FOOTNOTE 2: You may actually have seen her photograph; she was the one with the purple finger in the Oval Office with Pres. Bush on Iraqi Election Day.
She married a retired Marine who showed up for the ceremony in his dress blues, and for one glorious moment I thought that there might be enough Marines in the room to form an arch with their sabers, but no. It was all very simple and straightforward: they exchanged vows and rings, kissed in the appropriate Hollywood style, then ate and danced and went to bed early because — what else? — they were leaving first thing in the morning for Disney World.
I think they’re both lucky. I love Marines — as you know, we’ve got two of them in our family — and I think he may have the strength and sense of humor necessary to build a truly multicultural home. And she always wanted to join the Corps herself, and — who knows? — she may yet get there, and bring her husband along with her. He comes from a fine and strong family — his firefighting dad was one of the heroes of 9/11 — and they will provide a classic example of the compromises and sacrifices that make marriage work. Let’s hope. So far, so good. I can’t wait to see the kids, who will be very photogenic.
I was asked to say a few words, which were these: this was a quintessential American wedding. A handsome Marine marries a beautiful Iraqi woman who is led down the aisle by two old Jewish guys.
Don’t you think?
By God ..That was a Gettysburg address of sorts. Less is more! Good on yah, Doc.
Mazel tov to all!
God Bless America…and Mazel tov to the newlyweds!
So the Haji Gal grabbed herself an Old Jarhead and a couple of Kikes helped the nuptials along? Well, that yarn plumb warms the cockles of my redneck, oilpatch, Dogfaced heart. Only thing is, couldn’t you have played “Dixie” fer the recessional? “Yaller Rose Of Texas” being reserved fer the first shemale progeny.
‘Bout time the usual fraternizing and War Bride-ing took off like it sez to do in the Holy Bible. Lets folks know what we are fighting for, if you catch my drift.
Congratulations to all concerned.
very cute!
WOW !
God bless America !
The arrogant bigotry of the American corporate war machine knows no bounds. After the genocidal slaughter of the Iraqi men who bravely took up arms to defnd their homeland against greedy imperialists who seized their oil and permits them only to live as slaves to the corporations pumping it out of the ground, they proceed to take their women too. I wonder how much of a choice this woman had. After all, her country was reduced to ash and all the remianing men are now slaves of the American oil industry; how else was she to survive? No doubt hordes of pseudo-feminist propagadists like Wafa Sultan will cite this marriage born of oppression as an example of women’s “liberation.”
Throbbin,
You need to get out more and read more. Whether you’re still bitter about your childhood or can’t get over Bush, the US did not commit a genocidal slaughter of the Iraqi men. The Iraqi men killed each other in their Sunni / Shite / Kurd (though not so much) turf wars and bombings. Al-Qaeda killed lots of them too, but primarily because the Sunni bought the “Enemy of my enemy is my friend” theory until they realized that the Al-Qaeda would kill them just a fast as they would kill Americans. The US military was in a position to whip out the Iraqis, but did not. The US has not taken the Iraqi oil either. Most, if not all of the Iraqi oil deals are with other countries.
And you last had your head examined when?
Thanks, I enjoyed the laugh.
It was satire, right?
You really are not fit to be in the Human race. Are you related to Pelosi, Biden, Obama, or one of the other left wing idiots presently camped out in the district of confusion?
Yeah, right. We spent 4000 American lives and close to half a trillion pre-Obama dollars to fight a war precisely to buy Iraq’s oil at market prices.
I’m recommending PJM institute an award for ignorant tool of the week, and nominating you as its founding recipient. Fact is, you are a throbbing idiot of the first order, and eminently qualified.
you need mental health help. you are nuts!!
thanks for the laugh.
You forgot the /sarc tag
Because I can’t believe you think that.
Wow.
Robin you have got to stop throbbin’, and start thinkin’.
I haven’t been exposed to that level of factually inaccurate, and emotionally overwrought, rhetoric since I was in college.
I am assuming that you are a 40 something TA at some institution of higher learning.
High-frickin’ larious.
Mr Olberman, you need to get to makeup
LOL!
You gave me the first good laugh of the day! It reminds me of the soviet propaganda. As the French say : “Plus bête que ça, tu meurs !”
