The pity is that Christopher James Jacobs (the Marine whose gravestone is pictured) did not die defending our freedom, or anyone else's. His life, and thousands of others, were thrown away in a futile attempt to force democracy (NOT freedom) down the throats of people who have no use for it.

"You have chosen to risk your lives for the defense of this country. I will not insult you by saying that you are dedicated to selfless service — it is not a virtue in my morality. In my morality, the defense of one's country means that a man is personally unwilling to live as the conquered slave of any enemy, foreign or domestic. This is an enormous virtue. Some of you may not be consciously aware of it. I want to help you to realize it.

The army of a free country has a great responsibility: the right to use force, but not as an instrument of compulsion and brute conquest — as the armies of other countries have done in their histories — only as an instrument of a free nation's self-defense, which means: the defense of a man's individual rights. The principle of using force only in retaliation against those who initiate its use, is the principle of subordinating might to right. The highest integrity and sense of honor are required for such a task. No other army in the world has achieved it. You have."

Ayn Rand, Address to graduating class of the United States Military Academy at West Point, March 1974

Well stated Bob!

It breaks my heart. There were some valiant battles fought and victories purchased in American, British and Canadian blood in the pursuit of giving people who have known almost no freedom in centuries, a chance to experience it. Freedom sounds SO easy, but it cannot be just given to someone. They need to have the fire in their hearts to keep, protect and fight for such a precious gift.
Our POTUS seems happy to let it fail everywhere it is tried. Almost faster than an Iraqi soldier can drop his rifle.
Cheers

Good pictures, and a good reminder. I hate to see all that they fought for being thrown away.