This Letter of Apology was written by Lieutenant General Chuck Pitman,
US Marine Corps, Retired:

"For good and ill", the Iraqi prisoner abuse mess will remain an
issue.

On the one hand, right thinking Americans will abhor the stupidity of the actions while on the other hand, political glee will take control and fashion this minor event into some modern day massacre.

I humbly offer my opinion here:


I am sorry that the last seven times we Americans took up arms and sacrificed the blood of our youth, it was in the defense of Muslims (Bosnia, Kosovo, Gulf War 1, Kuwait, etc.).

I am sorry that no such call for an apology upon the extremists
came after 9/11.

I am sorry that all of the murderers on 9/11 were Islamic Arabs.

I am sorry that most Arabs and Muslims have to live in squalor
under savage dictatorships.

I am sorry that their leaders squander their wealth.

I am sorry that their governments breed hate for the US in their
religious schools, mosques, and government-controlled media.

I am sorry that Yassar Arafat was kicked out of every Arab country and high-jacked the Palestinian "cause."

I am sorry that no other Arab country will take in or offer more
than a token amount of financial help to those same Palestinians.

I am sorry that the USA has to step in and be the biggest financial supporter of poverty stricken Arabs while the insanely wealthy Arabs blame the USA for all their problems.

I am sorry that our own left wing, our media, and our own
brainwashed masses do not understand any of this (from the misleading vocal elements of our society, like radical professors, CNN and the NY TIMES).

I am sorry the United Nations scammed the poor people of Iraq out
of the "food for oil" money so they could get rich while the common folk suffered.

I am sorry that some Arab governments pay the families of homicide bombers upon their death.

I am sorry that those same bombers are brainwashed thinking they
will receive 72 virgins in "paradise."

I am sorry that the homicide bombers think pregnant women, babies, children, the elderly and other noncombatant civilians are legitimate targets.

I am sorry that our troops die to free more Arabs from the gang
rape rooms and the filling of mass graves of dissidents of their own making.

I am sorry that Muslim extremists have killed more Arabs than any
other group.

I am sorry that foreign trained terrorists are trying to seize
control of Iraq and return it to a terrorist state.

I am sorry we don't drop a few dozen Daisy cutters on Fallujah.

I am sorry every time terrorists hide they find a convenient "Holy Site."

I am sorry they didn't apologize for driving two jets into the
World Trade Center that collapsed and severely damaged Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church - one of our Holy Sites.

I am sorry they didn't apologize for flight 93 and 175, the USS
Cole, the embassy bombings, the murders and beheadings of Nick Berg and Daniel Pearl, etc....etc!

I am sorry Michael Moore is an American; he could feed a medium
sized village in Africa.

America will get past this latest absurdity. We will punish those
responsible because that is what we do.

We hang out our dirty laundry for the entire world to see. We move on.

That's one of the reasons we are hated so much. We don't hide this stuff like all those Arab countries that are now demanding an apology.

Deep down inside, when most Americans saw this reported in the
news, we were like - so what? We lost hundreds and made fun of a few prisoners.
Sure , it was wrong, sure, it dramatically hurts our cause, but until captured we were trying to kill these same prisoners. Now we're supposed to wring our hands because a few were humiliated?

Our compassion is tempered with the vivid memories of our own
people killed, mutilated and burnt amongst a joyous crowd of celebrating Fallujahans.

If you want an apology from this American, you're going to have a
long wait!

You have a better chance of finding those seventy-two virgins.

Chuck Pitman

Lieutenant General
US Marine Corps (Retired)

Semper Fi

apologies if it`s been posted already.

You have a better chance of finding those seventy-two virgins.

Why virgins, why people saying something like that?

It's an interpretation of the Qur'an that if you die in defence of Islam you will recieve 72 virgins in heaven.

I liked it, pisses me off how **** the American PR machine is.

I loved it. Truth.

I agree with the General [I think]. I only say I think in case I missed something.
Making fun of the prisoners is a hell of alot better then beheading them like they've done to our people that they captured. Why can't we do that to them? I think the picked on prisoners got off easy.

and im sorry hes such an arrogant but i dont go and make a big song and dance about it.
i understand that the american self esteem suffered a big blow, but seriusly, how many of these "clever" articles to we have to read. they arne't clever. they aren't funny. and frankly, i doubt the authenticity of such a letter. and they only inflame "the other side" just as much as teh stuff on al jezeera. iv done a bit of a search of the net and all i can find is other sites with people going "this is the article, this guy rocks" and i cant find the original anywhere.

if there is no understanding, or attempt at it (which there clearly isn't, no one has any problems with the deaths "they deserve it" and "well its to be expected there will be some accidents" seem to be the common brush off) then you will never deserve the title of superpower and you will never properly resolve any of the messes you are currently in