This is by far one of the funniest videos I have seen in a very long time. And I have to tell you, after three trips to Iraq in all stages of the conflict, I know MANY a Soldier and Marine who wanted to say just this to the IP and IA.
Any of you all who’ve served there in one capacity or another will seriously identify with this Soldier.
[WARNING! Foul Language]
– Christian
February 18th, 2009 | Video Lounge | 434862 Commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fdefensetech.org%2F2009%2F02%2F18%2Ftelling-it-like-it-is%2FTelling+it+Like+it+Is2009-02-18+21%3A48%3A50Wardhttp%3A%2F%2Fdeftech.usmilblog.com%2F%3Fp%3D4348
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{ 48 comments… read them below or add one }
Damn right!
I’m glad we have men like that fighting for us!
Clear cut no BS ready to lead by example!
I nominate that guy for president!
He’d tear congress a new orifice.
This guy, is my new God.
What a relief to see someone had the cojones, nvm the *freedom of movement* to tell it like it is without being forced to respect any real (or imagined) political, tribal and/or religious sensitivities!
Clearly one of the great orators of our time! He has a future in motivational speaking.
I could not have said it better. Only, that same speech was given in Vietnam too. The Parallels are unmistakable.
Some will fight and some will not. The Koreans fought with honor in the Korean and Vietnam war, the ROK Army was awesome. In WWII some country’s and certain peoples fought for what they believed and some did not.
There is a complex issue with the Muslim people of the world and they cannot make up their minds who are their friends and who are their enemy’s.
I hope the people who supported this stupid war see this video and are old enough to remember Vietnam.
That speech should be put on a laminated card and issued to every IA & IP. If they take that advice, we should be out of the sandbox by years end.
If there weren’t members of JAM in that formation, there might be now. I felt that way all the damn time when I patrolled with the IA and especially the IPs, but like Mav said, you can’t just berate them into doing what we want. They’re an honor-driven society and calling them weak women in the most colorful of American phrases might not have the intended effect. Most of them do have closer loyalties to tribe, militia, and town than they do to Iraq. That’s just the nature of the Iraqis. That’ll take generations to undo. He berated them for sitting by while US troops fight and die for them. They didn’t ask us to come to Iraq. Yelling at them like they owe us something won’t get the job done.
Wouldn’t be surprised if the interpreter chose to not translate his words too literally…
Gotta agree with TB that it was almost completely counterproductive. Even if the interpreter did not repeat the F-word, I’m sure 90% knew its meaning and context.
The tone could have been useful, but the overuse of the F-bomb just made him look foolish, especially since he is likely to face disciplinary action since it could have been a private butt-chewing that will now become an international incident on video.
I LUV THIS GUY!!!!!
Seen this before fav. part is when he chews out the head officers.
TB cole i understand how your thinkin but realy the world in general needs more of this. What is there point in being there to fight for there ppl there country or to where a pretty uniform. im glad he said this are these guys men or children.
like he said he will not help ppl who will not help themselves
When a country in africa invades another or murderes hundreds of thousands of there own ppl the UN does what?..Sits there says well punish the ppl that survive cause it might make ppl angry if we i dont know did our Fin job?
The world hates us so be it theyll hate anyone stronger than them anyone they cant control. B ut in the end were the ones they turn to when they just cant hack it. So world were hurtin now time to man up.
Amazing!! Finally civilians can see what we are dealing with over there. How long have we been having these same “conversations” with these lazy IPs? All excuses and no results. I completely identify with the frustrations those soldiers are facing. There is no way to train an army who privately hates your guts. It’s hard when you are more motivated to succeed than the people you are training to replace you.
Amazing!! Finally civilians can see what we are dealing with over there. How long have we been having these same “conversations” with these lazy IPs? All excuses and no results. I completely identify with the frustrations those soldiers are facing. There is no way to train an army who privately hates your guts. It’s hard when you are more motivated to succeed than the people you are training to replace you.
36 times he used the F-bomb…and suspect he is an officer.
I have nothing but respect for our troops and the multiple year-long tours they have and will continue to endure. It has to be extremely frustrating to beat your head against the wall…training corrupt and questionably loyal police…as opposed to hopefully the more motivated Iraqi Army.
At the same time, I guarantee you that young Captain (?) did not drive down there in a unarmored Police pick-up. I see him in full battle rattle and see no sign of vest-one or rifle on the Police. I’m sure his points are legitimate, but you sure don’t chew out the bosses in front of the men, either.
Yesterday or today I read about a LTC who was just killed in a IED explosion in an uparmored-HMMWV. I have a lot more respect for that…leading from the front and letting his troops have the MRAP…then this guy’s ego troop chewing out Iraqi police in a manner unbecoming and unproductive.
The next question is how old is this tape. If it was made in 2007 it would be more understandable.
