I've been corresponding with Jim Hake, a local Los Angeles fella, who approached Joe about a plan he had to help the Marines perform the nation-building part of their role in Iraq by providing them with swag - toys and school supplies for children and basic medical supplies for Iraqi physicians. He's pulled it together (brilliantly), and now is ready to accept donations. You can donate cash here , or go here to see what kind of goods are being sought and how to get them to him. Time is of the essence, as he is working with the 1st Marine Division - who were in Baghdad and who are about to redeploy back to Iraq. The first container leaves in two weeks. Many of us are safe at home, affected by the events in Iraq, and passionate in our feelings - one way or the other - about them. Here's a chance to do some concrete good. For myself, I use the 'good dinner' metric in deciding how much to give; what does a good dinner out with Tenacious G cost me? For some, a good dinner out is Carl's, as opposed to Mickey D's. For some it's Ginza Sushi-Ko (a wildly expensive sushi restaurant here in Los Angeles). Obviously, I see this as a Good Thing, and for those of us in favor of the war - even for those opposed, who I am sure want the Iraqis to get a break, and for our troops to be able to do something other than 'killing people and blowing shit up,' as my Ranger friends put it. I love this quote from the Maj. General Jim Mattis, the commander of the 1st Marine Division:

"While we will move swiftly and aggressively against those who resist, we will treat all others with decency, demonstrating chivalry and soldierly compassion for people who have endured a lifetime under Saddam's oppression."

It seems to me that this could be the motto we apply to many of our more militant interactions abroad.