“You don’t have to love the war, but you have to love the warrior.” – Private Johnathon Millican
The author of those words was twenty years old when he died. He used a web camera to talk with his wife from Iraq on the morning of his final day. He had been in Iraq for about three months. The quote above comes from his MySpace page.
1st Lt. Jacob Fritz was a graduate of the United States Military Academy. His younger brother Daniel graduated from West Point a year after his death. He looks like a man who knew how to laugh. “Sometimes, when there’s a whisper in the wind, I feel he’s walking with me,” says his mother Noala. His parents bought 70 acres of farmland across the highway from their place for Jacob to settle on, when his military career was over.
Private First Class Shawn Falter had twelve brothers and sisters. Three of his older brothers preceded him in military service. At his funereal, his older brother Andrew, an Air Force master sergeant, said, “Rest, Shawn. You’ve done your part. Your brothers will take it from here.” Pfc. Falter once gave up his own leave time, so a fellow soldier could return home to be with his wife and children.
Specialist Johnathan Bryan Chism was a month away from coming home for two weeks of rest and recuperation when he died. A few years ago, he was a Boy Scout.
On January 20th, 2007, these four men were abducted from the Provincial Joint Coordination Center in Karbala, Iraq, during a sophisticated insurgent attack. The operation was believed to have been coordinated by the Qods Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. Within a few hours, they were executed by their captors. Their bodies were left with some abandoned vehicles. Two of them were tossed on the ground, while two were still handcuffed together inside one of the vehicles.
A fifth soldier, Captain Brian S. Freeman, was killed in the initial attack. He was a world-class athlete who won a bronze medal as part of a bobsled team in the 2002 America’s Cup race. Some of the bobsled drivers he trained with went on to compete in the last Olympics. One of them, Steven Holcomb, called Captain Freeman “one of the greatest men I have ever known.”
The architects of the attack that killed Captain Freeman, and the subsequent murders of the other four brave soldiers, are brothers named Qais and Laith Khazali. They were captured in a March 2007 raid in Basra. On New Year’s Eve, we learned that Qais Khazali has been released, apparently as part of a prisoner exchange for British hostage Peter Moore. Laith Khazali was already released six months ago. Peter Moore was kidnapped in May 2007, explicitly to be used as a bargaining chip for the freedom of the Khazali brothers.
The circumstances around Qais Khazali’s release are murky, with the usual denials and clarifications swirling around like a cloud of confetti over Times Square on New Years’ Eve. Multi National Force spokesmen claim this was not a hostage trade, but rather an attempt to comply with “the implementation of the U.S. – Iraq Security Agreement” and support a “reconciliation process.” Some suggest this is all part of an elaborate intelligence operation.
Republican Senators Jeff Sessions and Jon Kyl have already sent a letter to the Obama Administration, citing an executive order signed by President Reagan in 1986 that prohibits concessions to terrorist hostage takers. With the New Year holiday behind us, more Republican congressmen will doubtless be right behind Sessions and Kyl with their own hard questions. It’s even possible some Democrats will join them, now that they’re finished with midnight votes to take over the health-care system, and desperately need to fool their constituents into thinking they’re “moderates” who care about national security.
Was that harsh? Prove me wrong, Democrats. Make me eat those words. I’ll gladly slather them in barbecue sauce, and savor ever last consonant.
International conflicts are a messy business. We know that Iran has been supporting the Iraqi insurgency with money, equipment, and personnel. We don’t have the manpower to completely lock down the thousand-mile border between Iran and Iraq. Attacks on Qods Force bases in Iran would swiftly escalate into all-out war. Intelligence is the key weapon in defeating a terrorist insurgency, and it must often be obtained through sins committed in deep shadow. We must also make efforts to respect the sovereign dignity of the Iraqi government we have been nurturing for the past six years. Even with all of these uneasy truths in mind, it’s difficult to see how the release of the men behind the Karbala attack can be justified.
It seems unlikely that the Khazali outrage could have happened without President Obama’s authorization. I’m ready to hear him explain this… and then, considering his reputation as a liar, every thinking American should be ready to fact-check every word he says. I don’t mind admitting I’m a hostile audience. You should be, too. Nothing this President has done since taking office has earned him a shred of trust or faith, especially in the area of national security.
