CAPTION FOR FIRST PHOTO: LAST PHOTO: Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Monsoor, center, sent this photo home from Iraq days before he died.
PHOTO COURTESY OF DANNY WRIGHT


Wednesday, October 4, 2006

Garden Grove resident and SEAL dies in combat

Garden Grove resident Michael Monsoor was proud of his service and accomplishments, friends say.

By DEEPA BHARATH
The Orange County Register

GARDEN GROVE – Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor was supposed to come back home from Iraq in about two weeks, in time for Halloween, his favorite holiday.

Friends were planning a Halloween and "welcome home" bash for the 25-year-old Navy SEAL, said Patrick Barnes, one of Monsoor's best friends.

Monsoor died Friday while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Ramadi, Iraq, the Department of Defense announced Tuesday. He was assigned to a West Coast-based command.

Barnes said his friend was an adventurer who enjoyed traveling in Europe while he was deployed in Italy and loved snowboarding, fast cars and motorcycles.

He was also "honest, straightforward and a great friend."

"He was selective about the friends he made," Barnes said, fighting back tears. "But when you became his friend, you became his brother."

A family member who answered the door at Monsoor's home in Garden Grove said the family was too distraught to comment.

Monsoor enlisted in the U.S. Navy in March 2001 and became a SEAL in January 2002, said Lt. Taylor Clark, a spokesman for the Naval Special Warfare Command.

Rear Admiral Joseph A. Maguire said in a statement that Monsoor "died conducting some of our military's most important missions."

"This sailor along with our two wounded teammates chose a life of significant meaning – to defend freedom and protect America and its allies from terrorism," he said.

"We hope that in time Michael's family is comforted in knowing that he died fighting for what he believed in and we will not forget his sacrifice."

Debbie Nelson, a neighbor and mother of one of Monsoor's friends, said Monsoor's was a "great boy, handsome and very polite."

"He was very proud of what he had achieved in the Navy," she said.

He grew up in Garden Grove, attended Dr. Walter C. Ralston Intermediate School and graduated from Garden Grove High School in 1999.

Monsoor was a strong, determined person who never gave up, his friend Danny Wright said.

"The first time he tried to become a SEAL, he didn't make it," he said.

Monsoor was crushed by his failure, Wright said.

"But he tried again and made it the second time," he said. "He was very proud of what he had accomplished."

Monsoor could be profound and serious at times and yet be funny around his friends, Barnes said.

"Last Halloween, he was one of the Super Mario Brothers," he said. "This year, we were supposed to dress up as sumo wrestlers."

Wright said Monsoor had sent him an e-mail two days before he died.

"He'd said he was proud of me," he recalled. "And he told me to continue pursuing my dreams. It was as if he was saying goodbye and wishing me luck with my life."

Monsoor is survived by his parents, two brothers, a sister, nieces and nephews. Services are pending.

CONTACT US: 714-445-6685 or dbharath@ocregister.com

A PLAYER ON HALLOWEEN: Michael Monsoor dressed as one of the Super Mario Brothers at a Halloween party last year.
PHOTO COURTESY DANNY WRIGHT

My grief is shared with the family and friends of Michael Monsoor. America has lost one of our finest.
Stewart A. Alexander

No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manner of thine own
Or of thine friend's were.
Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.

And we all share the crime. And the shame. What makes you so special/non involved?
Are you blocking recruitment centers, or handing flyers out in front of same?

beginning with the eventual return, these poisoned, emotionally damaged and twisted military personal will begin to die. Nearly each and every one has been given a death sentence. As have the populations of these vast areas of land we have permanently poisoned with Uranium weapons.
If there were any justice in this world we would open our arms and land to the populations of this earth we have ravaged and send the creatures that enabled this horror to pass, over there, to live out the remainder of their life,

You just confirmed again to me the agenda you have. And it's obvious that you know not upon which you blither.

You see, folks, it's important for the ruling overclass to prevent common linkages to form among its victims.
That's why it is necessary to drive wedges into potential allies against the creatures that brought this to us.
Get the animals to fight each other when they should unite in common injury.
Got your number, Mr. 'planes did it'.

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-monsoor8oct08,1,5454872.story

MILITARY DEATHS
Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor, 25, Garden Grove; Navy SEAL Killed in Combat in Ramadi
By David Reyes
Times Staff Writer

October 8, 2006

Navy SEAL Michael A. Monsoor told his family in Garden Grove before he went to Iraq that he knew the dangers of war but he believed in himself and others on his SEAL team, who were like brothers to him.

"He knew what he believed in and would stand by what he believed in. Of this, he couldn't be corrupted," said Monsoor's younger brother, Joe.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Monsoor, 25, was killed in combat Sept. 29 in Ramadi, Iraq, west of Baghdad. Not much is known of the circumstances surrounding his death, family members said.

Last week, family members spoke of his life and military duty, including his dedication to becoming a SEAL, a goal he achieved after initially dropping out of the training course.

He was expected to return in another week to see his family and watch his 21-year-old brother play in an upcoming football game at North Dakota's Minot State University, where he is a junior and tight end.

Although they chatted on the telephone, the last time the brothers saw one another was during spring break. That was when they drove cross-country to the university and Michael spoke about the discipline it took to overcome pain during his first SEAL training, which he had to quit.

