Press release on Hadji Girl

Posted By Uncle Jimbo

I spoke to the PAO at MCAS Cherry Point where CPL Bellile is stationed and got the following press release from them:

*** Press Release ***

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. (June 14, 2006) – The 2^nd Marine Aircraft Wing is conducting a preliminary inquiry into a video that was recently posted on the Internet showing a Marine singing an insensitive song about Iraqi citizens.

The video, which was posted anonymously, is clearly inappropriate and contrary to the high standards expected of all Marines.  The video is not reflective of the tremendous sacrifices and dedication demonstrated, on a daily basis, by tens of thousands of Marines who have assisted the Iraqi people in gaining their freedom.  We agree with the executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations that the inappropriate actions of a few individuals should not tarnish the reputation of all American military personnel.

I asked the PAO  Mike Barton a few questions:

Had he seen the video? Yes

Did he think it was funny? Can't comment, and he didn't chuckle or anything, guy's a real pro.

What part of the video did he consider clearly inappropriate? Can't comment

What type of inquiry is being conducted and what sections of the UCMJ are in play? This is a quick and informal inquiry, an investigative tool that will determine if there were any violations. Just a fact-finding mission

I would like to believe that this inquiry would conclude that he did nothing wrong and USMC HQ was shameful for kow towing to CAIR, but they have showed zero spine thus far.......so. I'm back corresponding again. This time to:

Robert E. Milstead, Jr.
Brigadier General, U.S. Marine Corps
Commanding General, 2D MAW

robert.milstead@usmc.mil

I believe he is the top dawg in CPL Bellile's chain of command and the decider on whether they will throw his scalp to the mob.

Dear Gen. Milstead,

   

There is currently a preliminary inquiry underway regarding CPL Joshua Bellile and his performance of the song Hadji Girl while in Iraq. As a former military man and as an American I ask you to think long and hard before taking disciplinary action against him. It would be a travesty for someone who risked his life for the freedoms of others to have something as precious as his own free speech revoked, let alone for the US Marine Corps he serves faithfully to be the one doing it.

   

Your press release stated that the video was clearly inappropriate. What exactly did the USMC find that was clearly inappropriate? I watched the video and laughed out loud. I understand the difficulty that something such as this can cause in relations with the Iraqis, but in taking the complaints from CAIR to heart you have actually made things worse. You validated the lies they have told about the song and have given ammunition to anti-American media and messengers worldwide.

   

Read the lyrics sir, and tell me this is clearly inappropriate. This is not the first correspondence I have sent on this matter and I will continue to write and publish until you stand by your Marine. Semper Fi Do or Die right General? Well you need to show your man some good faith.

   

Cordially,

    

Jim Hanson

madison.com post & Blackfive

I encourage anyone else to do the same and always maintain the high ground when writing, we are the good guys. Allah at Hot Air says it's helping.

I just got off the phone with [a source in the Pentagon]. The Cpl. reported to me that they were all VERY appreciative of the support and that this was a “Brass” decision… He said they were already getting calls and that it was helping, but they needed to get a lot more to make a difference. It really is helping the Marines to know that they are not alone and that not everyone hates them… He said these calls were making everyone’s day.

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First, from Hot Air, an email encouraging supporters of Hadji Girl songster Cpl Belile to resist the PC sensibilities that have turned an ironic, fictional narrative set to music into the newest incarnation of the Danish Mohammed cartoon... [Read More]

Comments

[Abu Sinan]

Hum, you get mad at Murtha for making comments on an on-going investigation, but here you are asking question from Marine representatives about an on-going investigation? Notice the dichotomy there?

Is it okay to get details on on-going investigations or not? According to your comments about the Murtha situation it is entirely inappropriate for someone in the government to make statements about an on-going investigation.

How, exactly, is this different? Different rules depending on the situation? It is okay for officials to give details about a case with an on-going investigation when it suits your needs?

I say the officials should stay tight lipped until they are ready to issue the results of all investigations. IN ALL CASES.

This is called consistency. I support it for our Marines in Iraq, I support it for this gentleman here.

Writing an e-mail to give your opinion is one thing, asking for details is something different. In essence, you are asking these guys to do what Murtha did, and give details about an on-going investigation.

Asking a professional public relations person whether or not they found something funny was a childish question. It is not his business to give his own point of view.

I suggest they all keep their silence, and I suggest we do not pick and choose who we hold to this standard.

[SGT 98C]

There's a bit of a difference between asking a Public Affairs Officer for details concerning an investigation, and stating that you KNOW the guilt of Marines before the investigation is even concluded.

Uncle Jimbo asked for details, Murtha declared the guilt of the Marines as fact. No dichotomy, no hypocracy. I suggest you try finding something else to criticize Jimbo on, cause that dog just don't hunt.

