# Ten Marines died today. What exactly did they die for? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 2, 2005, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-marines-died-today-what-exactly-did-they-die-for/333790 "2005-12-02T19:28:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-marines-died-today-what-exactly-did-they-die-for/333790/1 "2005-12-02T19:28:52Z")
Ten more Marines died today and it gave me pause to think that these are ten more young lives in Iraq snuffed out …for what? Service to country seems kind of an abstract, bureaucratic reason to die. In a real pollitik sense what exactly are we accomplishing in Iraq at this point that worth this level of carnage? [10 U.S. Marines killed in bombing near Fallujah](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10294579/) > [@](#): > > BAGHDAD, Iraq - A roadside bomb killed 10 Marines and wounded 11 while they were on a foot patrol near Fallujah, the Marine Corps said Friday, in the deadliest attack on American troops in nearly four months. > > Thursday’s bomb, which was made from several large artillery shells, struck members of Regimental Combat Team 8 of the 2nd Marine Division near the city about 30 miles west of Baghdad, the Marine Corps said ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-marines-died-today-what-exactly-did-they-die-for/333790/2 "2005-12-02T19:31:44Z")
I would like to think that they died for their own reasons and not something that I, a person who didn’t know them, will assign to them. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-marines-died-today-what-exactly-did-they-die-for/333790/3 "2005-12-02T19:35:32Z")
They died for nothing. That’s the hard truth. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-marines-died-today-what-exactly-did-they-die-for/333790/4 "2005-12-02T19:37:53Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > I would like to think that they died for their own reasons and not something that I, a person who didn’t know them, will assign to them. I think the question is about what their deaths _accomplished_, not about why they chose to risk them or to join the Marines. Even if they went to Iraq with the noblest of motives, their deaths were still unnecessary and pointless. ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-marines-died-today-what-exactly-did-they-die-for/333790/5 "2005-12-02T19:43:38Z")
my opinion is that it won’t take long for this thread to get to GD… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-marines-died-today-what-exactly-did-they-die-for/333790/6 "2005-12-02T20:51:00Z")
They died, because thats what Marines DO. Kill or be killed. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-marines-died-today-what-exactly-did-they-die-for/333790/7 "2005-12-02T20:54:19Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > They died for nothing. That’s the hard truth. Would you say that to the family’s face at the funeral? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-marines-died-today-what-exactly-did-they-die-for/333790/8 "2005-12-02T20:58:18Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Would you say that to the family’s face at the funeral? Only if they asked. It’s not an insult to the dead, it’s just a factual observation. If it’s an insult to anyone it’s an insult to ones who _sent_ them to die for nothing. Once again, I am not making a comment on their motivations for joining the Marine Corps. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-marines-died-today-what-exactly-did-they-die-for/333790/9 "2005-12-02T21:54:18Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > They died for nothing. That’s the hard truth. I disagree. Some large, heartless corporations are making billions of dollars in this war, and when they have made enough money, our troops can come home. Those brave, loyal Marines died to protect the flow of profits, and they died without knowing that. I love my country, and so did they. The misuse of my tax money is nothing, nothing compared to the misuse of these dedicated young Marines for this purpose. ---
**Author:** ![Binarydrone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Binarydrone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Binarydrone)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-marines-died-today-what-exactly-did-they-die-for/333790/10 "2005-12-02T22:10:30Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Would you say that to the family’s face at the funeral? Just as a matter of curiosity, I wonder if the fact that one would not say something to a person that is already heartbroken somehow makes it not true. I am honestly trying to understand what your post has to do with anything. Is the fact that Liberals aren’t (to my knowledge) picketing dead soldier’s funerals supposed to prove that they are not being sent to pointless deaths? Your post really seems like a complete non-sequitur. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-marines-died-today-what-exactly-did-they-die-for/333790/11 "2005-12-02T22:23:22Z")
> [@Binarydrone](#): > > …Your post really seems like a complete non-sequitur. Like many non-sequiturs. It makes a point by being there. And that is something. I am so sad. ---
**Author:** ![Binarydrone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Binarydrone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Binarydrone)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-marines-died-today-what-exactly-did-they-die-for/333790/12 "2005-12-02T22:26:18Z")
> [@TV time](#): > > Like many non-sequiturs. It makes a point by being there. And that is something. > > I am so sad. I don’t know, perhaps it is because it is late in the afternoon and I am at a low ebb. The fact is that I don’t understand what this means? What point does that post make just by being there? Please explain. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-marines-died-today-what-exactly-did-they-die-for/333790/13 "2005-12-02T22:33:26Z")
I would say the victim’s family that I feel angry that their loved ones HAD to die for nothing. It shouldn’t have happened. That we are throwing away the lives of our troops on a foolish war is just plain evil. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-marines-died-today-what-exactly-did-they-die-for/333790/14 "2005-12-02T22:40:19Z")
> [@Binarydrone](#): > > I don’t know, perhaps it is because it is late in the afternoon and I am at a low ebb. The fact is that I don’t understand what this means? What point does that post make just by being there? Please explain. Sorry, same for me regarding the time of day and low ebb and the news and the stupidity of it all - I thought you were referring to the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Binarydrone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Binarydrone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Binarydrone)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-marines-died-today-what-exactly-did-they-die-for/333790/15 "2005-12-02T22:47:51Z")
> [@TV time](#): > > Sorry, same for me regarding the time of day and low ebb and the news and the stupidity of it all - I thought you were referring to the OP. Ooooh. Thanks for the clarification. I think that I am becoming immune to coffee. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-marines-died-today-what-exactly-did-they-die-for/333790/16 "2005-12-02T22:49:00Z")
I think the problem is who knows what they died for? ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2005, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-marines-died-today-what-exactly-did-they-die-for/333790/17 "2005-12-02T23:19:04Z")
You think these mutts died for freedom? If I’m gonna die for a word, that word is _poon-tang_. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-marines-died-today-what-exactly-did-they-die-for/333790/18 "2005-12-03T08:31:56Z")
RAFTERMAN Well, at least they died for a good cause. ANIMAL MOTHER What cause was that? RAFTERMAN Freedom. ANIMAL MOTHER Flush out your head gear, new guy. You think we waste gooks for freedom? This is a slaughter. If I’m gonna get my balls blown off for a word … my word is “poontang.” ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-marines-died-today-what-exactly-did-they-die-for/333790/19 "2005-12-03T09:06:14Z")
They died because they joined the service and their government sent them there. 1000’s of Iraqi’s died because they were born in the wrong place at the wrong time. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-marines-died-today-what-exactly-did-they-die-for/333790/20 "2005-12-03T15:10:55Z")
> [@calm kiwi](#): > > They died because they joined the service and their government sent them there. > > 1000’s of Iraqi’s died because they were born in the wrong place at the wrong time. Exactly. If they were drafted against their will, it would be a lot more upsetting. These Marines chose to be in the Marines and probably believed in their military. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ten-marines-died-today-what-exactly-did-they-die-for/333790.md?page=2)