Books: The Operators By Michael Hastings
…According to members of Gen. McChrystal’s team, Mr. Hastings represented himself as a supporter of the Afghan war and the U.S. military upon meeting the team in Paris. When “The Runaway General” was published, he dismissed accusations that he was antiwar, explaining that his views of the war “are critical but that shouldn’t be mistaken for hostile.” In “The Operators,” he states unabashedly: “I hated the war.”…
…Like David Halberstam and Neil Sheehan, Mr. Hastings ignores the harm that his reporting caused to America’s overseas interests. The firing of Gen. McChrystal removed the one American who enjoyed the confidence of Afghan President Hamid Karzai and of Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, chief of staff of Pakistan’s army. It also widened the gulf between Mr. Karzai and Washington. Mr. Karzai became convinced that the White House had removed Gen. McChrystal as another slap in his face for disregarding American lectures. To the Afghan president, it was inconceivable that the U.S. government would fire its top military officer because of unattributed quotes in a pop-culture magazine.
Obviously, I’m not recommending this book by this POS.
Introduction.
News from last year has turned viral, with only a slight modification to the original story making it in to the email. A U.S. Marine reservist was stabbed in the back while collecting toys at a Best Buy in Augusta, GA on Black Friday. Cpl. Phillip Duggan and three other Marines were outside the store collecting toys for Toys For Tots when a man came running outside holding a knife. The man had attempted to put a laptop under his jacket, but was seen on the store’s surveillance camera Duggan was wounded as he and his fellow Marines brought the man to the ground.
The Email
November 27, 2010
Associated Press
AUGUSTA, Ga. – A U.S. Marine reservist collecting toys for children was stabbed when he helped stop a suspected shoplifter in eastern Georgia.
Best Buy sales manager Orvin Smith told The Augusta Chronicle that man was seen on surveillance cameras Friday putting a laptop under his jacket at the Augusta store.
When confronted, the man became irate, knocked down an employee, pulled a knife and ran toward the door. Outside were four Marines collecting toys for the service branch’s “Toys For Tots” program.
Smith said the Marines stopped the man, but he stabbed one of them, Cpl. Phillip Duggan, in the back. The cut did not appear to be severe.
The suspect was transported to the local hospital with two broken arms, a broken leg, possible broken ribs, assorted lacerations and bruises he obtained when he fell trying to run after stabbing the Marine.
The suspect, whose name was not released, was held until police arrived. The Richmond County Sheriff’s office said it is investigating.
Reality
The reality is this event did occur. Cpl. Phillip Duggan, a Marine reservist, was stabbed on Black Friday at a Best Buy in Augusta, GA. Duggan, 24, was at the Best Buy helping collect Toys for Tots when he was stabbed in the back by Tracey Attaway, 39, after Dugan had clothes lined Attaway as he attempted to flee the Best Buy. Attaway was spotted on surveillance video placing a laptop under his jacket. When approached and asked by store staff to return the item, Attaway became irate and stormed out of the store. Duggan, along with several other Marines and store staff members, grabbed Attaway and held him until authorities arrived. Duggan was taken to the hospital and received stitches before being released. He was described by his high school drama coach, Leah Soderberg, as having a good sense of humor and a very good code of ethics.
Three weeks after the incident, Duggan, his fellow Marines and the Best Buy staff members that helped stop Attaway were given gift cards from the store in appreciation for their actions. Attaway was denied bail as he had recently been released from prison after he was convicted of gun and obstruction charges on Sept. 8, 2010. He had begun serving a four-year probation sentence before stabbing Duggan.
The incident does, however, give us a chance to hail the Marine’s Toys for Tots program and recommend support for it. You can donate and get more information by clicking here.
On the North River 