"Michael had a broken heel and he still had to pass more physical tests," his brother said. "He was running hard in sand and the pain mounted, but he told himself, 'Don't pass out, I can't pass out.' But he couldn't continue.

"He rang the bell," his brother said, a signal that a trainee has quit the program.

Michael Monsoor stayed in the Navy and waited for another chance. He was assigned to Europe for two years, and when his mother, Sally, visited him in Italy, she said she found him focused, "working out, swimming and running," so he could reenter the SEAL program.

For Monsoor, it was his chance to join one of the nation's elite forces, she said, adding that when he finally graduated, it was her son's and the family's proudest moment.

The 25-week Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training in Coronado, Calif., is one of the most grueling training programs in the military, and the dropout rate exceeds 50%.

As one of the U.S. military's most elite and secretive fighting units, the SEALs almost never reveal their missions to the public, even long after completion.

In August, when the Pentagon announced the death of Petty Officer 2nd Class Marc Alan Lee, who was the first SEAL to die in the Iraq war, it was the first recognition that the SEALS are involved in the battle to wrest Ramadi from insurgent control.

The loss has shaken the proud Marine family — Michael's father, George Monsoor, and older brother, Jim, 27, are both former Marines — which has sought solace in knowing that Michael did not die in vain.

Relatives, neighbors and friends have visited the family's home and left flowers. Neighbors tacked yellow ribbons that read "Support our Troops" on trees and sign posts in recognition of Monsoor.

"He was friendly and would wave whenever he did the lawn outside," said neighbor Patricia Stanton. "He was nice, very sweet and I know he was dedicated to the service."

Monsoor enlisted in the Navy in March 2001 and graduated from SEAL training in March 2005, said Lt. Taylor Clark, a Navy spokesman.

Rear Adm. Joe Maguire, a SEAL and commander of the Naval Special Warfare Command, issued a statement praising Monsoor, who died "conducting some of our military's most important missions."

"We hope that in time Michael's family is comforted in knowing that he died fighting for what he believed in and we will not forget his sacrifice," Maguire said.

Monsoor attended Garden Grove High School, where he played on the Argonaut football team as a tight end and graduated in 1999.

"In football, he was one of the smaller guys for a defensive end and really skinny," said Ricardo Cepeda, 24, a former teammate who teaches history and coaches football at Garden Grove High. "But he was tough and would lay everything on the line."

In addition to his parents and brothers, Monsoor is survived by a sister, Sara Fernandez of Anaheim; and nieces and nephews.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
david.reyes@latimes.com

Copyright 2006 Los Angeles Times

"Support the troops" is a sneaky version of "support the WAR"

No its Not. many of the"troops" are working class kids who joined the military to get out of a dead end life. This was their ticket of our smalltownsville- it was a chance to see the world and get an education. Very few of the kids who joined knew what they were getting into . And when they come home, they'll be facing the same issues the Vietnam era vets did. Post traumatic stress, physical illnesses, substance abuse, psychological issues....We as a society sorely neglected the Vietnam era vets. the folks that say "Support the troops" is a sneaky version of "support the WAR" are those that remember that we added to the trauma of their homecoming by not acknowledging the sacrifices that were made.

Such high voltage, no current spatter from certain sections of our authorship.
Like static electricity, Snap crackle and pop.
The machine or system, as some would say, is indeed the real enemy.
It produces the training and ideology behind it. I used to train these lambs at Ft. Benning and Ft. Lewis to what I thought was in their best interests to survive and serve this nation. I was committing a grievous sin. I was ignorant. I was wrong. I am sorry.

TW said

"The box" in which you think and operate has been very cleverly and quietly laid out for you. Now when any one of your compatriots strays out of that box -- toward a method that might actually WORK -- the bunch of you start hectoring him, convinced he's "hurting the movement," totally oblivious to the sublime art or the true face of those who've sculpted your minds

The 'Borgmeisters have you and all the other "radicals" TOTALLY figured out and caught in a gerbil cage, running in a little wheel. Aw yah, gerbil, run yer little nuts off! Wave that angry little sign!


this is it right here. there are gatekeepers right and left.
the left gatekeepers own the whole protest game which is just a facade. another form of control. bring up the wrong subject or thoughts and they will censor just as bad as the right does. they act like theyre better than the people they protest against but they really are all the same. they all do the same thing

- what you are saying.
'they all do the same thing ' yes they do. They provide false enemies, disfunctionalize the mobilization and provide wedge issues.
Activism is nothing without unity in purpose.
Another thing about the veterans. There were deliberate false wedge issues introduced by a psyops campaign of such things as the 'spitting' upon veterans as they returned myth. Nobody spat on me or any of my friends and comrades as the population was not hostile towards the troops but rather the administration and horror of its catastrophic hubris and brutality.
This myth of civilian hostility was used to prevent a coalition of common cause. I see it being used here and now.