Yes I do. Thanks for sharing a beautiful story and for giving this new family legions of well wishers.
Meanwhile..outside of the Wedding Chapel where Michael Ledeen sits watching
a ceremoney that celebrates the
diversity the tolerance of America, a Afro American Mulatto President
looks out on South Lawn of the White House..out over the Rose Garden the
tourists gaping in stunned awe, out beyond Marine One helicopter, and thinks..
NOT ENOUGH..STILL NOT ENOUGH, NEVER EVER ENOUGH!!! The vague flaming anger,
the nurtured resentment of his childhood unhappiness boils just beneath the surface
He alone knows the near psychotic hatred of racial identity crisis..he knew it when
as a teenager he discoverd Malcolm X..and found the answer to his misery. It wasnt
his black Third World father that abandoned him, it wasnt his ineffectual, spacey
hippie mother, who abandoned him, that was at the source of his misery, no..no..it was AMERICA!!! Racist, America, that made him feel different. And America would pay. He “would fundamentally change America”. He didnt have much time. The job would be finishedby future Generations who would wage war against this place He would appoint Supreme Court justices who would ignore its Constitution and do “the right thing”. He would use the “tolerance” ploy and throw open the borders..to the Third World, he would give amnesty to 20 million illiterates, those votes alone would tip the
balance of every future election. He would consecrate a Temple to Islam..on the site
of 3000 Americans who were killed in the name of Islam. His pet media would make
the public mind accept that…the code words would be, as always, “tolerance”, “diversity”. You had to laugh when the you got the public to
believe “freedom” depended on accepting the most intimidating, enslaving religion
in history. Bwaahaahahaahaaaa! Best of all the Jews..the Jews in their own Jewish
owned Liberal media would cheer it on…but dont worry the Jews would get theirs.
A few more months of “noble” and “wise” consideration and the Iranian centrifuges would have done their work. All you had to do was wait, play golf, make
speeches. Yes..yes
Update 2037 AD. Ali Hassan Smith son of Marine Corporal Smith and Fatima Ali-Wassab
had finally made the life changing decision. His parents had divorced at age 5
he barely knew his father. Growing up alone in the wasteland of suburban America
he had searched for meaning, his friends smoked pot, did nothing, believed nothing. ut he had found transcendental beauty. In the blinding clear commands
the Prophet he would become a Warrior of God!! As he sat in the stands
of the Super Bowl he smiled..these Americans never learn, they still think
I am one of them, identiless, hopeless,greedy, fat materialistic, believing in nothing more than “tolerance”.. He smiled. The blast will kill hundreds, but of course it will Never be Enough..Never Ever!!. But Allah has promised me what they can never have- True Paradise. The Star Spangled Banner began to play.. Ali Wassab Smith age 21 stood up put his hand on the swith and screamed Allah Akbar!! Allah Akbar!!..
and smiled.
That was very well done. But tragedy, while beautiful in its own dark, poetic way, makes it hard to *do* anything – I just feel like sitting and pondering the sad irony of it all. To find constructive energy, we need stories that are realistically optimistic, where tragedy is real, but can be overcome.
So how about a sequel? Will our young jihadist meet someone that changes his life in a more constructive way?
Yes, the writing was well done, especially considering the speed with which it was concocted.
But don’t you think it is a little inappropriate considering the story? Would you have handed hardcopies to the wedding party and guests as they leave the chapel? Think about it.
I wish them all the best, I really do. Couples like these are the backbone of this nation and this woman certainly deserves every break she can get given her service to this nation.
Iraq has come a long way since the surge. But I still haven’t heard any major Democrat, like Obama, Biden, or Clinton, even admit that the surge worked, let alone give credit for the surge to George W. Bush and General David Petraeus. Does Iraq have its share of problems? It sure does, but no more so than any other fledgling democracy.
My biggest fear is that Obama is falling all over himself to leave by the end of next year from Iraq. If he withdraws too soon, he really does risk pulling defeat out of the jaws of victory. We should start thinking about the long-term in Iraq, and that could mean having US forces there for many years to come. But, if no Americans are being killed and if our presence can offer the stability needed to stop the young government from collapsing, why not stay? After all, we’ve been in Korea for 60 years and in Germany and Japan for 65 years, so why not stay in Iraq for as long as it takes to guarantee that it doesn’t slide back into the hands of either a dictator or, worse, al Qaeda?
