Good Friends

Josh Marshall wrote in November 2003 that "we're all alone" in Iraq.

No we're not.

And we never were.

From The Tennessean's Tim Chavez:

''Our lead security vehicle stopped in the middle of the street. This is not normal and is very unsafe, so the following vehicles began to inquire over the radio. The lead vehicle reported a little girl sitting in the road and said she just would not budge.

''The command vehicle told the lead to simply go around her and to be kind as they did. The street was wide enough to allow this maneuver and so they waved to her as they drove around.

''As the vehicles went around her, one of the Marines soon saw her sitting there, and in her arms she was clutching a little bear that he had handed her a few patrols back. Feeling an immediate connection to the girl, he then radioed that the convoy was going to stop.

''The rest of the convoy paused as he got out to make sure she was OK. The little girl looked scared and concerned, but there was a warmth in her eyes toward him. As he knelt down to talk to her, she moved over and pointed to a mine in the road

(See Blackfive for the provenance of the story, and a glimpse into how stupid professional cynics can be.)

More importantly, though, send toys to:

SSgt Tranchitella

1st Intel Bn (AFP)

UIC 42498

FPO AE 96426-2498


Splash, out

Jason