up to the facts. </p>

<p>Here in California it seems its not the French flag we are going to be raising, thanks to the current administrations lack of will on illegal immigration it most likely will be the Mexican Flag, and it won't be just California.</p>

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<p>just because someone disagrees with current foreign policy doesn't mean they have no honor</p>

<p>murtha may be completely and utterly deluded about iraq, but he has good intentions and bases his beliefs on reasoning. we may not agree, but i'm tired of hearing that people who disagree with a war are somehow devoid of honor because of this. he isn't out to get america for god's sake. the man is earnest. his people elected him, and they will elect someone else if they feel like it. until then, vote for people you support and stop calling good men dishonorable just because you disagree with them</p>

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<p>I won't be involved in the other part of the conversation. But, might I remind you on this point that lack of action is due to the House and Senate being incapable of deciding on a plan together. It is in their hands to change this, not the administration.</p>

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<p>Point taken, hornetguy. Plenty of blame to go around and it goes back a lot of years. It's just discouraging that the one person in the position to really lead on this matter is not, and instead is more concerned with gay marriage and flag burning ammendments. Throw em all out.:)</p>