Deep down, Americans know that this is the right thing to do. As long as Americans are NOT getting killed, it is worth the investment of more time and money. And, we certainly do NOT want to be in a situation where we leave and all the people who helped us in Iraq, like the lady in this story, will be executed by the Islamic fundamentalists who take over the country. We’ve seen how that story plays out in a place like Cambodia. We don’t need to see it happen again.
Great story…as a marine (Nam 67/68)I especially laughted at Marine English..along w/ my 21-year old daughter who knew exactly what that meant… goo job
Gary
That’s so freaking cool!
Semper Fi to both of them and to you for writing this.
This is and has been SOP for the US Government which has, since at least WW II, turned a blind eye to real need in unpopular populations. During that war, as most sentient persons know, escape from real dangers was possible when and mostly when there were “friends” to take up the case and help in the escape. Otherwise whole populations were left to the mercies of the “powers that be”. Friends of those who escaped includes of course in high places.
Ditto the Vietnam War.
Then recall that after the first Iraq War was ended by George H. Bush at the behest of the United Nations after consultation with General Colin Powell, Secretary of State just DAYS BEFORE certain victory accomplished by General Norman Schwarzkopf the Iraquis who had aided the US and UN troops were left to the tender mercies of Saddam Hussein.
During the subsequent Clinton Administration neither the US, the UN, or any of the “major” western media showed much interest in their plight.
It is too bad that many Americans have forgotten, if they ever knew, that THERE IS A RATIONALE for the Constitution of the USA as the protection in law of INDIVIDUALS. Do you think those “founding fathers” had an inkling that government is not interested in the individual.
ONLY INDIVUDUALS can be expected and/or trusted to aid, help others in trouble. So let’s give three cheers for those “little people” who are there when needed.
“ONLY INDIVUDUALS can be expected and/or trusted to aid, help others in trouble. So let’s give three cheers for those “little people” who are there when needed.”
Absolutely concur with this statement!!
Mazal Tov (Good Luck!)!
I wish them the very best. They deserve it more than most. They will need lots of patience, tolerance, and understanding too. These are things we wish for everyone in this society, with no exceptions.
It’s a lot better than SUBMIT!
Beautiful story!
I’m a faithful PJ Media reader–but usually articles published here make me sad, or mad, or afraid. Thanks for a day brightener!
What a beautiful story. It is so nice to read something pleasant. And yes, Senator Santorum needs thanked. Thank you for sharing.
DIVERSITY IS OUR STRENGTH!!!
Iraqi women..no problem, they will leave their religion and their extended
familiy behind. No Chain Immigration here, no way.
CELEBRATE DIVERSITY!!!
100,000 Somalis imported without the slightest consultation of the American
People. NO PROBLEM.
Ignore the forming Sharia schools. Ignore the Al Shabab Recruitment
CELEBRATE DIVERSITY!! 100,000 Burmese to Indianapolis
60,000 Kurds into Tennessee? Imported without asking anyone in Tennessee?
or Indiana?
NO PROBLEM!!
Ignore the mosques, ignore the warnings forming network of radical Imans. Ignore
the permanent welfare. Americans are GLAD TO PAY!!
CELEBRATE DIVERSITY!!
30 Million illegal illiterate Mexicans…
NO PROBLEM
Ignore the destruction of the white majority. Ignore the welfare rolls.
Ignore the gangs, the drugs, the kidnappings.
CELEBRATE DIVERSITY
Jamaican Drug Lords relocate to rural Alabama?
Ignore the Afro Marxism. Ignore the violence, the chain immigration. We will
take care of Jamaica.
CELEBRATE DIVESITY!
9 Million Haitians..the most ignorant impoverished group in Western Hemisphere
wants to come here to? Set up the “Hatian Entrant Program” Begin with 50,000.
The 47% of the USA that pays taxes will PAY FOR THAT TOO!!
CELEBRATE DIVERSITY!