You talk big, but what if we stood by and did nothing? Let's see??? America gives you freedoms you couldn't have in a lot of the other places. Shame on you. You are here free to say what you want and you talk trash. Just like the STUPID protesters of the 60s and 70s. I grew up then and could not believe grown ups acted like animals. Go live in Iraq, Iran, or China and only dream of freedom. These boys and Girls are protecting your chicken shit ass, so you can sit by and protest, because you are free and won't have your head cut off for saying whatever comes to your feeble mind. This war is useless and I hate to see our boys and girls there, but we owe them more than any silly football player or baseball player earns. We owe our forces our respect, they work harder than someone like you will ever know. You are negative and probably are on drugs like the Hippies and have know idea this is the real world!!!!!!!!!!

I watched my son and his friends go through the training. All the loud mouths here need to shut up and put out! Let's see you go through one day! I don't believe in this war or the men that lied to get it going, but I believe in our troops and since my son made it , I stand by the SEALs. Weak minds live for hate. These boys are some of the funnest and brightest people I know. You don't know about the real training, because you've never been there. They only let you see what they want. These boys are mentally and physically fit. Some of you should seek psychiatric help. Don't forget 9/11 who went over to hunt down the dogs that did that? It wasn't any of these people hiding behind their computers. Who did you expect to go over there??? What would you do if they kicked in your door right now? Oh! wait you're in America where our boys fight for your freedom. Michael Is a HERO. Those of You that believe you have the answer, go to Iraq and tell them your thoughts.

They mix in all the ROTC enlistees, bringing the average up. If you just look at the average infantry, they're not so affluent. Still, I think TW makes a good point over Sheepdog. It *is* a volunteer military, and due to the fact you have to test okay (like 9th or 10th grade level) to get in, they can be a little selective, especially about who they try to get.

That said, for most people, I don't think joining up is really an issue about agreeing or disagreeing with US foreign policy. Most kids don't have an opinion. It's mostly a family thing, and if you have parents or grandparents who were in, you're really likely to join up.

What point was that, johnk?
I was attempting to provide reasons for common cause. Against the machine, or system that produced these situations and criminality.
What exactly was incorrect about the point that I was making?
The attempt of the overclass to produce wedge issues that discouraged link ups with these potential allies?
Please enlighten me.

My son is a Navy SEAL BRAIN DEAD AM Radio. I know first hand. I don't make things up in my head like you. I said "I don't believe in this war" You must not retain information very long. You are probably some fat, lazy, pig that can't do anything, but put our troops down. Get up off your butt and find out what's really going on!!!!! I don't spend my time watching T.V. or listening to radio talk. That would be for brain dead people. Get the picture??? I'm sure you do!

I don't think we're disagreeing. At least not on everything. I don't like your tone, but I agree more with you than with Sheep on this. Sheep's got some good points though -- you are hostile, and pick fights to split hairs.

Also, to Marilyn: working hard on something doesn't make it right.

Insults like", get an education on something", because a person does not agree with another is TONE!!! Being physically and mentally strong is what I said. I watched these boys. 156 went in, 11 finished. Most were strong physically, it's more mental. They were dropped in areas far from anything and had to find the exact spot they were sent out to find. They went to Alaska and had to survive on their own without food, bedding, or any other luxuries. Most failed math and science tests that are required in the SEALs. RADIO does not know how these guys train or for what. If you don't like my tone, then don't start something by being negative. I still say if we didn't have a military we'd be owned by some other country. Canada has always known they had the U.S. the fall back on. I hate to think of kids or innocent people being killed. I hate this stupid war! We weren't suppose to be in Iraq, but people were fooled and now that Saddam is gone and there is civil unrest our boys are trapped there until we get someone with guts to pull them out. Michael did his job and to put him down or call him names is pathetic. These aren't cruel, uneducated, uncaring men. These are guys that have been thrown into a crappy war, started by our Government. What if they started the draft again? Would you go out and call the guys sent away Baby-killers like the protesters of the past did? Get real! War gave us our freedom here, War set the slaves free. Were those fighters Baby-killers? This war is a waste and I know boys who are there. They are scared and they don't sleep. They think of coming home everyday. If this war were fair, the liars that started it would be there and our sons and daughters here!!

Bring Them HOME NOW
thank you.

Where he and I clash is on strategies for getting there

He seems to prefer the standard pragmatic/*political* method of holding his cards to his chest while issuing "public statements" chosen to incrementally herd the public toward his unannounced design. Is a given "public statement" valid or truthful on its own? Who cares? Only results matter, i.e. the ends completely justify the means. Therefore he refuses to condemn America's own swaggering Nazi stormtroopers because "if we're going to fight the class enemy we must have unity with the jarheads and their families."

I understand his logic and suspect I share his goals (it's impossible to know), but I think he fails to understand just how hopelessly dysfunctional "American values" are. This is an indelibly colonial society, hyper-European and therefore latently fascist (a uniquely European mass pathology). All this jive about "America's essential goodness" is a MYTHOLOGY. Every period of American history saw its MASSIVELY popular 'Rush Limbaughs.' If you "build solidarity" with these "common people" -- the Marlyns -- they will own your agenda and twist it to their own tastes, which are fucking hideous and virulent. The 'Good Germans' also felt right at home with "manifest destiny" and exceptionalism. These ideas are common to 'Good Germans' everywhere. Even US "liberals" have their own cherished versions, which seals my case

I think sheepdog's taste for manipulative *political* positions is an integral part of The Problem. It becomes its own end. Meanwhile everybody discards the original goals and the new ones become a synthesis of Marlyn-think

I have profound faith in the power of the bald brutal Truth to either change people's minds or correct the disease in some other way. In America's case, I think Sheepdog's faith that this society can be rescued from itself is wishful thinking. It's evolving in exactly the opposite direction, and that's because *IT* wants to do that, not because George Bush wants it to. George Bush is a SYMPTOM.