[Michele San Pietro]

That video is just another squalid frame-up against the United States.

[CannonCocker]

Settle down Abu. Murtha went out of his way to accuse Marines of Murder. Uncle Jimbo is asking officials of the USMC to comment on a story already in the press. Big difference.
A preliminary inquiry is far from an investigation. Before you can have an investigation you need to establish that a violation of the UCMJ has occurred. I don't see one in the Haji girl case. Unless they try and trump up some article 134 mumbo jumbo about prejudice to good order and dicipline. The kid showed poor taste. Thats not a violation of the UCMJ.
Link: http://www.gordon.army.mil/osja/punitive.htm

[The Fastest Squirrel]

Abu Sinan you are clearly not bright enough to see the distinction. I'm sad for you.

[Maksim-Smelchak]

Hi Everyone,

I'm not zure about some aspects of this case such as data inquiries into ongoing investigations, but in my inexpert analysis, I see an important distinction between Mr. Murtha and the ongoing inquiry:

Innocent until found guilty.

It seems to me that the gentleman who amde the inquiries about the Hadji Girl video made them in the spirit of considering the cpl. innocent pending judgment.

While...

Mr. Murtha most definitely passed a guilty judgment on the alleged misactions of the Marines at Haditha long before an investigation ahd occured.

Spirit of the law vs. letter of the law, maybe?

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

[Laughing Wolf]

Now now, Abu is demonstrating just what Heinlein described of lawyers in swallowing camels and straining at gnats. If it can be twisted to show Christianity, Judiasm, etc. in a bad light, it tends to be so in his world. If it can be twisted to make Islam and those who follow it a victim, it tends to be so in his world. He does make some points, he does. That said, if there were not one like him I imagine that a psyop would have to be created. So, study what you can of him. Such study is very worthwhile.

Glad you got the Hot Air quote UJ, was going to post it if you handn't. Let's pour it on.

[tim]

Ditto that Fastest Squirrel.

Debating Abu sometimes is like picking on the “slow” kid. Its fun for awhile but then it just becomes mean spirited.

[Pablo]

The important distinction is that they're having trouble trying to figure out what, if anything, to charge CPL Bellile with.

That's because he hasn't done anything wrong.

[CannonCocker]

Pablo,
Exactly. unless he violated some kind of order to "not sing songs about the indigenous population' or something, no violation of the UCMJ has occurred. If everyone left this alone he would get a non punitive letter of caution or something and that would be that. BTW that would not affect his service record in any way.

[SPC Torgersen]

I still say we in uniform shoot ourselves in the foot when we do this kind of thing. At least on camera! The terrorists are beating us in the info and public image wars, and we act like it's not fair. No, it's not. But what can we do about it? We can start drilling into our uniform servicemembers that they need to be VERY CAUTIOUS about what they allow themselves to be recorded doing, or saying, in any format. The enemy and the media (same thing, really) will rip the sh*t out of its proper context and them smear us all with it like a handfull of ox dung, nice and smelly. We all know "Hadji Girl" is harmless fun. That's not the point. The point is that we're giving the enemy priceless footage, free of chargem which they will use against us to maximum effect.

It's the information war, people. We need to start fighting it smarter.

[SPC Torgersen]

Having said all this, I hope CPL Bellile comes out on top. No sense punishing a young Marine for having fun, even if it was boneheaded to record it for the masses.

[kat-missouri]

This story is all about the things the military is afraid of when it comes to internet access and the new media.

Don't get me wrong, I thought it was a funny little song and am aware that soldiers, through out time immemorial (yeah, I'm talking about Romans and Greeks and Mongols and even Joshua at the battle of Jericho, I mean, they did play trumpets and sang to bring down the walls), have made up songs about the opposition, their trials and tribulations on the field, personal struggles, funny little ditties, irreverence about commanders, politics, etc, etc, etc.

It's a natural release of frustration and boredom.

However, I think the only real mistake these guys made is video taping it and putting it on the internet. Not that, back in the civil war days the songs they sang didn't leak out into the public domain and become popular (they did), but we are talking about a war today that is an information war where every step is about maintaining some mythical, magical marshmallow approach to fighting war, how we treat other people, etc, etc, etc.

I'm always surprised when I hear things like it doesn't represent our values. Heh. You can tell no one has listened to the latest and most popular songs on the radio that routinely have some angst ridden insult for one group or the other.