El Salvador? Colombia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Syria
BRING IN THE POVERTY, BRING IN THE IGNORANCE, BRING IN THE AIDS, THE MALARIA,
THE DENGUE FEVER
CELEBRATE DIVERSITY!!!!
ehunt you win the monday morning award for most mean-spirited comment of the day. so far, anyway…
I just wonder which unit ehunt served with, I’m guessing it wasn’t with the Marines.
Michael, ehunts comments are so out of place and over the top, that it makes me wonder whether he is a real conservative, or instead he is a leftie troll, posting his characticture of what a conservative would say.
Real conservatives celebrate real diversity, where people of differring backgrounds voluntarily choose to join together in the american melting pot, embracing our culture, while remembering and adding the best elements of their own. It is only the leftie kind of diversity, where government force is used to dictate outcomes based on what category you are in, and people come to america not to assimilate and become americans, but to tear us down and remake us in their image, that conservatives oppose.
ehunt: for the record, as they say, the bride’s parents were not given visas…
eHunt I agree with you in principal. But even if you identify a problem in general, you still have to look at every human being individually.
99,9% of people from 3′rd world countries might fit your description. But the subject for this story does not. Here is a clue: when someone risks her life for you, then that person IS your friend.
Mr. Ledeen: You are wrong here. How can you write about the glories of diversity in face of the many wrongs occuring in America due to the same diversity? How can you write about how wonderful diversity is when qualified white students are not given a seat in colleges and universities because a lesser qualified black or hispanic student MUST get the DIVERSITY seat?
I guess you support the “diversity” of having an Islamic center next to the site of were 3,000 Americans died? Where does your support for diversity end? Can you refute anything ehunt said?
At its most basic level diveristy means to separate. How can we be strong by separating into little tribes? What made us strong for the first 230 years was our unity. Gee, let’s change our national motto to refect your way of thinking, eh?
dear blotto: diversity is not a synonym of unfairness, nor does my delight in that wedding translate into an endorsement of “equal opportunity,” which I detest. so i embrace free people choosing to marry, and wish them well. seems churlish to condemn them.
Well said. It is nice to see somebody wanting to come to america because they have worked with americans, and come to love them. I celebrate immigration when somebody wants to come here because they love america, and want to become one, instead of just wanting to get a handout. It is also dismaying to me that our government seems to put up so many barriers to legal immigrants, who have risked their lives to help us, while doing little to nothing about illegal immigration.
An Iraqi girl who speaks marineglish – I’d like to hear it.
Shame on all the mean spirited posters here! You should be extending congratulations, not spewing bile.
I suspect they will do just fine. I’ve seen it happen with an unlikely couple before.
My neighbor was a teenage Vietnamese war bride who knew almost no English when she settled with her new husband’s kin in an isolated valley on the North Carolina/Tennessee border. She’d fascinate Professor Henry Higgins with her version of Southern Appalachian English. The are still married and have two sons both of whom have college educations, which is not common for boys raised around here. As for any search for meaning those sons felt growing up with a mixed religious and racial heritiage in the heart of bitter clinger land, one served on the Secret Service presidential security detail and is now a security executive at a financial insitution in Charlotte. Both are happily married and she has some of the cutest little towheaded grandkids I ever did see.
And by the way, none of her family every came to the United States.
QFT, loud and long.
God bless the loving couple, who met in a dangerous situation and made something very human and very wonderful out of it. Prost, mazel tov and huzzah to them both.
And may He also grant a smart thump between the ears to those who feel compelled to whinge and spew venom instead of disagreeing intelligently. Yes, if you’re reading this and are angry that I wrote it, I mean you.
Cheers,
There are some really strange folk making comments on this blog! Semper Fi and best wishes to the bride and groom. USMC 1965-1971
great story; mazel tov; semper fi
Congratulations & best wishes to the happy couple. May God bless them.
And thank you for a good story. Your daughter is a fine person.
“You meant it for evil, God turned it to good,” Joseph told his murderous brothers.
I have a family member serving in Iraq. He recently sent us the translation of the ‘official’ death threat one of his interpreters received a couple weeks ago.
His crime in rebuilding the country he loved, was (of course) working for the American Crusaders and the Zionists.
And these people he works for? They are not teaching people how to strap on bombs. They are sharing trades, skills — technical as well as organizational and management — and expereince and knowledge about how to have responsible and responsive leadership so the infrastructure of Iraq will be there to serve its citizens well in the future.