I think it's wiser to just row through the crowd with a lifeboat calling out your Truth, in this way attracting and rescuing the people who might actually build a decent society once this one self-destructs -- WHICH IT IS BOUND TO DO. Just like Germany did. Not many empires succeed in turning this death-spiral around. They usually just get greedier and crueler and more universally despised until they finally dig their own graves. The Kung-Fu master way to fight such a monster is by standing aside and letting its momentum do this very thing. Pitching in with a shovel is also good.

TW said

Sincere leftists who've figured it out aren't telling them either, probably for fear they'll scare away new blood. it's all so fucked up!


its worse than this. just look at whats been accomplished since the sixties. nothing. and the whole leftist deal is even more screwed than back then while new forms of control like tv have settled in to the point where we dont even have elections anymore or mass protests in every major city like back then

the revolution was a one shot deal and we missed the boat. its been downhill every since with even free speech boxed in by the very so called revolutionaries that are running the show

even that is shrinking and growing weaker, were crossing over to totalitarianism and the revolutionaries are helping push us into it too

like john just accused... youre hostile and split hairs... perfect example of boxing in anything that challenges the status quo, that risks real change or deeper thoughts. when you do that BOTH sides start screaming for your silence because both are really on the same side. they are both cheerleading the status quo and both work together to banish you if you threaten it. this is the main reason why nothing changes and things are getting worse all the time. if websites like this were really helping things there would be signs of it by now. they are not, they are boxing real revolutionaries in and keeping them underfoot. thats why you dont see vibrant cutting edge news on the front page EVER and why its hidden and deleted back here. they are too busy sucking up to some imaginary audience they think if they appear to be moderate enough to that this mythical body of people will accept their homogenized and pasteurized so called news and rise up to magicly start a fair weather revolution. its a fairytale they sell themselves while they waste their time playing inside the box and keeping us inside with them

the revolution will not be televised and these websites are just another channel on the tube. they may seem better than the tube most people sit in front of because you get to send information only to have it ignored by the people in charge, in charge of preventing any revolution by only allowing their own fairytales

and the end result is the same. nothing changes except you get to waste your time too wrapped up in thinking the time youre spending is helping in some way. but the people in charge see to it that you cant because if you did it would be a threat to them too. the only revolution will be demand destruction and it wont have anything to do with these people or websites. so they wont get their wish and neither will we

Your vocabulary shows your intelligents TW Tuesday. Why don't you leave AMERICA. I have a feeling you are not American!!! I have American Indian roots on the other hand, so this is my country! You and Rush just spit out trash and expect people to follow you, but as with Rush you are nothing, but a loud trash mouth with poor view's on the real world!!! You're jealous that you contribute nothing but negative, unfounded thoughts. You hide behind the freedom of speech that our country and military provide you. Our Government needs changes, but thank GOD you'll never be the charge! God Bless Michael and the Boy's over seas'

You are so pathetic TW Tuesday! You must believe that the civil war was unjust! You are a skin head I take it .You refer to Hitler a lot. He is in all your thoughts, negative thoughts spewed with hate, just like Hitler. Fairy tale world is what you talk about. This is the real world and we are stuck with the negative, unrealistic people like TW Tuesday. Wish and it will go away. Talk and they will listen. Bush took America down, but TW Tuesday has all the answers. Dream on!!! It would be the perfect world if we had no wars, no reason to have a military, no lying Presidents, no reason to have a president, but we're stuck . Unless TW Tuesday is going to save us. Look I have a real life and have to go back to it. Good luck TW Save the world CRAZY ONE!!!!!

Where were you 9/11? You were probably welcoming the terrorists. I never said Iraq was right. Brain Dead TW I said Support our boys. You don't LISTEN you try to entangle words to make them mean the same thing. We fought to be free from control of another country. Bush gets away with things you and I would be put to death for. I don't believe in his politics, nor most of this country's leaders in Government. It would be nice to trust, to stop paying taxes so high you have to work everyday of the week to pay them. This happened, because we gave control to criminals that work only for themselves. I don't think there's justice for all, but I will always stand by the young men and women that are controlled with a snap of a finger. Good luck with your hate fest TW.

You should report me to Homeland Security, Marlyn. That way they can 'disappear' me to Guantanamo and your son can torture me to death. C'mon, you know you wanna!

"Bush gets away with things you and I would be put to death for. I don't believe in his politics, nor most of this country's leaders in Government."

Then why do you keep supporting his WAR, Marlyn? Oh yeah you do. You're invested in his war in one of the most profound ways anyone can be: with the life of your kid

TW has been outed and is undergoing still another anger management failure.

Marylin, don't let up the pressure. You go!

Three out of five Indymedia readers agree:

TW is a loon.
Thanks Marlyn. You aren't alone.