I don't think this guy gets any punishment. I just think that soldiers in the field who have access to the world wide web might be a little more circumspect on what they put on it since it can bite them in the career (not to mention make the info war a little more difficult since we are held up to incredible standards while the jihadis put out propaganda videos of killing people with chanting mujihadeen ululating lyrics glorifying it; now we are supposed to pretend war isn't about death. just heh)

Now, the real pain I think is going to come from the Pentagon who will, in typical fashion as noted, knee jerk over react and try to put some other limitation in place in order to stop something that is a genie way out of the bottle. What they need to do now is figure out how to make the genie work for them and they still haven't.

[Michael in MI]

Hmmm, Abu must be pissed off that AllahPundit outed his friends over at Islam Online for their hatred of and "insensitivity of infidels: http://hotair.com/archives/the-blog/2006/06/15/hadji-girl-update-islam-online-makes-hay/

Hmm, so when will CAIR be putting out a press release condemning the hatred and insensitivity of Islam Online? I'm betting NEVER, since CAIR supports these a-holes.

[Michael in MI]

What SHOULD have happened is that the USMC should have told the terrorists at CAIR to go F*** themselves and then got back to prosecuting the war effort. This is absolutely a disgrace that we are allowing Islamist terrorist sympathizers to direct our Marines in conduct. If the Marines capitulate on this, I will be the first one to turn on the USMC and start the calls to get our asses out of Iraq. This is an absolute disgrace that we have turned this PC. The investigation should be into CAIR and determining whether or not they should be shut down, arrested and then deported.

[Dave]

This is clearly an Article 134 of the UCMJ case. I don't see anything else other than claiming what Cpl. Bellile did undermines "good order and discipline." Of course, what he did two months ago didn't undermine good order and discipline. It's CAIR's and the media's reaction today, if anything, that could be undermining good order and discipline. I don't see how the Marines can blame Cpl. Bellile for anti-American and anti-military bigotry in the press and non-profits.

[crazy]

CAIR may be going crazy about the story, but since the military banned 4 letter words in basic training is it possible the Corps is upset at the use of the "F" word???

[Draftee]

What a crock!!! We've earned the right to call the sandmonkeys anything we please.
For a Marine who has been there to get into UCMJ problems is something for the USMC brass to be ashamed. Maybe Murtha, ACLU, and Rambo Kerry will come to his aide?

[Mike O]

Hey, Guys; I've got 23 PAGES of my Dad's limericks from the Korean War and I can GUARANTEE you a fair number of them are offensive and culturally insensitive. Maybe the Navy would want to dig my Old Man out of the ground and put him in front of a court marshal as well.

Considering the rap song that was praised, this stuff was fluff.

[SFC D]

Funny? Hell yeah. Offensive? Possibly, but insignificant when compared to an internet beheading. Illegal? Article 134 can make almost anything illegal if you stretch it enough. Seems that the worst thing that CPL Bellile is guilty of is bad judgement and maybe poor taste. A 15 minute time-out oughta fix that.

And Mike, if the Navy decides to dig up your Old Man, the USAF is gonna have dig mine up too!

[Some Soldier's Mom]

From an email sent to USMC Community Relations (comrel@hqmc.usmc.mil):

Durka Durka Mohammed Jihad. I have watched this video a number of times and, in the context of... the durka durka phrase, I presume the members of CAIR have not seen "Team America: World Police".

We are 100% behind Cpl. Belile and believe that he -- and the rest of America -- retain the right to sing, read, write and speak without the "sensitivity training" required by CAIR -- a political action committee supported with foreign dollars to promote the tenants of (Islamic) religion here in America. CAIR and the people at Islam Online have an agenda to promote Islam at the expense of any "infidel" institution -- including the US military. They have it all wrong and the USMC should not buy into this "we're so offended" ploy any more than the USMC would to any other special interest group charade. In any event, the song in no way insults or disparages Islam -- only terrorists (and we don't hear CAIR complaining about them).

It's a song. Tell the "brass"... to GET REAL. Tell CAIR to get f... oh, you get my drift.

note: talk about tempests and teacups (tempest provided courtesy of CAIR)]

[oseaghdaha]

Ok, these guys get shot at and dodge IEDs for a living. The song was sung at an FOB in a war zone.
WTF?
I emailed the Commandant and explained my dissapointment at this as well as the presumed guilty attitude towards the "Pendelton Seven", as well as the Haditha frame up.
Some report their emails were bounced, but so far it's stuck. I tried calling the PIO desk and their voice mail box "is full".
Fax, yeah that's the ticket, I wonder if it's out of paper yet.
Info via Allah at hot air.

Commandant of the Marine Corps
Phone: (703) 614-1034
Fax: (703) 614-2358
comrel@hqmc.usmc.mil

Give em an earful, respectfully of course.

Mad Marine Dad.

