Among the People: U.S. Marines in Iraq

Since Vietnam, we have come to realize that today’s conflicts involve more than victory in battle to succeed. We need to win the hearts and minds of the people as well as the firefights in order to prevail. Ironically, Marines get this. Their legendary courage and tenacity on the battlefield is equally matched by their compassion and engagement with the traumatized civilian population. Marine General Jim Mattis summed it up best when he said, “We can be your worst enemy or your best friend.”