A word from Sergeant Brooks
A reader has forwarded us a message from Marine Sergeant Baker Brooks, who is about to be deployed to Iraq and wants to make his feelings known:
To My Family & Friends,As some of you know my Marine Corps Reserve unit will soon be re-activated to fight in Iraq. I won’t give details as to our timeline, destinations, or missions as they will change daily and operational security is paramount.
Regardless, I will be leaving soon. And the question that I have been asked the most is "How do you feel about going back to Iraq?" Well... I’ve told them how I feel and now, if you could spare a minute, I would like to tell you how I feel. To answer the question shortly - I want to go back. In fact, I feel that I need to return to the fight.
Why? Why would I want to go back to a war that is not producing results, costing billions, and killing my brothers on a daily basis? Why would I want to go to a war where I have little to gain and everything to lose? Why? Because it is the right war to fight.
The American public has lost sight of the true war that we are fighting. Iraq has become a convenient distraction from the true fight. What war am I talking about? It is the war that radical Islam has waged against the rest of the world. It is the same war that has been overshadowed by the catchphrase -- “The War in Iraq.”
Well, “The War in Iraq” is not a catchphrase and it isn’t the war itself, it's a battlefield, like Afghanistan, where we get a chance to spill the blood of our enemy. And unlike any war in the past there are no boundaries and there will be no end. No end until Jesus returns in fulfillment of his prophecy. My son and his children will be dealing with this fight as the enemy will never change their ideological stance much like we will never change ours. This war will wage as the Fringe Elements of Islam continue to exist.
Many people believe that being in Iraq has little bearing on the war on terror and winning is no longer an option. Yet even if we have no chance of winning we must have the moral strength and courage to continue to fight.
Through our operations we have tilled up the Iraqi society and our departure would only allow the enemy to embed themselves deeply within the social fabric. Left unchecked this situation would produce a state that is evil, radical, and anti American. This would be a Jihad Victory. Because of this we must be victorious.
I say that it is the “Right war to Fight” and I mean it with every fiber of my being. America is in this fight now. Much like Israel is locked in war, we are now locked in war. It may be slow and protracted but it will remain.
You may be thinking that this is not the case and that the attacks on American soil were a fluke. I say to you that you are lying to yourself and are in for a rude awakening. Not only are you in for a rude awakening but your self deception will cost our nation dearly in mindset and readiness. You have become tired of fighting. But how can anyone become tired of fighting the right fight? Much like in a foot race you will begin to tire and hurt. You will begin to focus on what is happening to you now. You have lost sight of the goal as you focus on yourself. And the pain that consumes you now has killed your aspirations of winning. You will only be able to win when you keep your eyes on the end goal and you see past the now. But unfortunately our eyes, via the news, have been focused on the now far too long.
Where have the enemies of our country come from? The answer is Radical Islam. The only thing that I can equate Radical Islam to is a gang. In a land where there is little to offer in terms of education, jobs, and class advancement the idle public will begin to look for affiliation. They find that affiliation in their religion. Similar to a gang, Fundamental Islam provides a sense of belonging which translates to influence and through that affiliation and influence the members execute the will of the organization.
Another variable in this complex equation is the stance and objective of our own government. Much like the issue of social security this problem will remain critical yet unresolved. Social security has been identified as flawed. Yet action, or better yet the decision to act, seems impossible to attain due to partisan goals. The issue of Social security is indicative of our government’s all talk and no act nature. Like Social Security this conflict will not die. And like Social Security it will not be dealt with. Leaving Iraq will no more fix our problems than ignoring Social Security and hoping that it rights itself. How bout we shoot for simple political victories now and leave the tough issues for future generations to deal with? That sounds more like cowardice than a plan. You can dress it up hundreds of different ways but at the end of the day we will be left with one of two outcomes, victory or defeat.
One comment that I receive a lot is “Man, we need to just bomb every Muslim and get it over with.” I couldn’t disagree, and be more disappointed with that statement more. This situation is so much more complex than that and to offer such a suggestion is counterproductive. The enemy that we are fighting is radical, much like a cult. David Koresh and Jim Jones perverted and twisted the word of Jesus Christ as do these individuals manipulate the words of Muhammad for their own demented gains. I consider all leaders and organizations that operate in this fashion to be my enemies. But the remaining 99 percent of Muslims are decent people and do not deserve to be grouped together with their fringe counterparts.
One phrase that has stuck with me and rings true is the simplest I’ve heard: “If they lay down their weapons there will be peace. But if we lay down our weapons there will be a holocaust.”
So as I sit here I think about the journey that is before me. I have begun my preparations and as the day approaches I find myself more and more focused. I will leave behind my wife and my son, who I will have only known for one month, bound for Iraq on my second combat tour with my Marine Reserve unit.
And I am prepared to walk back into the fire for my wife, my son, and all of you.
Semper Fi
Sgt. Baker M. Brooks
Section Leader
Weapons Company (Mobile Assault Capable)
3rd Battalion 23rd Marine Regiment 4th Marine Division
Baton Rouge, LA
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