It was his decision moron. He was 20 when he signed the papers. He is free to do that after the age of 18. He didn't want to sit on his butt and waste his life complaining, like you! Do SOMETHING!!!! This was his choice, not mine and I believe in GOD and pray for him and all the others. If you truly believe a parent would send there kid off into war, then you really do need psychiatric help! I do not support the war psycho only the troops!! Which part of that do you not understand???????? You may need a memorization class, so that you can retain material longer than a couple of minutes.....You really need to get a life! You are sick and I'm done with you. Enjoy your RAGE!!!!

Thanks and Goodbye.....

You alienate everyone you interact with, TW. Its sort of the opposite of the Midas touch. (everything you go near turns black and dies)
Have you considered becoming a cloistered monk?
Or perhas, hanging out on Nessie's site and bringing up his Alexa ratings? Its perfect for you- pristine, untouched by human hands.

You're still wrong though!

The bald truth is hard to learn if you're educated in the public schools. They teach you some more in college, but not everyone goes there, especially not the kids who enlist in the military right out of high school.

and I'm here to tell ya, you don't get any more filled in about Real History there. Historiography is the most dishonest corrupt academic field there is, a good example being David McCullough and his frothing deifications of various presidents. McCullough actually started out as a 'New Left' historian writing about what a bunch of ruthless scum the robber barons were, but then he had his epiphany: "well, I can keep writing this stuff and be a high school guidance counselor in Jerkwater USA, or I can roll around spurting my nut-juice in people's faces over how WWWUUUNNDDDEERRRFFUULLLLLLLLLLL the United States is and become a multi-millionaire public intellectual / celebrity... Hmmmmmmm..."

Yup, that's how it works.

The radical side of Political Science is the real shining light here (e.g. Howard Zinn, Michael Parenti), but most college students don't get much exposure to it

> the only revolution will be demand destruction and it wont have anything to do with these people or websites

Demand destruction is something that's being discussed in boardrooms behind our backs right now.

While very few people know about it, in a few years it will be in common usage as millions of people become victims of it.

I'm surprised no one here has commented on it as it yawns like a black chasm just ahead of us.

Israel is already facing it as a critical water shortage while we're facing it first as a natural gas shortage (the price of natural gas has more than quadrupled in the last few years, our bill last winter was so high I ended up converting to electricity. Since it's getting cold here now, I've just completed changing the heat, hot water and cooking to electricity. The rooster is shivering I just noticed, so I'm going to fix him up with a small heater. We made him an enclosed box out of a sheet of plywood with a skyroof and a small doorway. All that's left to do is to insulate it and add a flap that he won't be afraid of. I'll post new pictures of this in a few days on the website)

Since the supply of natural gas can't keep up with the demand, destruction of this demand is the only way to maintain needed supplies for industry (traditionally residential home heating always got priority)

The price shooting up high enough will cause more people to switch but when the supply can't keep up with even that reduced demand what happens then will be the first concrete signs of this demand destruction. I'm not sure what's going to happen but it's not going to be good whatever it is...

Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Funeral set for slain SEAL

Services will be held in San Diego for Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Monsoor of Garden Grove

By DEEPA BHARATH
The Orange County Register

A funeral service for Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Monsoor has been scheduled for noon on Thursday at the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery Rostrum in Point Loma.

A memorial service will also be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the First Presbyterian Church, at 320 Date St. in San Diego.

Monsoor, a 25-year-old U.S. Navy SEAL and a Garden Grove High School graduate, was killed in combat on Sept. 29 in Ramadi, Iraq. It was not known Tuesday whether an Orange County service is planned.

CONTACT US: 714-445-6685 or dbharath@ocregister.com

Copyright 2006 The Orange County Register

Yeh, you're right. My memory fails me. I forgot that I had liberal profs. We really didn't read that much radical stuff, but did get some reading lists that I followed up on my own. (That's my college experience right there - reading some other stuff they didn't assign.)

Most undergrads are not. I wasn't. Everything I've learned that conflicts with high-school American history class, I have had to dig out of the ground with my bare hands. I have lots of history books on my shelf written by university professors that I can open and show you conclusively the amazing gaping holes where the full story should have been completed. But if they'd filled them in, see, then you (the reader) would have this little epiphany: "holy shit, it's ALWAYS been a ruthless rampaging empire... There's nothing special about it AT ALL (nothing GOOD, anyway)!!!"

And then you would know.

The history professors who DO convey this, I can count them off on one hand

SEAL Falls on Grenade to Save Comrades
Navy SEAL Drops Onto Grenade to Save Comrades; Only 2nd Member of Force to Die in Iraq

By THOMAS WATKINS
The Associated Press

CORONADO, Calif. - A Navy SEAL sacrificed his life to save his comrades by throwing himself on top of a grenade Iraqi insurgents tossed into their sniper hideout, fellow members of the elite force said.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor had been near the only door to the rooftop structure Sept. 29 when the grenade hit him in the chest and bounced to the floor, said four SEALs who spoke to The Associated Press this week on condition of anonymity because their work requires their identities to remain secret.


"He never took his eye off the grenade, his only movement was down toward it," said a 28-year-old lieutenant who sustained shrapnel wounds to both legs that day. "He undoubtedly saved mine and the other SEALs' lives, and we owe him."


Monsoor, a 25-year-old gunner, was killed in the explosion in Ramadi, west of Baghdad. He was only the second SEAL to die in Iraq since the war began.