[SeaBeeMCPORET]

If those that want to protest this travisty of USMC justice don't have the SGTMAJ of the Marine's email addy, here it is:

estradajl@hqmc.usmc.mil

If he is doing his job, he is already in the face of the Commandant, the Commander of MAW2 and any other PC poisoned asshat that wants to drag CPL Bellile through the mud. I'm really disgusted with the Marine Corps now. It's not the Corps I dealt with during the 27 years I was on active duty.

For SGTMAJ Estrada....your first priority is protecting you troops. I trust you are doing that....if not....shame on you.

And Some Soldier's Mom is spot on....CAIR can eat shit and bark at the moon...just before taking a hellfire up the ass.

[Nolan School]

A Marine for life. That’s me, I’m a pain in the ass about it. Got the metallic sticker, got lapel pins, and now…I’ve got some problems with the Marine leadership in and around the Beltway and Pentagon area. Serious Questions….I reflect on it now and questions abound.

Maybe Harry Truman was right, he never teed-off on the Marines per se, just the brass-hats that ground their regiments and divisions into pulp on Pelelieu, Iwo and Okinawa and painted it red white and blue. Do we need a Marine Corps? Good God, what a question and how it seems to come back around the ass-end of every war or in between them. Tough question, more than a question.

I am…A Marine for life. Two sons in… two young men NEVER entered any branch of the American military without a stronger warning as to what was ahead of them. You have to WANT to be a Marine. Once you are in, YOU ARE the Marine Corps.

It is one man's opinion but my feelings go like this; if we are planning on developing a politically correct Marine Corps, fold the tents. If we expect our warriors to be more PR-sensitive, who needs a Warrior Cult anyway?

In the corporate world what is now happening in the current crop of brass hats is referred to as tossing people under the bus to deflect focus on their own shortcomings.

Somebody with stars needs to look the press in the eye and inform them with a little guts that "The Marines will handle their problems and until things have been worked out to the Corps' satisfaction all the press-weasels can just go defecate into their chapeaus"....not likely in the emerging mentality of general officers.

The treatment of the as-yet-uncharged Marines at Camp Pendleton, the sadly comic persecution of a Cpl letting off steam at Al Asad or some other shit hole...too much. Loyalty and devotion is a two-way street. I do not see it in the current Marine Corps Leadership. Toss that air-wing NCO under the bus…he wasn’t at Haditha but he’ll do.

My experience watching my own sons in the Corps over the last four years has been both inspiring and deflating. There exists a gap in leadership that is mystifying to me, almost a tendency to disenfranchise the NCO's at the most critical level, Cpl & Sgt, from making it happen. I have watched my sons go to war ill-equipped...I ended up getting a discount from Sure-Fire because I sent a gross of batteries on a regular basis...and I've watched them pay out of their own pockets for the life-sustaining "non-issue" stuff that the need to live in a combat zone. I watched them do Nasiriyah, Fallujah, several tours apiece and they served with honor and have already given their professional opinion that if the dudes did the crime, they had been taught and trained better, burn them. IF THEY ARE CONVICTED. Has the brass convicted them already? Murtha said they did. Waiting on the next announcement from the Liberal Left as we speak.

At the end of the day it comes down to this; I see nobody acting like they have the tiniest set of balls in Marine leadership. Maybe a non-PC Marine General or Colonel will show up with stars and the desire to get people to back the f*** off until the facts are presented.

The Marine Corps has changed...some of it good and some of it is so bland you can't recognize it anymore in a lot of ways...but it’s still a pretty Damn Good Marine Corps…not that bunch of nuts that were taught to proudly be killers back “in the day”.

Once upon a time I received a rocker, early for a young man in an elite arm. Several of us were promoted that day and a Lt. Col made a remark that stuck with me forever. I'm sure it comes from the USMC great comments book...but I'll repeat it as best I can recall across forty years.

“Why is there a United States Marine Corps? When you think about it there no longer exists the true need for a Marine Corps. The Navy has its own special ops, the Army can adapt to amphibious work (they did so in WW II often), and the Air Force has all the planes and helicopters in the world. Ships in the Navy no longer have to have armed men keeping conscripted sailors in the rigging.

Why then?

The United States Marine Corps exists because the AMERICAN PEOPLE have decided that they want and need a United States Marine Corps. It is our job to continue to develop the finest fighting men possible in the world to continue our creed and mission and it is your job, the SNCO's and NCO's here in this room…your express duty to lead these men and make sure we exist on merit, honor, and a sense of duty that is second to none.

It is our job as officers to stand up for you, support you, and give you the guidance to accomplish the sacred trust given to Our Corps by the American people.”

So…Who is standing up for this Air-Wing Cpl venting for the amusement of his buddies on a night after another 16 hour day of working on forty year old helicopters in the sun at 115 degrees? Weasel Words from HQMC…double-speak ignoring the tone, intent and place of the alleged crime of being Non-PC in a war zone.