The thing that irks me about this story in that in contrast to the whining that we can’t do anything about millions of hispanic (and other) illegal immigrants who walk around in plain sight, we see that we *can* deny a couple a tourist visa to see their daughter who had to flee her homeland get married half the world away.
We really do have a bunch of idiots running our government.
I loved reading this. Thanks for sharing, Dr. Ledeen, and God Bless your kids for being such fantastic examples of what is best about America.
To ehunt and Throbbin Yobbin – Your comments are appalling. Really.
“semper fidelis” to the marine and his lady. live long, be happy and prosper. as for “ehunt”, he reveals himself as a bitter, angry and unhappy person, full of hate and mean spiritedness, an ugly soul. to the bride’s “marine english”, i’ve tried to clean up my vocabulary over the many years since i left the corps but it seems my adult daughter has inherited it, perhaps something in the dna?
“If they are good enough to risk their lives on the battlefield with our soldiers,” why is there even a QUESTION about whether to offer them sanctuary?
1. That is indeed a heartwarming story. My best wishes to the couple for a long, happy and successful marriage.
I differ slightly with the post, though. Hopefully, perhaps after a hitch in the military, the children will prosper in civilian careers in mainstream America. I salute and thank our military, but let’s not forget that their efforts are a means to an end.
2. ML, the fraction and virulence of toxic posts in a comment section can reach a point at which the comments are not worth the effort to read. Remember Gresham’s Law!
I like Marines too, but my son is in the Coast Guard, so I’m afraid the Marine Corps is only second on my list.
Congrats to the happy couple!
What a sweet story. Thanks for sharing , and yes, it is a quintessentially American story.
One phrase comes to mind “Out of many one”. A shineing example of what make America, well, AMERICA. These are the events that turn the pages on bigotry and fear. When cultures jump into the “melding-pot” called America what pours forth is the unique American culture, rich in its diversity yet forged together as an entity that values being One Nation with justice and liberty for all. God bless this happy couple. For those who disparage this wish for Gods blessing be advised, It is the God of Abraham that all three religons featured in this article claim as their God.
As a Canadian, the description you gave of the wedding ceremony would definitely fit the description of Americana. It’s good to see it added to other examples, like the white picket fence in Hannibal, Missouri, which was written into “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” by Mark Twain, or clam digging at Pacific Shores.
For, there is more to the US than the stars & stripes, and Apple Pie.
The Marine gets the girl. I love a happy ending. I wish them both the very best.
Hey Everybody,First, Congrats to the happy couple.Second, after every war soildiers marry so we have Japanese,German,Italian,Korean,Vietnamese and now Iraqi women whose progeny have enriched our country.
Third, #7 you are so far gone into your leftist dream (nightmare?)that you cannot be reached.Fourth again best to the bride and groom.
…but to this day the bureaucrats maintain ridiculous requirements (mistakenly imposed in the name of “security”)…
When don’t they do this?
May God’s blessings fall upon them in great delight and abundance, and keep them and theirs from harm over the years. Thank you for a such a happy story. Semper Fi, indeed. USMC 1968-1969
Sweet story. May the happy couple live happily ever after. Each has contributed more to the American commonweal than most.
Since we’re in an intimate vein one question unrelated to the happy event itself: Has there been a surege in the number of Jews volunteering for in the Armed Forces? Is anyone keeping statistics?
I ask because, anecdotally, I’m bumping into more and more Jewish kids in uniform and out contributing to the war effort.
I have heard that there have been times in the past when Jews in uniform exceeded the purportion of Jews in the population. Is a similar surge taking place today and if not, what can be done besides setting an example as you and your children have done to bring it about?
the best is for parents to be very visibly proud of the military. in our synagogue we pray for the men and women of the armed forces every Sabbath, for example.
i can only give you anecdotal evidence for growing numbers of Jews in the Marine Corps. Our youngest, who went through OCS five years after his older brother, had no trouble finding 10 Jews for prayer; his older brother couldn’t find ten within range.
Clear inclusion of our men and women in uniform in our Sabbath prayers is a good beginning. We do this in our (Orthodox) synagogue as well. One line after general prayers for the welfare of the US of A.
