where do I begin. that they are the lowest forms of life, that they terrorize innocent civilians, disrupt the formation of a safe and stable iraq.

In our area of operation, the insurgents remind me of common criminals and gangs similar to in the USA. they terroize the civilian populace into silence, by threatening them with death if they even talk to coalition forces.
They have told the people "if you dont help us, then we must kill you because you are supporting the government".
I have seen with my own eyes innocent people killed by these insurgents because they think that a person may have talked, or even seen what they looked like without a ski mask.
I know some will disagree, but regardless of how we got into iraq (WMD's), we do need to be here now. We need to help bring a better way of life to the people of Iraq, and we need to kill the insurgents.
The poverty level in our area would shock americans, yet the people try every day to build a better way of life for themselves.
The insurgents do not want these people to have a better way of life, because then the people will realize that the insurgents are nothing but scum.
It doesnt make the news (cause no-one reports stories like this) but the insurgents have fired at coalition forces visiting schools with children in them. Imagine if that happened in the US, insurgents firing rocket propelled grenades at schools full of children. What kind of person does that sort of thing? That is the kind of person I want to see down the sights of my rifle at 100-200 meters so I can introduce him to to 2-3 70 grain full metal jacket projectiles travelling at approximately 2800 feet per second.
The insurgents threaten people if they seek medical aid during what are called "MedCaps". Imagine that your child was sick and needed medical attention, and someone in a black ski mask told you not to go because then you are obviously supporting the government by seeking aid for your child.

Some people may think I am making this stuff up. I wish that was the case. It has nothing to do with politics, and is about helping people make a better way of life for themselves, a safe place for children to learn, a chance for the future.

Some people may say we are wasting money fighting this war. Well my tax dollars have helped support this war as well, and I think it is money well worth it. Who knows, in 10 years the cure for aids could be developed by someone who is going to school here now. If we just left, if we got out of Iraq this cure might never be found.

Well enough on this rant, look forward to reading what other people think.

Hi noonanda,

Sounds real to me... there are people in the world that are sub human and they don't care about life - theirs or others... take e'm out, bro.

Common thugs...

Noonanda -

I respect your opinions very much. Thank you for the report.

The most important thing to me at the moment is for you to stay safe..all the best to you, your family and all your loved ones.

What you describe sounds tragic. It breaks my soul. I have nothing but respect for what you and your fellow soldiers are going through. Thank you for writing.

Please continue..and if there is anything you might need (or some of your guy's) please let Marine know and have him pass it on to us...I know many of us would like to get together and send you a package (that could be shared, of course..) to try and bring a smile to some faces..Please let him know..and I'll ask him if he has heard from you..Or PM me, and let me know..I'd be glad to organize it directly..

mtnmagic

Staff Sergeant, your description is thoroughly consistant with what other Marines have said to me about the thugs trying to disrupt Iraq.

I hope everyone reads your report so they will realize Iraq can't be handed over to a criminal element.

Wear that body armor, there is only one D A Noonan and the world is a better place because of him.

Send him snacks Marie, I never went into the field without cheese or peanut butter crackers in my kit. Those fruit breakfast bars are great too. I haven't met a Marine yet who at heart wasn't a chow hound.

Hey Staff Sergeant, good to see you postin' when you can, eh?

Methinks your experiences sound much like those of others I've heard from, but 'twould seem the branch of service flavors the perception a bit. Seems Army and National Guard troops that normally hafta spend longer tours in theater often sound more negative in their perceptions. Makes me wonder if shorter tours like the Marines do, even if it means goin' back more often, might help a bit in the morale department.

Stay safe, be well, make Gunny soon!

Well Doc, tell me the last time you met a Marine who wasn't an incurable optimist, eh?

And we try to infect everybody else in the world with that optimism. And if you don't agree with our optimism we'll rip off you head and..........,uh, never mind.

Noonanda, let me echo what Mtnmagic said, about letting us know anything you need!

What about phone cards? Porn? (just kidding about that last one) (I think)

we dont really need Phone cards where we are at, between a sat phone at our COP and internet telephone back at habbaniyah, I aint had to use a phone card yet. Porn, hell ya LOL JK. There isnt any specific things we need, when I (and everyone else) get care packages we pick out what we want to keep and share the rest with everyone else in the team. One thing that might be nice would be some cans of American made (not this overseas stuff) Copenhagen Long Cut Snuff. That and a bottle of ranch dressing. We have a small fridge now in our house, and the vat chow we get for lunch could use some spicing up.

Marine and for whoever already has my address. when I got the address they gave me it a little messed up, on the FPO-AP part, the last part of it should be 2701, not 2702 as I was told. It will cause the mail to take alot longer, I recieved a letter from pie about a week or so ago, I think it was post dated the first week of march.

Well talk to you'all later, Ill try to keep posting my Rants on different subjects