Somebody had better stand up for Cpl Bellile, I have read the damn lyrics and the ROE were followed to the letter. If the round passes my head, sumbitches are DEAD.

There is no violation here, just the detritus, flotsam and jetsam inherent in a FREE SOCIETY in the era of the internet and cameras that fit into you first aid kit on your war-gear. Get off this Cpl’s back right away, we’ll handle this. No more song-writing in an era when Marines are shooting people in a war zone of 360 degrees. Understood?

I prayed that my Grunt son would get the hell out of Iraq before this war went static and we started crucifying combat assault troops for not being PC in an era when warfare fades into a shooting-gallery syndrome when troops are no longer on the attack. Iraq is largely static, ask the Marines about how they've had teams of Snipers slaughtered like sheep because the leaderships has permitted daily tasks involving strong men armed to develop a standard routine and pass the initiative to the bad guys.

Sorry...got wound up.

A Marine for Life, a grunt, later an Intell type, I was in the Honor Guard at 8th & I when the first "Ex-Marine" was created. Lee Harvey Oswald shot a president and became that first Ex-Marine.

Now we have two Ex-Marines with John Murtha…Congressional pal of the Brass Hats and BS Briefings that toss the junior Marines under the media and congressional bus before they are charged...much less convicted.

If there is a plan to build a PC Marine Corps, can I please have my two Marine NCO's back? They didn’t sign up for this crap. I would not have permitted it. If you are going PC, I don't want them in it anymore.

Corporal Bellile had better be given an ass-chewing for the timing of his fifteen minutes of fame and be sent back to the barracks red-assed and wiser. His apology and regret statement was the ONLY DAMN show of Marine toughness and honesty I've seen lately, thank god for Cpls.
The Leadership of the Marine Corps had better step up to the plate and show some guts or there will be three or four "Ex-Marines" around. NO article 32's, no record book BS.

Marine Corps will weather this storm by dumping the platitudes and political correctness, by insisting on due process and by treating their young Marines with dignity and performing corrective measures up the chain of command and right back down it to the troops.

I firmly and sincerely believe that a well-placed “Kiss My ASS...sir...”is a legitimate response for a Marine of 38 years honorable service to one's country when dealing with zealous weasels who want to keep slamming the Military in general and the Marine Corps specifically right now.

Respectfully submitted...

A True Believer, Marine for Life

15 June 2006

[SeaBeeMCPORET]

Semper Fi Marine for Life. You have nailed it.

[dc]

Semper Fi, too!

Sometimes, I would like the "Navel Gazers" to contemplate if they could continue their way of life, as Dhimmi's.

Will Islam respect Womyn's rights? Yes. After the whippings and stonings.

How about the environment? Nope! Don't care about environment. Keep pumping oil and hiring foreigners to clean it up. As Allah wills....

How about Hollywood Elites? Gays? Arts?

Durka Durka, indeed.

[Laughing Wolf]

Not going to do this as a post, just a comment of the letter I sent to the CotC and a few others:

Gentlemen,

I am writing in regards the matter of CPL Bellile and the song "Hadji Girl." As the son of a Marine, the friend of several Marines, and with a few other relatives who are Marines, I am disgusted with the behavior, lack of character and moral fortitude, and failure of basic decency being shown by members of Corps high command in this matter. While my father loved his fellow Marines, he had no love for those who commanded, and sorrow does not do justice to my realization that his worst expectations for such have been born out.

Is the song politically correct? No, then again war is not either, nor should it be. Could the song be used by our enemies against us? Yes, with your full help and collaboration, it is being done so in the media and elsewhere. Instead of caving in to CAIR and our enemies, you should be taking the offensive against the lies and distortions being portrayed. An aggressive defense of the truth and of the rights of freedom of speech, even that which can be found offensive, would do more to help promote growth in the region and set high the ideals we preach. Instead, the wanton capitulation shown is fanning the flames and encouraging those who are our enemies.

I echo what has been written by Jim Hanson:

"Your press release stated that the video was clearly inappropriate. What exactly did the USMC find that was clearly inappropriate? I watched the video and laughed out loud. I understand the difficulty that something such as this can cause in relations with the Iraqis, but in taking the complaints from CAIR to heart you have actually made things worse. You validated the lies they have told about the song and have given ammunition to anti-American media and messengers worldwide."

To continue on the course you have set, and to throw CPL Bellile under the bus for your own gain and protection would be a travesty, and a rank betrayal of your oaths and your obligations to the members of the Corps, most especially to those who are risking their lives in combat in the cause of freedom.

