Kevin Sites' Bog

Kevin Sites is a freelance solo journalist currently on assignment for NBC News in Iraq. In the meantime he's updating his blog with interesting information and observations of what it going on in Iraq.

"Like most of the bulk of the military, aside from officers and non-coms, they're kids really -- 18, 19, 20 years old. They switch from playing imaginary war games on an Xbox in the base rec rooms to living and fighting in a real war. They flip from astounding maturity, trusting each other with their lives, brotherly bonds, to head-shaking juvenile antics -- belittling each others manhood, intelligence, haircuts--whatever presents itself as an appropriate weakness."
[....]
Camp Abu Graib is a well fortified, but livable dusty bowl...There is a chow hall, which serves pre-prepared meals; the camp is too small (under one-thousand) to qualify for a civilian food operation usually provided by Halliburton subsidiary KBR (Kellog, Brown and Root).
[...]
Despite a history of sacrifice for the nation -- the U.S. Marines are the redheaded, stepchildren of the Pentagon when it comes to the budget process.
With only 150,000 active duty Marines in the whole corps -- they get "hand me down" everything -- or nothing at all. While almost all the combat Army units in Iraq have been issued the shorter-barreled M4 assault rifle (better for urban warfare, easier to wield getting in and out of humvees) and night vision goggles, the Marines are still mostly carrying M16's and are lucky to have one set of nv specs per squad."

I just thought that these were interesting little notes on the current state of being for the Marines and the requirements that we ask of them. Now before you jump all over me, I have to say that I support our troops, but what I don't support is the way in which this administration has dishonored them and the returining veterans by cutting pay to VA hospitals, health coverage and their pay for their dutiful services to our country and the countless others we police on a daily basis.

I am a patriot, and I support our troops. I do NOT support war, of any kind.
And incase you forget - to dissent is american. To be silent in fear of your government is a dictatorship.

speak up.