Country music outlaw visits Camp Fallujah

Country music outlaw visits Camp Fallujah
Story by Cpl. Lynn Murillo

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq - Country music superstar Toby Keith performed a Memorial Day concert here for nearly 4,000 service members both live from the Fallujah Chapel and via sight television May 29.

The fans cheers erupted into a roar as the patriotic songwriter and performer stepped onto the small stage at the chapel. Keith opened the hour-long acoustic show with his crowd pleasing hit "I Love This Bar," bringing the Marines, sailors, soldiers and airmen a little piece of America. He played new songs, as well as a few classics like "Should"ve Been A Cowboy" and "Beer For My Horses."

This is Keith"s second visit here. The first was in 2004 just after Marines took over the camp. He played two other venues on Memorial Day as part of the USO"s Toby Keith Tour.

"You can"t appreciate what (service members) do until you see it," said Keith. "Everybody is so good at what they do and when you come here, you can really understand why America is the number one fighting force in the world."

The country singer expressed a special satisfaction in lifting troop morale and honoring his father, a vietnam veteran.

The Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Michael W. Hagee, was in the front row for the concert and sang along as Keith sang "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue" from his 2003 album "Unleashed."

Hagee said he enjoyed the concert and was happy to welcome the superstar known as the bad boy of country music to the headquarters for Marines operating in Al Anbar Province.

Longtime fans might consider the performance a way to take their minds of the serious business of war fighting.

"It was an honor to meet him," said Sgt. Cassie L. Lucero, 28, from Phoenix, an administrative clerk with I Marine Expeditionary Force"s command element.

"I am a huge fan of anyone that supports us," Lucero said. "The morale boost he just gave everyone here makes me proud to be out here serving my country."

Lance Cpl. Joseph W. Hanson, of Greybull, Wyo., also a self-proclaimed "big fan," was elated with Keith"s performance.

"I think it is awesome that he would come out to the middle of Iraq to give us a concert," said Hanson, a weather observer with I MEF. "If he is spending his Memorial Day out here with us, it means a lot," adding, Keith could be anywhere this weekend.

Maj. Gen. Richard C. Zilmer, commanding general of Multi-National Forces West, presented Keith with a Ka-bar fighting knife and a personalized guitar strap made from a desert-digital camouflage pattern as a token of gratitude for his time and effort. Zilmer jokingly told Keith that he hopes to see the guitar strap in one of Keith"s upcoming music videos. The crowd laughed as Keith smiled, shaking Zilmer"s hand and agreeing to his request.

Keith and his crew are on a five-day tour of Iraq, entertaining troops at several forward operating bases in the next few days, demonstrating their continuing pride and support for service members here.

Rocket lands near Barracks

Haditha, Hamandiyah, et al.

8 June 2006

Hello from Fallujah,

 

In a bold political move, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Malika announced this week that Iraq would commence its own investigation into the Haditha killings of November 19, 2005 by Marines.  How impetuous that he focuses on an incident that is already the subject of no less than three separate investigations. Al-Maliki called these deaths a “terrible crime.”  Playing to the press, and stating the obvious, MP al-Maliki states “his patience was wearing thin with excuses from US troops that they killed civilians by mistake, and his government would investigate the civilian deaths in Haditha.”  An Iraqi national security committee was established to work with the U.S. to ensure this doesn’t happen again.

Apparently, though, al-Maliki has plenty of patience for Arabs killing each other, and no such security committees are required to stem the brutal, wanton killings occurring daily.  I hear no reference to any investigations initiated from the Iraqi government surrounding the 30,000 or so Iraqis that have been killed as a direct result of secular, terrorist, or criminal acts in the past three years.  Al-Maliki cannot even announce his selection for Minister of Interior and Minister of Defense for fear that additional secular and political violence will erupt. 

Let me state that I am not condoning illegal actions by anyone, particularly Marines. 

I am condemning the persecution these Marines are receiving in the international forum, our own Congress, and the U.S. Press.  These Marines were on a military patrol and were attacked by an enemy that blends into their natural surroundings.  Had they not been attacked, the patrol would have continued on their way to their destination and no incident would have occurred that requires an investigation.  There was no premeditation against the inhabitants of Haditha.  The investigation may well discover that there was a crime, for which the Marine’s will pay, but there was no premeditation. 

Counter that with the 11 Iraqi Students pulled from a bus north of Baghdad and executed because they were Shi’a.  Where is the announced investigation for this premeditated murder based on religious persecution?   What about the eight severed heads found near Baqouba north of Baghdad?  These men were deliberately killed because they were Sunni.  Where is the announced investigation for these horrific crimes committed throughout the country on a daily basis?  Is this acceptable behavior amongst the Muslim or Arab community?  If so, then maybe it is time we depart and let the Arabs handle this Arab problem.

And that is what I believe MP al-Maliki is ultimately saying to his people, the U.S., and the global community.  Iraq will not tolerate these crimes by outsiders, so get out.  This is a door opening for al-Maliki in order to repulse the crusaders and liberate his country from evil Westerners.  I commend al-Maliki for trying to unify his country, but doing it under the banner of persecution of the West will not heal what damage exists.  Pushing the U.S. out will create an upsurge in secular violence greater than what now exists. 

The fledgling military is corrupt, racist, and fragile beyond comparison.  Animosity between Sunni residents and their Shi’a Iraqi Army protectors is increasing on a daily basis.  Fueled by incidents beyond pale in western society, the hatred is growing instead of receding.  Shi’a soldiers are taking it upon themselves to cleanse their country of their previous prosecutors.  The Shi’a suffered many years of persecution under the Sunni minority.  With the taste of power and legitimacy, they will not easily relinquish control ever again.  Should the U.S. depart in the near future, the civil war that is brewing will be a long violent struggle, rehashing centuries of hatred.

As for the Marines and Sailors ACCUSED of crimes in Haditha and Hamandiyah, let the investigation be completed.  I personally believe it doesn’t look good, but I won’t rush to judgment as the world’s press and political blowhards have done.

 

On an administrative note:  I can no longer access the Blog site itself.  So if anyone wants to respond to any articles I publish please e-mail me at mulnixrl@gcemnf-wiraq.usmc.mil.  Also, Happy Birthday Karen and Carol.  Many happy returns.

Rog