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Next morning in the mess hall, the marines
Discussed the blasts that blew the new latrines
To little pieces. Everyone agreed
This sabotage was an atrocious deed
Designed to make the villagers despair.
The import of this action was that there
Were terrorists or an insurgency
Within the town. The tenth would have to be
Alert and root out those who perpetrate
Such acts and people who collaborate
To hide the harmful outlaws from arrest.
A private in the breakfast line expressed
The sentiments of the consensus view,
"The bad guys must have chosen Christmas to
Prevent enjoyment of this holiday.
They know it's hard on us to be away
From our own loved ones at this time of year.
They also want to keep the people here
From knowing how much better life could be
If they were free to choose democracy."