Semper Fi.

Is it a phrase you truly live? Or just a toss off with no meaning? Your actions will speak louder than any words your true answer.
*****

Marine For Life: Well Said!

[Scrapiron]

The slime balls at CAIR had better be glad we aren't the violent idiots that they are or there would be no CAIR offices standing in the U.S. If they keep on it can and will come about. Americans are slow to anger and extremely violent when angry. Do the nutty Islamist think they are the only ones capable of making fire bombs and car bombs. We all have access to the internet and a 10 year old American could make a better bomb than the most educated Camel jockeys, they only need a good enough reason. Keep harping and sniping and they'll have the reason. Quite the slander of American Troops, That's good advice to the slime balls at CAIR. Become Americans or get the hell out.

[Fancy Pants]

It's absoloutly disgusting the Marine Corps is going after this kid. How about a counteroffensive posting CLEAR translated videos of firebrand Imams and Mullahs foaming at the mouth like rabid dogs demanding "Death To Infidels!", Death to Americans!", "Death to Crusaders!". This would show how the "Religion of Peace" deals with opinions and beliefs other than their own. Bet the CAIR won't post THAT!

[Russ C]

An E-mail I sent to General Milsted

General,

Sir, I served in the Marine Corps from 1997-2001. I've seen the video "Hadji Girl" and while it is unfortunate the amount of media attention this video is getting, I believe that it is equally unfortunate how Cpl Bellile is being portrayed. Perhaps more importantly, how the USMC is being portrayed. The media has been all over the Corps' case about supposed cover ups and numerous other things. It is not the best time for a story such as "Hadji Girl" to break.

But sir, is political circumstance the best reason to destroy a Marine's career? I do not know Cpl Bellile and I do not know what kind of Marine he has been. I have no knowlege of his Pro/Con marks or his duty record, but I'm willing to give a brother Marine the benefit of the doubt.

Perhaps Cpl Bellile deserves a serious a** chewing or perhaps a page 11 entry. But I am reminded of how General Jones handled the controversy with LCpl Johnson in Bahrain in 2000. I heard a comment he made that he would stand behind his Marines, even if they made bad decisions.

Sir, I was an enlisted man and I do not dare to attempt to tell a General Officer what to do. All I can do, sir, is respectfully let my position as an American citizen be known. I do not believe we should persecute our Marines for political correctness. Our Marines need to know the country is behind them. They may deserve punishment, but only if that punishment is just.

Whoever reads this email, I thank you for your time.

Semper Fi!

-Russ Crooms

[douglas]

Here's my letter to the General:

Gen. Milstead,

I am a civilian. I have seen the video "hadji girl" which Cpl. Bellile posted on the internet, as is his right as an American citizen under the First Amendment of the Constitution. I do not particularly like the song, I believe it was inappropriate for him to post it, I even believe that it might result in some harm to our efforts in the GWOT, however small. I do not believe he should be punished in any way for this. He should be talked to, perhaps even reprimanded for an unwise decision (posting it, not singing it), but that is all.

Reacting to CAIR's hyperbolic and fallacious assertions about this video only serve to exacerbate the problem. The tactic of false witness to discredit us is given credence by our own command structure- preposterous.

Perhaps the Marines can find someone like Gen. Russel Honore, US Army, to do PR on this ridiculous case, and put it back in perspective for everyone.

Thank you for your time, and may God bless you and the Corp.

[Gunny L]

That champion of the American soldier, Col. David Hackworth (God rest his brave soul), is rolling over in his grave at the antics of these prefumed princes.

The reprehensible and spineless action by the Corps is a disgrace to the Marine Corps, to the US Military and to every red-blooded American citizen past and present who served or is serving their country.

President Bush, grow some Truman-sized balls and fire the sonofabitch responsible for this travesty of justice.

[valerie]

It was not a mistake to record this song and put it on the Internet. This song is harmless, and the way people of ill will have tried to use it is most instructive. The story in the song is as follows:

This young guy in Iraq meets this girl who says something that might have the word "jihad" in it but he doesn't know, because he doesn't speak Arabic. On the other hand, she has pretty eyes and wants him to follow her, and he being a young guy who thinks he is in love, follows her. (A jewish boy in Paris made this mistake. He died.) They come to a house and walk in to find two male terrorists with guns. In sheer panic, he grabs a little girl and tries to use her as a human shield, but "dad" and "brother" blow the kid away. Meanwhile, the young guy hides behind the TV, which must have been a smart thing to do, because they DON'T shoot him then. That gives him enough time to load and shoot back, and get the killers. Despite all his stupid mistakes, he wins because he's been trained to fight back.