Two SEALs next to Monsoor were injured; another who was 10 to 15 feet from the blast was unhurt. The four had been working with Iraqi soldiers providing sniper security while U.S. and Iraqi forces conducted missions in the area.


In an interview at the SEALs' West Coast headquarters in Coronado, four members of the special force remembered "Mikey" as a loyal friend and a quiet, dedicated professional.


"He was just a fun-loving guy," said a 26-year-old petty officer 2nd class who went through the grueling 29-week SEAL training with Monsoor. "Always got something funny to say, always got a little mischievous look on his face."


Other SEALS described the Garden Grove, Calif., native as a modest and humble man who drew strength from his family and his faith. His father and brother are former Marines, said a 31-year-old petty officer 2nd class.


Prior to his death, Monsoor had already demonstrated courage under fire. He has been posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his actions May 9 in Ramadi, when he and another SEAL pulled a team member shot in the leg to safety while bullets pinged off the ground around them.


Monsoor's funeral was held Thursday at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego. He has also been submitted for an award for his actions the day he died.


The first Navy SEAL to die in Iraq was Petty Officer 2nd Class Marc A. Lee, 28, who was killed Aug. 2 in a firefight while on patrol against insurgents in Ramadi. Navy spokesman Lt. Taylor Clark said the low number of deaths among SEALs in Iraq is a testament to their training.


Sixteen SEALs have been killed in Afghanistan. Eleven of them died in June 2005 when a helicopter was shot down near the Pakistan border while ferrying reinforcements for troops pursuing al-Qaida militants.


There are about 2,300 of the elite fighters, based in Coronado and Little Creek, Va.


The Navy is trying to boost that number by 500 a challenge considering more than 75 percent of candidates drop out of training, notorious for "Hell Week," a five-day stint of continual drills by the ocean broken by only four hours sleep total. Monsoor made it through training on his second attempt.



Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Copyright © 2006 ABC News Internet Ventures

You are such a weak, ineffectual and nasty little man that you can't even comprehend the act of heroism or self sacrifice.

I was there. I'm still there. I can assure you this is not propaganda, or in any way a misleading story. I understand your cynicism. There is indeed a fair share of BS to be found in the media everyday. But I ask that you put your partisan hatred aside on this one. It doesn't matter what you think about this war. Mikey didn't die for the war. He died for his friends. What have you done for your friends lately?

TW only has one side to everything. "HIS" He probably has neurological damage and it has effected his logic and compassion. Most people have the capacity to love, he has only hate. Self-sacrifice would never be apart of this guy. Me and only me. My thoughts and if you don't agree I hate you!!! Right TW. He needs to find a website where others care about his careless, worthless thoughts! He loves hurting and attacking, but would never sacrifice his own face, name, or body to do it. He hides behind a computer and attacks people in mourning.
Move on TW, nobody cares

I was stationed with Mike in Sigonella. We hung out on numerous occasions. He was such a great guy to be around. I will never forget how he made us laugh and how much he loved the Navy. This T.W punk doesn't have a clue about what he's saying I've seen Mike go from making a joke to responding to a call of duty in the blink of an eye. He always trained to go into the SEALS as if it was the only thing in this world that mattered to him. Thats what professionals do. Mike, Your are the only Hero that I have ever had the honor of knowing.

Thanks, Doc Davis. Must of us know this. Most of us appreciate this.
"Mikey didn't die for the war. Mikey died for his friends"

Be brave. Be strong. And home home safely, and soon

i read this story on internet & was deeply moved by it. he is young and courageous and seems wise beyond his years. Mike understood that war is ugly but honor & loyalty are not. his life should be lauded and honored. his family & friends should be proud. my heart goes out to them....

The Fog of War will be dedicated to this man for a long time... I wrote it for Heroes like him The Fog of War lo-fi URL: http://www.soundclick.com/util/streamm3u.m3u?id=443725&q=lo hi-fi URL: http://www.soundclick.com/util/streamm3u.m3u?id=443725&q=hi

I was a USNR LT in submarines andreading this story made me damn proud of this man and his family. He is the best of the best. I read he actually shielded his other SEALs from death from the grenade. He is an American hero and we are so proud and humbled by such a man. My actions and life are inadequate compared to this hero's. God bless his family and the SEALs.

wow--don't know you or your family.....but what you did is nothing short of heroic.Someone brought you up right----amazing.Rest in peace,young MAN

My children will grow up knowing of your heroism and hopefully will one day be as fine of man as you.

I sure hope he doesn't end up as another hero when he 'will one day be as fine of man as you."
Dead and gone forever to serve his degenerate king.

Sounds like TW is hiding behind another name. Sarcastic and negative! Get lost loser!!! You will never do anything to be proud of. You are always using your own little war tactics. Attack the mourners, they are down. Get a life and leave these good people alone! Michael is in PEACE! YOU ARE HELL on earth.

This man is a true hero, and an extremely rare individual indeed. The media has a bad habit of calling too many people 'heroes' these days, but this guy is a standout, one of the very few real heroes I've seen in my life. How many people would be selfless enough throw themselves on a grenade to save their comrades? You'd have to travel back in time decades to find others this brave. Thanks for serving our country Michael, you are the greatest!