I can’t remember how many times I had to stand on a 1151 hood and give the same damn speech, a man check and nationality speech is what they needed to get the job on.
I have a friend who’s dad was a bomber pilot in WW2. Back when we were having “issues” with France (read Freedom Fries), my friend complained loudly about France’s unwillingness to stand and fight.
His Dad just looked at him and said, “Don’t you realize that many of the French men that would stand and fight, who would not compromise, were killed in WW2?” They lost nearly a whole generation of outstanding men.
Maybe it is the same thing in Iraq. The men who would fight, did and are no more. Maybe this police unit is made up of soldiers who surrendered to reporters…
I understand the view that what he said may be counterproductive. It is a valid point. But then again it may be spot on what he said.
He is challenging their loyalties and honor.
Now they have to prove it, otherwise he is right and if they are cowards and won’t stand up then who cares about their opinion.
These people suffered under saddam and through two American blitzkriegs. I would imagine they have thicker skin then most Americans who cry about every perceived slight. I’m American I know.
Since when do police go on combat patrols and look for people to kill? Soldiers do that. The officer in full combat gear is complaining that the Iraqi police aren’t doing their job yet it seems he is confused as to what their job actually is. In addition he is unaware that all of his foul language does not translate into Arabic and was skipped altogether by the Iraqi translator. I suspect his speech was more for the benefit of the audience he was expecting to watch the video he knew was being shot.
Additionally, though I have difficulty understanding the Iraqi dialect, it seems that one of the Iraqi police officers is making the point that either the Iraqi police do not have the luxury of air support that the Americans do, or he is concerned with the possibility of American aircraft firing on the Iraqi police during operations against militia, to which the American soldier responds “quite making excuses.”
Either way, it seems to me the Iraqi police officers were unimpressed with the American soldier’s comments.
The “quite making excuses” comment came from the fact that we roll in 10,000 pound armored vehicles. He said something like “walk, you don’t need trucks”. I couldn’t make out the rest, but it was probably a list of material differences between our support and theirs.
“I don’t see your ass in my hometown”. Yeah, that’s possibly because Iraq didn’t invade and occupy the United States of America.
At the same time, I guarantee you that young Captain (?) did not drive down there in a unarmored Police pick-up. I see him in full battle rattle and see no sign of vest-one or rifle on the Police…
Ive seen plenty of patrols where the marines walk threw neighborhoods not in a vehicle…and ive seen ip’s where in vest.
alot depends on when this was shot maybe 2006- 2007 or so when it was real bad? His point is there job is to protect the iraqi ppl not to stay safe. His point is that if some of them harbor simpathies for the insurgentsor malitias or sects or tribes they need to put them second to the good of iraq.
nuff said
You copperheads (Big Daddy etc.) ought to put a sock in it for once, you may be imbeciles but you don’t have to show it off.
This dude has a tough mission and he is trying to do a good job at it. While lesser men such as yourselves gripe and moan apparently trying to get someone, anyone to share your high opinion of yourselves.
As for being in full war toys, thats what Soldiers wear genus. Its his uniform and playing Rambo with his helmet off is seldom a good idea, screw PR. What do you want, a group hug?
This guy knows how it should be done. its time that the americans quit doing everything and dying for them and let there asses get out there. shit maybe one day we’ll here on the new that some Iraqi was killed doing some good for once instead of a US soldier.
Tone?!?! We are talking about tone?!?! I am quite certain that soldier has seen a buddy die right in front of him. If not, he has at least seen a vehicle hit an IED. He has every right to be pissed off when soldiers die every day outside the wire and these guys are too scared to patrol.
What does it matter whether he has “battle rattle” on, or came in on an armored chariot? That is no guarantee his time won’t be up the next time he goes down that road. But at least he follows his orders and does not make excuses. When we didn’t have uparmored vehicles or adequate body armor did you hear about any soldiers saying they won’t go out on patrol? Yet these police officers are to fearful to do that.
BTW, police in Iraq (a combat zone) have different objectives than police in the US. So driving (or marching) into a known area of combat and kicking some ass would not be uncalled for.
My concern is if this thing goes popular. What do you think will happen to this soldier?
DC2
Budget crisis… will fuel cell based submarines be introduced to US Navy to rescue the shipyard and to introduce more cost friendly alternatives to nuclear submarines? There is resistance in the Navy about the fuel cell based AIP submarines, but while operation time is limited to weeks, at least it is feared as a silent boat.
Outstanding! That was just beautiful. He is questioning their honor and their will. The Iraqi police are toe up from the flo up and need a kick in the ass. And all of you poopooing him need to check your own loyalty. The US has given more square miles back to the original residents then it has ever taken.
The tone was not the problem. The profuse profanity, calling them women (in a culture where that hurts), criticizing superiors in front of subordinates, and threatening to kick individual behinds was the problem.
