August 23, 2004
JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU CAN ABANDON THE TIMES (From Oxblog)
Over Najaf, Fighting for Des Moines (Glen G. Butler, NY Times, 8/23/04)
Najaf, Iraq — I'm an average American who grew up watching "Brady Bunch" reruns, playing dodge ball and listening to Van Halen. I love the Longhorns and the Eagles. I'm you; your neighbor; the kid you used to go sledding with but who took a different career path in college. Now, I'm a Marine helicopter pilot who has spent the last two weeks heavily engaged with enemy forces here. I'm writing this between missions, without much time or care to polish, so please look to the heart of these thoughts and not their structure.Major Butler's article is impossible to summarize or condense. If you have the time to spare and find reporting from the ground in Iraq interesting, or have a desire to become informed prior to the upcoming presidential election, you might wish to consider the possibility of reading this article in its entirety, if that's not to much of an imposition. Posted by David Cohen at August 23, 2004 11:24 AM
Comments
"Go read it."?
Posted by: oj at August 23, 2004 12:28 PMPowerful letter!!! I wish that could be read at the Republican convention. What an impact, plus it would bring everyone back to earth.
Posted by: Jana at August 23, 2004 12:48 PMBeautiful. There is the man to take on Moore.
Posted by: Peter B at August 23, 2004 1:10 PMThis was published in the Times? Was there a red heifer born that nobody told me about?
Posted by: Gideon at August 23, 2004 2:20 PMA great piece, and quite an interesting contrast to the Schanberg book noted in the post just above this one. They could be read as Point/Counterpoint; guess who wins?
Marines like Mr. Butler make me proud to share a country, and a brithright, with him.
Posted by: Jeff Brokaw at August 23, 2004 5:32 PM