I won't even acknowledge the people who post here who don't understand the world..

Lie all you want and hide behind your computer. You know nothing and never will. This family does have it's fair share of doers, not lazy talkers like you Sgt. I bet! Sgt. of your house, (maybe). Find another site to attack. These people don't like you. You have nothing to contribute to humanity, except negative remarks and you are waste!

I care much for George Bush but know the people our forces are fighting in Iraq would love to kill every single fricking one of us. I would love to see this war come to an end. You people who criticize our forces would probably let someone come here and take our country away from us. They would slaughter all of us, even 'whew' and the rest of his doped up buddies. I do not have a love affair with a people who want to destroy our way of life. They can all kiss my a#*!

Ditto! Haters spread hate. "Whew" doubt you own a flag.

This good looking young man certainly performed a heroic act by sacrificing his life to save others. It is nonetheless tragic and sad. I was surprised to see that he was a Garden Grove resident, as that is my home town and he went to the same junior high that I did. I think I recall seeing the banners about Support Our Troops near my house, but didn't realize why. My heart goes out to his family.

as well as the photo shop OBL with POTUS
TW was again providing 'proof' that anyone against the war hates our sisters and brothers in arms,
Cointelpro.
Enough said.

I cried when I read about the bravery of this young man. His selfless act embodies what Christ said when He said," There is no greater love than this: to lay down one's life for ones friends." Michael laid down his life for his friends. Wow. I wish I had a friend like him. Wow. If all people were like him what a great world this would be. His parents must be amazing people. All kids should be raised the way that kid was raised. His family can take solace in the fact that having done what he did must have sent him straight to heaven. So now even I can talk to him and ask him to pray for me and help me out. God Bless you, Monsoor family. You are a credit to the human race. Michael, we love you, and to the rest of you guys in the military, I'm praying for you. Ask your fallen comrade to help you out. I know he's right beside you. You guys have all my admiration and all my love. Sincerely, Diane Rosario

To the family of Michael a Monsoor,

Please accept my condolences for the loss of your son. I read of his actions, felt a profound connection to his charity and compelled to write.
We throw words around like hero and sacrifice and courage., but when we witness them as we do here, with your son, we are staggered by their enormity and diminished in their shadow.
My daughter leaves for Navy boot camp on 10/23/06 where she aspires to enter a group described as Seal Support. She takes with her, along with our love,in the name of your son, Michael A Monsoor, the foremost example of honor and selflessness that a parent or nation can know or imagine.. Should she comport herself with even a residue of his character and decency, she will have earned the respect of her family, her peers, her country and history.. And should her own sacrifice bring her home not alive in this world, hers will have been a full life, all lived, and in the truest sense, well lived.
Our prayers go to you, our tears overflow for your loss and our honor accompanies you.
Heaven will give him peace, but It will not hive him honor, for that he carried with him wherever he was.
I am and will remain
By your son's example
A better American
And yours
Edward K Kirwan

I am still reeling from the tragic death of my sister-in-law Merideth who was killed by a car bomb in Afganistan a month ago. To hear of another person killed in this horrible situation brings tears to my eyes. My heart goes out to his family. He died in a situation that they should not have been in. But he died saving the lives of others so hopefully there is some solace there.

It's heartbreaking reading some of the senseless comments on this article, especially when I read the disclaimer (obviously some haven't read) for posting a comment:
Please Don't Feed the Trolls : Wikipedia defines an Internet Troll as: "either a person who sends messages on the Internet hoping to entice other users into angry or fruitless responses, or a message sent by such a person." Los Angeles IMC strives to provide both a grassroots media resource as well as a forum for people to contribute to a meaningful discussion about local issues. Please, when posting comments, be respectful of others and ignore those trying to interrupt or discourage meaningful discourse.

This is not a forum for our President's war, this is an article about a man who stepped up to serving his country in an incredible way, and when the chance came for him to make the decision to run or save lives of others, he chose to save others. Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

What a man. May his memory live in all of us who have been touched by his life and even this life story to inspire us to higher callings, and may his family be blessed in knowing that he can touch so many in so great a way.

Not mindless minions fighting for lies

I vaguely remember this now. It wasn't really clear at the time that you were recanting for Vietnam

In any case, I'm sorry and I retract what I said.

This is not a "wedge issue." The delusional tolerance of Americans' for their own imperial gangland wars is THE KEY to the whole enchilada! If this rat-brained psychology could be exploded, criminal conquests like this one, like Vietnam, like the Philippines, like the slaughter of Native Americans, would not be possible.

THIS MASS MORAL DEMENTIA IS WHAT MAKES THEM POSSIBLE

You go for the throat of a subject class. Because they are an easy target.
I see that this is ALL you do.
We came back from SE Asia to a carefully prepared psyops waiting to keep us isolated and unsure of our citizen support.
Our outrage was real. This could have resulted in a revolution which is exactly what the overclass was/is working to prevent this time with the usual polarization mantras.
That is why you select your targets of opportunity among our miss guided brothers and sisters, not the structure of the killing machine.

"You go for the throat of a subject class"

I'll refer again to my gangland massacre analogy. It really is perfect. What if a gang of inner-city punks did this in YOUR town? Would you go around saying "well yeah, it was awful, but these poor kids DIDN'T HAVE ANY OTHER ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES..."

