Rob Deploys

Rob left the US yesterday to lead a Marine infantry rifle platoon into combat against the Taliban and al Qaeda in Afghanistan. His instructors deemed him ready for a coveted early deployment slot. A couple of weeks ago, some of his Marine buddies from the Marine Corps’ Infantry Officer Course met The Great One With Talent On Loan From God, Rush Limbaugh, at a Washington Redskins football game. They had Rush call Rob in 29 Palms, California. Rush recounted the encounter on his radio show:

RUSH: “I was at the Redskins game yesterday. I ran into four of the most handsome, young, clean cut Marines who were just ready to get their orders, and they're heading to Afghanistan, some are heading to Camp Lejeune and these people all volunteered to defend and protect their country and this constitution. These, they're some of the greatest young men. They're 23 to 24 years old and they were up there as guests of Coach Zorn in his suite for the Rams Redskins game the other day. They had me, they got me on the phone with one of their buddies who was in 29 Palms, California who is being sent to Afghan-, to that, to southern Af, to a hell hole in southern Afghanistan…”

Then on the next day’s show:

RUSH: “I told you yesterday I was in Coach Zorn's suite at the Redskins-Rams on Sunday, and he had as his guests, he and his wife, Joy, four handsome, young Marines who were being deployed soon. They put a fifth buddy of theirs on the phone with me in 29 Palms, California. Some of them are going to the hellhole areas of Afghanistan; some of them are going to Camp Lejeune. These people volunteered. They're out there defending and protecting the US Constitution and this government and the people of this country. They're fighting for freedom.”

Most “policy analysts” these days will dare you to look them in the eye and say you honestly think we are “fighting for freedom” or “protecting the US Constitution” in Afghanistan, let alone Iraq. Christopher Hitchens recently took the dare in a speech on Islamist terror and free expression:

HITCHENS: “It is not an unfortunate thing, but rather a wonderful thing, that in our time too, we might be called upon to take a little risk to defend what is so absolutely and non-negotiably precious to us. Consider yourself lucky to be matched with this hour. Resolve, please, highly resolve, that you too will do your part to defend that Constitution and the values that it enshrines.”

Good for Rob for fighting for what many Americans blush to articulate. And good luck.