However, I believe something more robust is in order. For instance, every Jewish day school has a college night when recruiters from various universities are invited to meet graduating seniors and their parents. Military recruiters need to be invited as well to acquaint students and parents with the generous benefits of ROTC.
Talking to parents of college age children I find that most never even considered ROTC. They’re surprised when I mention it. This needs to change and the change won’t come from outside the community. There is no Teddy Roosevelt out there with a personal invitation for “Jews of the Macabee type” to join up.
That made me feel great and I hope the newlyweds make it work…smallminded beauracrats….sigh
Fantastic story.
Life is full of wonderful stories–and this is one of them.
My best wishes for health and happiness to the bride and groom, and to their families.
God bless America, folks!
stop trying to whitewash your uber-evil capitalist mysoginist bible (torah)-thumping war-monger republican self by describing what obviously would never happen in haterville populated by people such as yourself.
i know this because the Libs and Dems told me so. especially the purple-people-beaters at the racist tea-party rallies.
So, you let others think for you? My, my, my, how original. *Chuckling*
couldnt help but notice comment number seven stating the iraqis are slaves to the oil industry in iraq. slaves??? that industry provides an economic base for the country along with good payi jobs that allow money to be spent in their country to bolster their tax base. sounds like this person is an obama supporter that doesnt want a free market economy. what a jerk.
Best wishes to them both.
And re the problems getting her to the States – we had the same issues
in the UK , with the Bozos in immigration refusing to recognise the need to support those brave
individuals who stepped-up to be interpreters. (And ditto the Bozos who refuse to recognise
other soldiers fighting for Queen and Country such as the Ghurkas and Commonwealth troops)
Great Story. May God bless them and keep them.
As an old Navy man (‘Nam ’66) I know Marine English. Of course Navy English is colorful as well.
Semper Fi and Mazel Tov to the bride and groom. Have many children, because they are the greatest adventure life offers.
I’m glad they managed to get her a green card. For helping our military in an extremely difficult situation we make it impossible to seek refuge when their lives are under threat?
Maybe we should just have these people sneak over the border and wait for amnesty rather than follow the rules. /sarc
Congratulations to the happy couple. May they live peaceful lives and die of old age together.
Surely Marines == cutlasses, not sabers???
No Dyspeptic, Marine swords are sabers. Officers’ swords are of the mameluke design, very cool looking. They are modeled after the sword of honor presented by the State of Virginia to Marine Lieutenant Presley O’Bannon, who led the Marines in the attack on Derna and raised the Stars and Stripes above the walls of the conquered city during the First War Against the Barbary Pirates in 1805. That’s the “Shores of Tripoli” reference in The Marines’ Hymn.
A heart warming cheer for the both of them from a WWII Marine.
As an ombudsman for an aircraft carrier, I had the privilege to provide assistance and encouragement to a young Japanese woman who had married her sailor and moved away from all she knew and loved in Japan to the States. She was so eager to become American, even to the point of having her baby without her sailor husband present.
I so admire the courage women like her and this Iraqi lady have – to leave everything that is known for a life that is completely unknown.
Wonderful story! Thanks for sharing it!
Beautiful story. As my then 4 year old adopted Romanian orphan used to say, “What a country!” Thank you to the Ledeens and to Rick Santorum for living this sentiment.
Congrats to the newlyweds
Congrats to the happy couple! Seems they are destined for great things. I hope her family can come and visit soon.
These unlikely kinds of marriages are indeed part of the American melting-pot tradition. It seems pretty tame today, but my middle-class mom from a Lutheran family marrying my lower-class Irish Catholic dad was kind of a big deal. The interesting part of the wedding was who had the most fun: the grandmothers from either side. My Finn Lutheran great-grandma spoke little English, but she whooped it up with my Irish Catholic great-grandma, who was deaf as a stone. Turns out their delightful detente eased a lot of tension and made it easier for the families to come together.
What a lovely story. When the bride comes to Arizona tell her to carry the necessary immigration papers at all times. We do not want her to get locked up for being brown and or Muslim.
Give it a rest, will ya?
What a happy ending. Glad the marine gets the girl. Congrats to the newlyweds. What a journey.
Can’t believe jim i phoenix’s comment above.
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