We just watched his utterly incompetent Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, stammer her way through a terrorist attack. Her only useful purpose was preparing the infamous Defense Intelligence Estimate that indicted “radicalized right-wing extremists” as potential terrorists, thus transforming an important security document into a piece of scornography to titillate the far Left. No one who takes the defense of America seriously would put an unqualified piece of bureaucratic furniture like Napolitano in charge of Homeland Security… and, a week after a defective set of exploding underwear was the only thing keeping her from standing trial for three hundred counts of negligent homicide, she’s still there. There is still no evidence Barack Obama takes defense issues seriously, or even understands them. His Administration stands by while Navy SEALs are persecuted for allegedly punching a terrorist in the mouth… while the enemy murders handcuffed hostages with head shots.
I can think of a hundred bad reasons Obama would let the murderers of Karbala go. He needs to help us imagine a good one. America’s military men and women pledge their last full measure of their devotion to our defense. We owe it to them to return that devotion.
I humbly devote this space to remembering Private Johnathon Millican, First Lieutenant Jacob Fritz, Private First Class Shawn Falter, Specialist Johnathan Bryan Chism, and Captain Brian S. Freeman, and I encourage you to join me in demanding the full story behind why the filth who orchestrated their murders are walking around free. We won’t get those answers unless we push for them, with the same courage and dedication our fallen heroes gave to their duty. This story will go away, unless you keep it alive. Love the warriors, by making it clear to Washington that their lives are worth more than any politician’s career.
If I may borrow a few words from Private Falter’s brother: Rest, my friends. You’ve done your part. Your countrymen will take it from here.
Cross-posted at Hot Air.
I will do my part and ask these questions to my Senator, who will probably answer my question with a letter thanking me for my question. Probably in the hopes that I will go away. However, these questions, and a host of other questions will be asked until we get satisfactory answers.
Your post is very much in the line of Michael Yon’s posts. Very well written and well said.
All the best in the New Year.
[...] Dr. Zero has a story that will break your heart. It is further proof that the Obama administration is putting our brave Soldiers in harms way. This is criminal to think our National Security, our National Treasure, is being squandered by an egotistical Democrat Congress and a Socialist President. [...]
A travesty, to be certain. I don’t believe, as you state, that the love of these men and their sacrifice is a left-right issue. I’m certain that they are missed, and I know that they are respected by all Americans.
Very passionate post, as always. I do need to issue some corrections regarding the information surrounding this injustice, though.
1) This was not a U.S.-initiated release; this was requested by the Iraqi government, the nurtured, fragile government that you call for us to protect. The official Pentagon response is this:
2. The questions surrounding Reagan’s Executive Order: Executive Orders are not always binding as law, most especially from administration to administration. The National Security Decision Directive issued in 1986 may have been overturned several times over, maybe even (though I doubt it) when George W. created Homeland Security. Unfortunately, these Directives stay classified for a dozen years, and Obama may have his own, classified (and unverifiable) policy on terrorism and hostages in his “Presidential Study and Policy Directives”;
3. And, finally, you state:
Hyperbolic, yes; however (and I can’t believe that I’m justifying this), should we forget the Michigan Militia and their terrorist attacks in Oklahoma City? I believe that some left-wing organizations (like the Earth Liberation Movement) should be on their as well, but I don’t believe that the current administration feels threatened by them.
DOne says:
January 2, 2010 at 5:24 am
“A travesty, to be certain. I don’t believe, as you state, that the love of these men and their sacrifice is a left-right issue. I’m certain that they are missed, and I know that they are respected by all Americans.”
If what you write is true, then we can look forward to Democrats, Republicans and Independents alike, all lined up to demand an explanation from the Commander In Chief? And not resting until that explanation has been given to the satisfaction of all concerned? Senator John Kerry and Representative Jack Murtha will join hands with Senator John McCain and Independent Joe Lieberman – representing ALL of the people – to find out why we allowed this hideous “exchange” to take place?
Allow me to suggest that while “..they are respected by all Americans”, there is only one segment of Americans who totally understand how the memory of these brave soldiers has been totally destroyed by an act so UN-American that is defies verbal description.
We – by and through the Commander In Chief – just allowed a battlefield murderer to go free, rather than face the punishment that each and every one of us would face, had we been the murderers! We’ve also established a precedence for the future. Can we not expect similar “trades” for each and every American captured and held for ransom?
We demand an explanation. And if this is part and parcel of the promised “change we need now”, then another CHANGE is in order immediately.
