Former Marine addresses Fallbrook women's club

By: PATTI MAGEE - Staff Writer | Friday, January 12, 2007 10:12 PM PST ∞

FALLBROOK ---- Despite their challenges, the Iraqi people are tough and resilient, former Marine Nathan Fletcher said Friday, as he spoke at a monthly meeting of Fallbrook's Republican women's club.

"They have been fighting for thousands of years; they have been oppressed by Saddam Hussein and have seen violence on a daily basis," Fletcher said of the Iraqis. "Still they have good spirit and determination."

Fletcher was the guest speaker at Friday's meeting of Fallbrook Women Federated, held at the Fallbrook Golf Club.

He spoke about his experiences in Iraq and of working with servicemen there from all branches of the U.S. military. He said the bonds formed among those in the military are unlike any other.

"On a sports team, bonds are formed, and sometimes you make a mistake and you lose," he said. "Here, a mistake can cost someone their life."

Fletcher said he supports President Bush's recent decision to send more troops to Iraq, but added that it's important to consider how they are used.

"We are facing an insurgency that is more complex than you can imagine, and fighting them is more difficult than we imagined," he said. "If we don't find a way to deal with this, there will be problems all over.

"We also have to find a way to have Iraq take care of its own country ---- to set up a government that functions and then let them take control," he said.

Despite the serious mission in Iraq, Fletcher said there also were some more lighthearted moments filled with surprise.

He said he was amazed about how much people in rural towns knew about American culture, even though they do not have the Internet or cell phones.

"A man who could not read or write and lived in a remote area knew (Connecticut Sen.) Joe Lieberman had lost the (Democratic) primary," he said. "They know about football. There was a little boy wearing a LaDainian Tomlinson shirt. And through an interpreter, one person asked why we couldn't win the Super Bowl."

Fletcher now works as business development adviser and security consultant and is the founder of Safe Passage Systems Inc., which works with public and private sector organizations to improve performance and security.

Also at Friday's meeting, the women's club heard from Bryan Watkins, who worked on Gov. Schwarenegger's campaign as a deputy field director.

Watkins said he is already looking ahead to 2008 and helping Republicans regain control of Congress.

"The election wasn't lost because a single issue, such as the war in Iraq," he said. "We lost it because of a loss of conservatism and Republican principles."

Scandals played another role. Watkins recalled that at one time he worked for former Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham.

"He could have been a great historian," he said. "When I knew him, I didn't know him as the same man pleading guilty. He sold our defense program for his personal gain."

Contact staff writer Patti Magee at (760) 731-5797 or pmagee@nctimes.com.