Compare it to the case of the human terrain team guy who allegedly killed the guy who set his female partner on fire leading to her eventual painful death. It is entirely understandable why he did it, you can empathize to the nth degree, but it was still unacceptable.
Even if one of this guy’s buddies was just killed, it was wrong and a setback to relations. This is a classic information operations example of how seemingly small incidents become major ones. Why did he film it!!!! Like Abu Ghraib, this is something that could harm the whole relationship with Shia police in particular, since he seemed to play up the Sunni opponent angle and implied that one group was brave and the other cowardly.
There is zero reason to question the courage of our troops who drive around daily, and patrol on foot in danger. There IS reason to show a bit more empathy with the plight of lightly armed police who face the same IED and small arms hazards as the Iraqi Army and our troops…yet are not anywhere near as well armed or protected. How many times have you heard of Iraqi or Afghan Police groups getting bombed while in line, or killed by the busload, or in their weakly defended stations.
I guarantee you that our police would be looking for more SWAT like teams/weapons and armored vehicles in the U.S. if they faced the same threats that Iraqi and Afghan police face…and suspect they wouldn’t be all that gung ho to risk their lives either if they survived on their pay.
Gotta put yourself in the other guys shoes. That’s part of what counterinsurgency is all about.
If those Iraqis weren’t part of a militia before, that soldier just turned them toward one by humiliating them publicly. Know the culture and know the people and use that information effectively….
SPOT FLIPP”N ON!!!!! Now that was motivational…Who was that guy? Little pink bows probably started to appear out to the Iraqi’s waist bands as he was “complimenting” their performance.
Looks like a yelling fag wanting to know who hid her lipstick.
I don’t wa second guess him, given his experience and situation, but his goal is to get them to do what he wants them to do, so pushing the right buttons is critical.
I lived and worked in Arab countries for 10 years, and humiliating them (and their superiors, in front of them) doesn’t get you much.You also can’t turn them into nationalists with a speech.
No question, he is frustrated by what he has already seen from these guys, but he needs some advice, obviously.
I wonder how many of them have given their lives for their country since the video was taken. We have paid dearly enough…
Don’t get me wrong, I love this guy but I keep thinking…lets say…225 years ago in the colonies…a British officer saying…you stupid Americans…who belongs to the local militia?
Some of you need to grow up…
“Set back to relations”…
Are you people living in the real world…
“set back to relations”…
I’m sure those police are going to call obama.
Get real. Your politically correct fantasy world does not exist except for in sheltered countries and even there its more imagination then anything else.
Also to the other fools… US troops do routine foot patrols. I do not see mahdi army guys driving in MRAPS or hummers they do not have air support either.
Your a bunch of losers making excuses for other losers.
All you need in that part of the world is an AK and some balls. You know balls, when you have them you don’t cry about being called women you get up and kick some ass.
I mean seriously how do you people get buy in life? mom and dad? welfare? I mean seriously you bunch of whining Marys. DO you quit every time the boss gets upset and runs their mouth?
Set back to relations you freaking pansies.
Get real it is a war zone put it in context you nit wits.
I think that’s the type of situation that build bonds, actually. I don’t think you politically correct here know what you’re talking about. If he could fire them he could have taken that route, made a few examples, but I don’t think he had that n his play book, and I don’t think it would have been as effective. Have you no management experience? This is step one of a very common strategy. Make them look at themselves and who they are and who they want to be.
So which one hurts more, getting your legs blown off by an IED or having someone scream nasty things at you? I’ll go for having a guy scream at me. You get over that. Legs blown off? You never get over that.
Internet bullies are nearly as amusing as face-to-face tirades.
Agree with your first point entirely. Better tone. No name-calling. Oh wait, you called us naive. But agree that the Shiites got gassed the last time they attempted an “insurgency” against Hussein following our pull-out in 1991. Could that and use of WMD against the Iranians be why we suspected Iraq might not only have WMD but would be willing to use them?
Second point is somewhat irrelevant, but I’ll play. No combat experience. Irrelevant to knowing this was improper behavior…particularly if he was an officer, as I once was which should give you the leadership answer. More leadership? I ran my own business for 13 years and wrote Army doctrine. How many combat leaders like you can say that?
Foreign affairs? I served in the 11-nation Multi-National Force and Observers and dealt with Arabs, Israeilis, and allies on a regular basis for a year. Served in Germany for 3 years. Methinks I’m qualified to know when anyone is being an ugly american…to include myself. I once threatened to kick a french guy’s ass after an overzealous Paris street salesman gave me attitude when I would not buy his amateurish silhouette drawing of my wife that he was not asked to draw.
Your third point. Are we sensitive and misguided to understand that Abu Ghraib caused infinitely great damage to U.S-Iraqi and U.S.-Arab relations? Is it girly or naive to think that bombing civilians is a piss poor idea (see I can swear too)? Are we wrong to be “politically correct” when the stakes of lack thereof could be more lost lives and two steps back from the current one step forward in Iraq?