I am but one Veteran among a family of many Veterans who have served this country with pride and distinction since 1776. My youngest Son and oldest Granddaughter continue that long line of service to this day.
I look forward to hearing that the above mentioned Democrats will join me to demand accountability from the highest level for this despicable act.
I shall not, however, hold my breath waiting.
Their last full measure of devotion deserves ours.
We might as well just pack it up and come home if this is how we intend to deal with our enemies. The Pentagon seemed more concerned with avoiding offending Muslims than the murdered soldiers at Ft Hood. Now this. Unbelievable weakness!
Prisoner trades are common in the Middle East (the Israelis do it, too) and I can believe the Iraqis wanted prisoner swaps at some level, BUT…we should still have some sort of say so in who is up for trading!!! You don’t trade the MVP for some minor league prospects to be named at a later date, so to speak.
I am not surprised this started 7 months ago, either, under Obambi’s watch.
God bless and keep all our military and their families.
Isn’t this the way Hamas and Hizb”allah act?
smitty wrote:
Agreed, Smitty, agreed. But this must be seen as the transfer of power that the last two Administrations have been working toward. We probably should have refused; but, how would that have stood with our policy of granting the Iraqis autonomy? A damn shame either way and a difficult decision to make. I truly hope that the Iraqis know what they’re doing.
DOne – Brennan, Axelrod, Emmanuel, or the Won himself?
Thank you so much for this, Doc.
@ DOne:
Your Wrong, the Michigan Militia had nothing to do with that or any bombing. We are just citizens ready to defend our Families and our Freedoms, we have rifles, not bombs, you are I’ll informed so get informed here by the FBI itself :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGc06MrXjxY
Thanks again, John.
Typing through tears, again. Never felt quite so helpless with the stakes so high.
Thanks for putting this horrible deed in true perspective, Doc. I’m contacting my representatives today.
My son and many of his friends are serving in the military. While my son is part of the pirate counterinsurgency off the coast of Africa, some of his friends are serving in Iraq. One who is serving there now recently posted a missive on Facebook castigating some people who had not written or contacted him during his service except for Christmas. He pointed out that he felt that in some way their remembrance was hollow and that their well wishes rang untrue. He had just lost his Sgt. and was sad, angry and disgusted. Although he acknowledged that he understood that this was what his service would entail, his pain was all too raw and obvious. Yet, he – and many others – soldier on. It is frustrating to read your post, Doc. Our men and women in the military put their physical and psychic lives on the line every day – how the hell can these people who orchestrated this exchange sleep at night?
Dr. Zero
Thank you for your brillant writing and even more brillant political insight.
You and Mark Steyn are my favorite commentators and I am feverishly sending
off your stuff to friends around the world saying, you must read this.
I hope you come out of the shadows at CPAC so I and many others can shake your hand.
Thanks for being a genius and sharing your gift with others.
SMVM THUMPER wrote:
My apologies, Thumper. I retract the Michigan Militia comment and am replacing it with Tim McVeigh.
Thanks for standing up for us Doc.
V/R,
Danger
Good points, I think I will definitely subscribe! I’ll go and read some more! What do you see the future of this being?
Obama feels no connection to any of the brave warriors who died that day. Unlike his predecessor in office, Obama will not go out of his way to comfort their families, nor will he salute their wounded comrades.
Mr. Obama is quite a different animal than anyone who held such power previously. Mr. Clinton comes close, and Mr. Carter somewhat less close. Mr. Kerry would have been a good match. Complete indifference to the price that brave men pay to defend their freedoms.
Thank You. Keep up the good work.
[...] Republican Senators Jeff Sessions and Jon Kyl have already sent a letter to the Obama Administration, citing an executive order signed by President Reagan in 1986 that prohibits concessions to terrorist hostage ….. http://www.doczero.org [...]
[...] tragedies and mortal outrages to recount, as well. Everyone should know the story of the attack on Karbala in 2007, and what became of the animals who planned and executed it. I’ll give you a hint: [...]
[...] tragedies and mortal outrages to recount, as well. Everyone should know the story of the attack on Karbala in 2007, and what became of the animals who planned and executed it. I’ll give you a hint: [...]
Well written. I would like to correct a technical error in the background of your story. PVT Millican was killed in the initial attack and CPT Freeman was among the Soldiers kidnapped. I had the misfortune of being present during the attack. May they all rest in peace.