Were we right?

Question

I spent 30 years serving in the Royal Marines. I started as an ordinary Marine and finished as a Lt Col. I, with many others, spent most of our lives trying to protect other people’s rights, or so we thought. But as I now look back it seems that what we did has made very little difference in any of the places we served. At the time it seemed important. Did we do right?
Please no stupid answers, I don't mind frank answers, but if they are just abusive and silly there is no point and I will report them for abuse.

Answer 1

iam going to be very honest with you, i dint think it has made a difference.
but i thank you for being a true gentlemen and doing what you thought was best at that time.
none of us really know that the choices we make in life ( will it make things better) its just a chance we all take.
xx

Answer 2

Unfortunately, the serving members of HM Forces do not get to chose where and which actions they will take part in. Such decisions are made by the political leadership. Any former serving member of HM Forces, is entirely exonerated from any mistakes they think they may have made.

Ours not to reason why, but to do or die, etc.

Or, as one Guardsman asked his mate at the Battle of Waterloo - "why us?" "We're 'ere because we're 'ere", came the reply.

My grandfather went to South Africa in c1900 to secure democratic rights for black South Africans - Kitchiner sinserely believed this was the purpose of the Bore War. The Brit Army and the black South Africans were betrayed by the politicians in Westminster.

My grandfather later fought in WW-One. I'm not saying more than that except think of the word 'hell' in relation to it. No home fit for heros.

My father joined up in c1939 to fight the hun in WW-Two. When he came home he voted Labour for a better Britain and got it. The modern Labour party or New Labour, have betrayed HM Forces by claiming Saddam had WMDs, knowning that none existed. The whole war against Iraq has been based upon a lie.

It seems then that all the work done by a good soldier, Lawrence, has gone to waste. We are now thought of as less than pigs in the Islamic world.

Before all of this, our status amongst Muslims was quite good - they trusted us. They no longer do and I cannot blame them.

If Tony Blair had bothered to read Col. Lawrence's book, "The Seven Pillars of Wisdom", he might have some understanding of the Arab world and thus Islam.

Answer 3

The Royal Marines are some of the bravest, skilled and best soldiers in the World.

Unfortunately they are at the whim of a Government and whatever Government is in power uses the military for its own purposes, so you have been used as a political tool all the way. This is sold to us mere subjects as like a huge Police force doing good and saving people all over the World, but at the end of the day it depends on the perspective that you look at it through. That's not to say that in many cases you have not done great good things especially with the UN and NATO, but then again history is written by the victors.

In my mind an Army is for defence from invasion. Not the machinations of our Ministers and their Bosses.

You should be proud of everything you've done, you have done your job well and with the best of intent, undoubtedly you have done alot of good, so concentrate on that.

Good luck for the future.

Answer 4

All you can do is what you think is right or proper at the time.

You never know, some of the good work you and your colleagues did may have entered their way of life, morality, ethics, etc., if only subliminally. Something for the good may have stuck in someones mind, somehow, somewhere.

I can appreciate your concerns. It's a bit like being the best mechanic in the world and lovingly maintaining a vintage Rolls-Royce for many years, only for the new owner to bend it on the by-pass. There's a lot of wrecks on the by-pass isn't there.....?

Answer 5

At the time you were in the Royal Marines, Britain was really trying to hold onto the last vestiges of it's empire, everywhere from the Falklands to Northern Ireland. So your job was to prevent these places from being overrun by the enemy, a holding action if you will.

Still, be glad you made it through in one piece. I'm sure you had many friends that didn't.

Answer 6

As an officer in the Royal Marines you have lived an honourable and worthwhile life. As a loyal Englishman, I give you my thanks and I salute you. I do however feel a little sorry for you because you must see, as do I, our country being degraded by people who only here for what they can take, they do not care about about the lives or rights of others who have to live aside them. This is not only endemic to this country but is worldwide and people such as yourself who are prepared to try and improve everyone's lot in life by risking and sometimes even giving your own lives are driven to despair by contemplating that you have wasted your time. In my opinion Sir, your every breath was vital to our freedom which is taken for granted and undervalued by so many. I can imagine that our soldiers in the Middle East sometimes feel as you do. They too are doing extremely vital work and we should be eternally grateful to them. They did not choose to go but were sent and whilst they are representing us, we should give them our one hundred percent support.

Before I finish, please let me reiterate, thank you for what you have done. This Earth would be a far more dangerous place if it were not for people like your good self. You have my gratitude.

Answer 7

On your feet soldier!!

Your feelings are irrelevant as a soldier, first you were taught not to feel, and as such it is a job you went out there to do and you must have been damn good at it to return.

I agree with tallerfella, do not think about it. You made a difference in your own way to your employers. To have attained the rank of a Lt col. means you knew your onions.

You should be proud of your achievements, cos I am proud of you.

Take a bow.

Answer 8

Sir,

The way I see it, every Airman, Seaman, Soldier and Marine who went into Iraq, and every other serviceman who supported them were serving their respective nations. As long as the service personnel who actually went in fought with honour and by the rules, then they were right. I salute everyone who has gone ito a hostile region on an operation. they are all immensely brave and are heroes in the true sense of the word.

Regardless of the difference you all made, if your intentions were good, which obviously they were, then you were just in your actions.

Answer 9

30 years is a very long commitment, and no you shouldnt think anything was wrong...but rather think of what good people now make out of what is was that you might have done. Even though I'm American, I say Thank You for your service for the benefit of freedom loving people everywhere.
The long and short of it is for you, its over. You should look back and reflect your accomplishments and hold your head high...30 years of service more than deserves it.
You my friend are not alone, my uncle, a warrant officer with the US Army of 36 years says basically the same as you...that he wonders what good came of his service. I tell him to relax, its over, you are a hero in every sense of the word....
Salute to you...and those in uniform fighting bad guys from Britain, you were not wrong...nor was it wrong.
God Bless ya ...

Answer 10

First and foremost Colonel, congratulations on serving your Nation for 30 years.

As to your question, I am going to agree with tallerfella's answer. As long as you served honorably then you did right.

Time will tell as to whether or not what you have done made a difference.