What your position amounts to, it's as if you're a resident of the neighborhood the punks are based in, so therefore they're your neighbors and you think "community solidarity" should outweigh your revulsion at what they did. It's exactly like that.

Would this be reasonable?

Some issues are even bigger and more fundamental than classic leftist class analysis & rhetoric, believe it or not. This is one of them

Actually, even that analysis supports my position, but only if you comprehend that EVERYONE in the US is positioned quite far up in a single class order that now encompasses the entire planet and everyone on it. EVERYONE in America therefore has a stake in this country's colonial predation on everybody everywhere else, and in this way they are actually CLASS COLLABORATORS with the ruling elites you portray as their plain simple enemies.

I think this is THE lucid analysis, but you're not going to see it if you're caught up in *nationalist* thinking.

Not fooled.
your purpose here and now is to provide a backboard for the rabid flag waivers and grave side 'patriots' who expound on 'haters' [ cointel operators ] to justify their personal armchair recruiting 'proud hero' histrionics and further harm any kind of resolution to a universal rejection by the soldiers, teamsters, technicians and enablers of the machine.

...I really believe that stuff

The essence of Heroism is defending those who need defending and killing those who need killing, from a position of high moral awareness. If that's not what you're doing, you're not a hero. In fact, chances are excellent you're an ANTI-hero

Americans get massively brainwashed as to who needs defending and who needs killing, but this doesn't change the REALITY of matters AT ALL

A true hero cannot be deluded about this stuff. His eyes and his mind are too clear

The IMPERIAL PREROGATIVES of Americans do not need defending, and the PEOPLE of Iraq do not need killing. These are the wrong parties in both cases. The soldiers doing the second of these things are therefore ANTI-heroes slaughtering TRUE heroes, AND THE SPEEDIEST WAY TO PUT A STOP TO THIS IS BY AWAKENING THEM TO THIS CLEAR MORAL FACT ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE INVOLVED IN

I'll refer again to my gangland massacre analogy. It really is perfect. What if a gang of inner-city punks did this in YOUR town? Would you go around saying "well yeah, it was awful, but these poor kids DIDN'T HAVE ANY OTHER ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES..."

And that is precisely the line they use about the poor oppressed Palestinians, bombing themselves and othes "well yeah, it was awful, but these poor kids DIDN'T HAVE ANY OTHER ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES..."

Thanks for setting that TW- the partnership is working beautifully. Even with Gehrig's betrayal.

WHERE?

LET'S SEE

Yeah, you don't have anything to show cuz YOU'RE FULL OF SHIT

as always

10/04/2006 GAAS:740:06 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Print Version

Governor Schwarzenegger Issues Statement on Death of Garden Grove Sailor: Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today released the following statement regarding the death of Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor of Garden Grove:

“Petty Officer 2nd Class Monsoor lost his life while courageously serving our country. Maria and I join all Californians in extending our sympathies to Michael’s family and friends. We will keep his family in our prayers as they mourn the loss of a brave individual.”

Monsoor, 25, died Sept. 29 of injuries sustained while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Ramadi, Iraq. Monsoor was a SEAL assigned to the West-Coast based command.

In honor of Petty Officer 2nd Class Monsoor, Capitol flags will be flown at half-staff.

© 2006 State of California

May MA2 Monsoor rest in peace, the news came to me on a bad day 13th October, 11 years ago other mishaps happened to one of my former squadrons while in Bosnia and we were just remembering that dreadfull day. I hope his efforts were not in vain and my most sincere condolences to his family and friends. It was fun guarding all those families and military assets in Sigonella and being a Navy Cop. He will be remembered by all. Fare well good Sailor. Don't worry we now have the "Watch" you did your part. God bless. AS1(AW) Johnny Herrera US NAVY

Met you thru Michael Fumento's website, following the 1-506 101st Airborne and continued walking with you along the way in spirit....Thank you for being who you are, for being what you are, for being the best there is. You never gave up and so we will never give up on you, for we will always fight for what is right and believe in what you saw and continue your journey in every way we can. We will never forget and remember, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend". (john 15:13) and his Country and for Freedom. Our prayers are with your mom and dad, sister and brothers and you will be their guiding light every where they turn. Thank you, Michael.....God Bless America

" Thank you, Michael.....God Bless America"
And what exactly did he die for?
Lies.
And stupid people with 'Support Our Troops' magnetic ribbons who will -Not- support our returned soldiers when they come back dying from DU and think this is patriotism when it is murder.
He was better than that.

actually, the war is very real. people are dying and giving their own lives for a cause they believe is greater. you should start taking note

I don't think so.
Most of the troops over there find out real quick what a piece of Sh*t they have been fed.
Most of the support Ron Paul has recieved has been from overseas personal who support his anti-war platform.

We think of Michaels heroism all the way from Sweden
God bless him

what is this?
"people are dying and giving their own lives for a cause they believe is greater"

who's cause, exactly? Not theirs or their nation's that's for damn sure.
For the massive profits the degenerate kleptocracy that really runs things have managed to rape from our standard of living just to feed their insatiable greed. And they don't give a rat's ass about the horror they use to generate these profits.
That's not a cause we should support. Unless you're a psychopath.