Part of the humor in this song is the soft delivery of horror, and internal rhyme. If you want a comparison, here are the lyrics to "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" a Beatles song about a serial killer that gets away. Notice the soft delivery, and internal rhyme, and the way the singer laughs at one point.

http://www.stevesbeatles.com/songs/maxwells_silver_hammer.asp

If you want to know who is prejudiced against the US armed forces, look to see the people "horrified" or "offended" or "shocked" by this song. See how they read things into it that are not there.

[Don]

Another example that the military pays and pays for allowing the 'message' to be outsourced to MSM who are recognized to be agents of the enemy in this war. This is the price everyone pays because all elements of DoD do not want to spend the manpower or resources to outclass MSM in the 'message'. Since WWII, through Korea, Vietnam, to today, DoD has surrender the homefront war to an outside agent. It doesn't sink into their thick skulls that you can win all the fights on the battlefields of foreign lands only to lose the war at home.

Wake up people. This is a symptom of your underlying problem. Either address it directly or keep having problems and sending your good men and women off to do incredible things only for naught.

Time to give up a couple battalions of combat personnel to shift manpower into selling the message and I do not mean base or command PAOs. I mean a real production outfit that exploits the internet, that gets its own cable/satellite channel, that has real combat photographers, that has the ability to swiftly produce imagry, sound, and a finished product that is out there. If the kid can make a video that upsets the 'command' there are hundred of such kids in your ranks that can generate videos that tell the story, who know what their generation wants to see and hear, that knows the media. Use them. Adapt or perish.

[Armrdpig]

You cant say brass without the "ass" GO USA!!!!!!!!

[auzerais]

Michelle Malkin addresses the crass double standards when it comes to one song (Bellile's) vs another even more inappropriate IMO rap song sung by US soldiers that hasn't raised 1/10th as much furor. In fact, it was even PRAISED by several "anti-US" media BBC etc outlets.

http://michellemalkin.com/archives/005387.htm

You might want to ask the Marines which lyrics are worse?

[Ymarsakar]

I have to wonder how much part the Navy JAG corps play in this, because I heard that it was Navy lawyers prosecuting the Marines in certain circumstances.

[ChiefKujo]

The following is a letter written my Michael Ledeen to the Commandant and posted on National Review Online.

Tell the Commandant [Michael Ledeen]

I've just sent this letter to General Michael Hagee, the Commandant of the Marine Corps (comrel@hqmc.usmc.mil). You might want to pile on:

Dear General Hagee,

I'm dismayed by your recent behavior.

It seems to me an outrage, and quite possibly illegal to boot, to put Marines in the brig and to shackle them, when no charges have been filed against them.

It seems to me an outrage for you to brief the likes of Congressman Murtha before the investigation was complete, and even then you should have told him to wait, to let justice take its course.

It seems to me an outrage for you to reinforce the utterly false notion that your Marines are out of control by zooming off to Iraq to deliver sermons on proper ethics. Every Marine officer with whom I am familiar has received extensive ethical training, and they daily remind their Marines of their ethical obligations. You know this well. Why, then, do you act as if they have a moral deficit?

And it seems to me an outrage for you to fail to say, in response to all questions about these allegations, that Americans are innocent until proven guilty, and nobody has even been charged in this matter.

I think it was your duty to say these things to the American people, instead of giving the impression you believed the worst.

It also seems to me an outrage for the Corps to act as if the "Hadji Girl" song praised the killing Muslims, when the lyrics told a story—a fictional story, mind you—about terrorists trying to lure a Marine to a place they could kill HIM. Have you actually read the lyrics?

This sort of preemptive surrender inevitably has a bad effect on the morale of the Corps, and does nothing to deter future political attacks. You have gained nothing except the contempt of the Corps' enemies, who know that if they can destroy the unique image of U.S. Marines, they will have taken a giant step toward defeating us in the current war.

I do hope that in your remaining weeks as Commandant you will find many opportunities to stand by your Marines. They sure deserve a lot better than they've received.

[Gray]

"always maintain the high ground when writing"

Hmm, sounds good. But what is the high ground?

Imho the story that is told in the song is a tragedy. There is nothing funny about it. You have to be very cold hearted if you think the unnecessary killing of 4 human beings is funny.

And the US soldier that is the 'hero' of the song doesn't deserve to be in US forces. Imho there are several points that show that he doesn't meet the requirements to be a marine.

1. "We were under attack" and he is flirting with a girl? What about his unit and his comrades? Going awol?

2. Aren't there orders against fraternizing with Iraqi citizens? Disobeying orders?

3. The problematic stance of Iraquis towards US forces is well known. US troops have to be aware of the danger of ambushes and kidnappings and the problems that may arrise from the islamic concept of honor. Yet he follows an unknown girl to an unknown location, without informing his superiors, without support, and gets involved in a dangerous firefight. Serious lack of judgement.

