A culture of defeat

Mary Katharine Ham reports on the accolades given to the Iraq Study Group report. She also attempts to bring a more realistic interpretation to the table by pointing out those who disagree with the study group recommendations.

I know a Marine. He sits on a low bench at Walter Reed Hospital, white paper crinkling beneath him as he works his left knee back and forth. Below the knee is about 12 inches of tibia, wrapped at the end in gauze and tight bandages while the wound heals.

His left foot took its last step in Ramadi. It landed on an IED instead of Iraqi sand. He was on his way to clear a tower of an insurgent sniper when it happened. His fellow Marines—some double amputees jogging on treadmills and lifting weights—rib him, calling the injury a “flesh wound.”

These are Marines who are fighting for our life, liberty, and security. They are part of a culture of victory in this country -- one, unfortunately, that is sadly diminished.

And who, you may ask, are a part of this country's culture of defeat?

Tim Russert. Harry Reid. Joe Biden. Carl Levin. George Stephanopoulos.

You would think they would know better. Anybody remember the silly movie, "Advance to the Rear?" That's these guys spin on things.

MKH has it right when she says:

Only in a Washington TV studio, perfumed with hairspray and haughtiness, could running away before the job is done be considered tough and resolved.

She talks about other Marines, too.

I know a Marine. He is packing his stuff this week. On Saturday, he will bend down, kiss his wife good-bye, and deploy again for Iraq. He will not leave with a mind to allowing the collapse of Iraq’s government, a humanitarian catastrophe, a propaganda victory for al Qaeda, the diminishing of America’s global standing, or negotiations with the enemy, just because it means we can get out of Iraq quickly.

He’ll go with a mind to win, and he will not find boldness, passion, toughness, glee, or honor in anything less. That is a practice for Washingtonians, not Marines.

Thank God for our Marines, Soldiers, Airmen, and Sailors. I just wish there were more like them in our nation's capitol.

UPDATE: MKH has received many emails in response to her piece referred to in this post. You can read several of those responses right here. Here's one of them:

I know a few Marines as well, and I no longer am able to know a few others.

I sadly shake my head at the turn taken by our government, and by our elected leadership. We get whet we elect. The Press is well beyond reproach, yet we have never seen them happier. It is like living through Viet Nam all over again (my fight, 4 years USN).

We have much to repair, it is time to begin to work even harder...