I'm not sure what point you're trying to make here. The title seems to praise Major Lazzari for his sacrifice and candor, yet your tone seems spiteful. Which is it? It's obvious that you, as a self-proclaimed "liberal", are against the war in Iraq. Therefore, I'll assume your intent was to villify Major Lazzari, and the cause for which he stands.
Does it surprise you that your investigation has proven that U.S. soldiers serving in Iraq actually "practice what they preach"? Were you expecting to find that Maj. Lazzari did NOT believe in the cause for which he risked his life? Or, perhaps you were trying to make the ridiculous implication that Maj. Lazzari was not aware that the Iraqi Cellular market is not yet a truly free one, as written in the linked article? The analogy he used when speaking with the Iraqi civilian was obviously less about communications technology, and more about the general principles of Democracy and self-government. You do realize that, don't you?
So, I'd really like to know...exactly what point are you trying to make by triumphantly publishing a personal letter from Major Lazzari to his friends and family, and trying to contrast it, out of context, with statements he made in the field?
Sincerely,
"Chip"
Baltimore, MD, USA

Dear "Chip",

I apologise for confusing you. Allow me to clarify a couple of things and spell out exactly where I'm coming from:

1. Major Joe Lazzari's words, and the circumstances in which he spoke them, are presented in context.

2. The letter - which you yourself made clear on the Williams Grove Speedway Forums - was clearly intended for distribution, and adds to this context as it shows the firm beliefs of the man who spoke these words.

3. The last word I leave to a man who is known to "practice what he preaches", George W Bush:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/05/20040524-10.html

"Like every nation that has made the journey to democracy, Iraqis will raise up a government that reflects their own culture and values. I sent American troops to Iraq to defend our security, not to stay as an occupying power. I sent American troops to Iraq to make its people free, not to make them American."

Cheers

PS - Joe's a big boy. I'm sure he's able to - in his words - get, as well as he gives.

Dear Manic,
Forgive me for being so dense, but I STILL don't get your point. But, first, let's clarify a few things: The letter you've posted was NOT posted by me at that forum. I was one of the recipients of the original letter (family & friends), but I do NOT know who "SeaBass" is, and I'm not familiar with Williams Grove Speedway. I say this to show that the letter has taken a bit of a diversion from it's intended audience. However, the message Joe sent out is his true sentiment, and I (and many, many others) applaud him for it. There's nothing in this letter for Major Lazzari to be ashamed of. On the contrary, it clearly demonstrates the deep belief in the mission which he holds, and illustrates his commitment to it and it's ultimate success. If I were a U.S. Soldier, I'd want just such a man as a commander.
When I say that his comments were taken out of context, I'm referring to his letter, not the transcript of the TV show you refer to. Since the letter was NOT written to you, or in response to your blog comments, I find it obvious that they are, therefore, out of context in this particular situation. However, they DO clearly express the feelings of one of "America's Best" about the mission in Iraq. You'd have to consult some of your own boys for their opinions on the mission.
Whether or not we agree on the relevance of Major Lazzari's letter to your blog, it does clearly show "his firm beliefs" as you put it. In my book, that's a GOOD thing. However, I take issue with your tone of ridicule of Joe, regarding his comments to the Iraqi civilians.
Joe represents one of America's "Best & Brightest" by your own admission. He's successfully completed one of the world's most demanding and rigorous mental and physical challenges, and now holds a position of rank and great responsibility with the U.S. Army in a very dangerous situation. I think this entitles him to a degree of respect, which seems lacking in your commentary.
If you had actually spoken with Major Lazzari, you'd find him to be a thoughtful and dedicated man. You'd most likely also learn what it's REALLY like to serve in Iraq.
Forunately for you and I, we can sit in relative safety and discuss the matter in broader terms. But for the men and women who are serving in Iraq, there's a long way to go before they can criticize the state of The Iraqi Cellular Telecommunications industry, or any other, for that matter. The Iraqi people must learn to DO things for themselves, in order to function in any type of society other than a dictatorship. I think THIS is Major Lazzari's point...although I will not presume to speak for him.
As I see it, the Iraqi people need to understand that the U.S. does not simply wish to have replaced Saddam Hussein as their omnipotent provider. They must grasp the fact that their destiny is in their own hands, and that they must begin to take responsibility for their own welfare, govenment and infrastructure. Can this be done NOW? Absolutely not! There's a LOT of work to be done before the country is ready for autonomous rule. To pull out of Iraq now would be to invite chaos and civil war.
However, WE must look at things from the Iraqi People's perspective, too. It's been decades since they have known anything other than the absolute rule of a ruthless dictator. They must first get used to the CONCEPT of self-rule, before we can expect to see positive amd long-lasting results. To me, it's this point that Major Lazzari was trying to make to both of those Iraqi's, on a level which they could understand and which could be shown to apply to them.
Many Iraqi's are now only concerned with their own personal welfare (understandable), and cannot even begin to worry about the broader political and economic future of their country. But, our military personnel (yours and ours) cannot ignore either picture, large or small. They must work on the establishment of a functioning government, keep peace between long-warring factions, establish an economy, AND teach the Iraqi people what it means to govern themselves! Admittedly, it's a very volatile situation, and there are many who work diligently to counter these efforts and inspire mistrust.
What you have seen in Major Lazzari is a man who understands (far better than I) what is at stake, and what forces must be dealt with. You have seen him interacting with two simple Iraqi civilians on an Iraqi street, and attempting to work on the problem from a grass-roots level. From what I've read here, You have NOT seen him in his dealings with Iraqi Government Officials, Iraqi Police officals, or Iraqi Army Officers. I'm sure the converstaions on those levels are far more complex and far-reaching than those had with individual civilians.
So, while I may have failed to grasp your point, I must also apologize for taking so long to reach mine: Very simply, When I learned of your having posted Joe's letter, I felt a degree of responsibility for having forwarded it to a friend, and wanted to be sure that it was not being misconstrued. Joe is indeed very able to "give as well as he gets", and my words here are most certainly unnecessary. However, I could not stand by and watch one of his letters being used to forward someone else's agenda, much less used in a sarcastic manner. If you want to open a dialog with Joe, or any other servicemembers, I'd highly encourage it. That way, the spirit of open debate and exchange of ideas can be exploited to its greatest potential, and you can truly see things both sides of an issue.
Sincerely,
"Chip"
Baltimore, MD, USA

Dear "Chip",

OK, the letter was forwarded by you then posted by Sea Bass. Gotcha. Glad we corrected that.

After you got over making your case for a better and brighter Iraq, you did finally make your point, which seems to be as follows:

"Joe is 'give as well as he gets', BUT..."

But?

In his letter, Joe seeks to address a liberal audience. He's reached one. I fail to see the problem.

Yes, perhaps if I had actually spoken with Major Lazzari, I'd find him to be a thoughtful and dedicated man... but I have not questioned his sincerity or dedication.

Still, if you think we would both benefit from an 'open debate and exchange of ideas', I'd be more than happy to kick things off. Feel free to either send him my contact details or send me his.

Cheers.

I don't really have anything more to say, Manic. It seems we both have a tough time getting each other's points, so I'll leave it at that.
Chip