4. In that avoidable conflict and the firefight it triggered, not only the marines' crush is killed, he uses her sister, who wasn't involved in the struggle, as a shield and she is killed. So he put a civilian in clear and present danger and is responsible for her death. Aren't there any orders saying that civilian collateral damage should be avoided?

5. After the sister has been killed, the marine "laughed maniacally". So he either thinks it's funny than an innocent life has been destroyed by his own fault or he has a nervous breakdowns. One way or thze other, mentally unstable persons like him shouldn't be in the Marine Corps, such people shouldn't be in active duty anywhere.

Lots of idiotic errors a marine in Iraq really shouldn't make. What's so funny about that? And do you support a marine spoiling the image of the marine corps in that way?

[Gray]

"The kid showed poor taste."

"The kid" is an active member of the Marine Corps. He wrote and publicly performed a song that glorifies a marine who violates several orders and is responsible for the killing of civilians. That song casts a damning light on the Marine Corps. It is used by the enemy for propaganga purposes and thus complicates the already problematic situation in Iraq.

And you say, that's only a case of poor taste? Pls think twice.

[Paul]

I think that the MOST IMPORTANT POINT that people like Abu Sinan, Gray, and others are missing is this:

GET A F'n GRIP,... IT'S A SONG, NOT REALITY!!

The Marine wrote a flippin' song. He didn't say he had done a single one of those things. He just wrote and sang a song. Sure some, or all, of it might be in poor taste, but for shit's sake, it's a song. It's not F'n sworn testimony before Congress.

I don't agree with a boat-load of the crappy lyrics and videos that people like 50 Cent, Tu Pac, Snoop Dog, the Dixie Chicks, and a crap load of other wanna-be's are (or were) performing. But, AGAIN, for shit's sake, it's NOT reality!

Get a frickin' grip people!

~Paul

[twolaneflash]

Abu Sinan: self-described as "a white convert to islam" on his website. I was unaware that dhimmis who convert get a color change! Do you get to choose the color? Do you only get to choose one color, or can you rainbow it? Are stripes, polka-dots, paisley patterns allowed? Racist pig!

[Gray]

"Sure some, or all, of it might be in poor taste, but for shit's sake, it's a song."

As a soldier, I had to learn that I'm representing my unit and the army. Some things simply are inappropriate for soldiers. This song, which is told from the view of a Marine, begs some serious questions about the stance of the Marine Corps towards Iraqi civilians. CPL Bellile's action started this negative discussion. So imho some kind of disciplinary measure is necessary. The media hype is blowing this issue out of proportion, sure, but this doesn't say CPL Bellile is innocent.

[M.E.]

The video is unacceptable, period. I am a 52 year old American and you and Mr. Bellile do not speak for me. Furthermore, I do not need people with his attitude and shoddy sense of humor defending me. I called the Marines to log a complaint (kudos to Michelle Malkin for the direct number) and according to the person I spoke with, I am not alone.

I feel the need to express my rights and my freedom of speech as an American. I am disturbed by this. I see no examples of the stellar professionalism and valor demonstrated by my colleagues and classmates who joined the Marine Corp back in the late 1960s and 1970s. And my family members - my late Uncle who fought in Korea and my recently deceased cousin Denis, who was the lead Marine at Camp David during the Clinton years. He passed away last year and I cannot imagine how he would feel about this incident with this smart-a**.

They set examples of bravery, tolerance and compassion. They were seen and welcomed as libertors and made us proud. Somehow, something has been lost in the equation and you have not helped remedy it one bit.

Shame on you. You have not displayed the higher ground either in your conversation with Mike Barton -

"Had he seen the video? Yes

Did he think it was funny? Can't comment, and he didn't chuckle or anything, guy's a real pro."

So in other words - it's OK with you to allow these young kids today to shirk their responsibilities to their Country and their clear decision of what is right and what is wrong - as long as you and a few select find the joke funny? Oh, but of course, it is all about bashing the enemy.

Again, you should be ashamed for aiding and abetting this young man's misguided attempt at humor. So much for building character, sadly, we cannot expect that from you.

[Roland]

Now come on ME get with the times. This is our army now old timer! I think what is really hurting the core is the loss of this morale boosting site which really helped people let of steam anonymously:

http://americablog.blogspot.com/2005/09/us-soldiers-allegedly-trading-pictures.html

If the website discussed were still up this problem might never have occured. And if anything , I think the song, even with the correct lyrics, shows less direspect to Iraqi civilains in comparison. So thats why we should stay the course, because at this rate it will only take a few centuries before we start actually doing the surviving Hajis some good.