I applaud you and your service as I do every brave American, allied Soldier, Sunni and Shiite who is trying to do the right thing. However if you cannot realize how this could be improper behavior, then you do not belong in any leadership position in Iraq or Afghanistan.
You apparently don’t understand that this kind of treatment is MORE LIKELY to result in irrational Arab behavior. Not good. We want Shiites on our side and not seeking revenge against us or the Sunnis for some perceived or real (in this case)slight.
Nope, I didn’t chew out my noncoms in front of their guys, that is a nonstarter. And I absolutely didn’t call out the (kuwaiti)officers in front of their men. I’m thinking something recent set this guy off and he hadn’t thought things through.
Nope, I didn’t chew out my noncoms in front of their guys, that is a nonstarter. And I absolutely didn’t call out the (kuwaiti)officers in front of their men. I’m thinking something recent set this guy off and he hadn’t thought things through.
from reading some of the comments i see that the Mothers Of America have a strong foothold on the hearts and minds of its warrior culture. if you haven’t seen worse then you’ve led a pretty sheltered life.
HOOAH!!
Best hooah speech I have heard since 1997. Has me ready to walk a patrol and I have not held a weapon since 2000.
Everyone wants to come to america? THAT is how it is in america when you do not pull your weight.
it was about time that they this message. oh and anyone who was this video sendet to my you tube cadetmarine
I have not been, nor will be deployed to Iraq. My time in is done. However, as most, I’ve heard similar chewing-outs before and they do work.
All you ‘tone’ folk are just wrong. From my experience, the real determinate of the speech’s effectiveness will be character of the guy delivering it. Most of you know what I mean. The rest can go back to ‘tone’ discussions.
Great work Son. Stay alive.
It would be interesting to follow up this story and see if the Iraqi cops actually did march south towards the river and kicked some asses, or whether they got their asses bombed to oblivion by Sunni mortars.
Heh you stupid yahoos, see if your pea-brains can comprendho this.
How does it feel there guys? Does the insult motivate you to get smarter or to kick my posterior (or blow me up with an IED)? Would you use this motivational technique on a group of clergyman who pray multiple times a day? Think it had any more positive affect on this group of Muslims?
It isn’t the tone. Its the childish profanity, mixed with insults of superiors in front of subordinates, coupled with threats to kick their individual asses for having the gall to speak up to their great leader.
Typical Napoleanic-syndrome resorting to swearing to make himself larger/tougher than real life, and on film at eleven to boot. If he was suggesting that they “march” into danger in formation with minimal weapons and without heavy vehicle-mounted or dismounted firepower possessed by his own unit, than he is tactically inept, as well, which I HIGHLY DOUBT.
I thank him and all who serve/served who share similar frustration and PTSD anger. But don’t put lipstick on this pig of behavior and imagine that it helps anything…either to locally motivate or to motivate Shiites and Iraqi Police in general.
j, I’m baffled how you and others equate disdain for needless profanity and cultural insults as an attack on tough “tone.” Are the F-bombs and personal threats supposed to make me believe this guy has character??? Can you explain why the same tone, less the profanity would not have worked just as well to the group…and too superiors in private? Can you explain why he filmed the tirade to spread the negative influence?
Out
Excellent motivational speech!… now.. can ya bring him back and put him in front of Wall Street, Bankers, congress and, dare I say it, our Commander in Chief and give the same damn speech? Jeez it seems that THEY need this speech more than the IA or IP!!!!
Sounds like they are just like the Vietnamese Regional Forces, Popular Forces (RUFPUF)and most of the South Vietnamese Army—and look what happened to them!
I am not damning all South Vietnamese forces, I served with a GREAT Vietnamese unit in the ARVN Airborne Division and those guys kicked ass!
It’s me again…just couldn’t let some of the comments go. Not only did I serve with the ARVN Airborne, but also served most of my Viet Nam tour with an American unit as an Infantry Platoon Leader, RECON Platoon Leader, and Infantry Company Commander. For the record, I have two (2) Purple Hearts.
If you served and if you are a close combat veteran (and not a REMF) you will appreciate this and not be surprised at the approach that GREAT soldier took–otherwise you will not understand!
As Crosby, Stills, & Nash said (sang) “…you will find the cost of freedom buried in the ground…”
If you really want to know AND understand, I suggest that sign up and take a trip to where the PURPLE HEARTS grow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I too am a Vietnam vet, and am appalled by this video. It’s one thing for a DI to speak that way to a bunch of recruits, but this guy is supposed to be there winning the hearts and minds of these people. Instead he berates them, their faith, women in general and takes a very ethnocentric tone. It is disgusting that this individual is allowed to “lead”.