The LA Times reports:
Under a sweltering Iraqi sky, [Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis, commanding
general of Marine Forces Central Command] asked for questions from his
troops.
Many were reluctant, but Marine Lance Cpl. Jack Kessel, 19,
of Raleigh, N.C., stepped forward. Something had been gnawing at him as he and
his buddies go about the business of winning hearts and minds in al-Anbar
province: “How are we supposed to fight a war when people back home say we’ve already lost?”
...
Marines continue to exceed their re-enlistment goals. A recent study
showed that those who have deployed twice to Iraq are more likely to re-enlist
than those who have gone once. The Marine least likely to re-enlist is one who
has not deployed to Iraq.
...
Mattis told the Marines to believe their own eyes rather than news
accounts about who is winning the war. Don’t be discouraged by politicians and
pundits who haven’t been to Iraq: “Don’t hold it against them. The only reason
they have that freedom of speech is because you’ll fight for it.”
I can't add to that.
HT to NRO
