Heroes, No Matter What
According to the military, 5 more U.S. troops were killed in Iraq during the past 24 hours. By my count, that makes at least 14 killed during the past week. We're rapidly approaching 2,000 dead.
When I read about a soldier killed in Iraq, my sadness is increasingly infused with anger. We're still learning what was done to manipulate the intelligence that justified this war. Depending on how Leakgate develops, we may learn the extent to which this administration conspired to short-circuit and subvert pre-war public debate. And ultimately we may get a clearer picture of exactly how and why we've lost almost 2,000 troops, with no end in sight.
But none of that diminishes their heroism. That's why it is imperative that we hold our civilian leaders to account right now. Those currently serving---soldiers like this---deserve it, and the sacrifice of those killed demands it.
There's no better way to "support the troops."
When I read about a soldier killed in Iraq, my sadness is increasingly infused with anger. We're still learning what was done to manipulate the intelligence that justified this war. Depending on how Leakgate develops, we may learn the extent to which this administration conspired to short-circuit and subvert pre-war public debate. And ultimately we may get a clearer picture of exactly how and why we've lost almost 2,000 troops, with no end in sight.
But none of that diminishes their heroism. That's why it is imperative that we hold our civilian leaders to account right now. Those currently serving---soldiers like this---deserve it, and the sacrifice of those killed demands it.
There's no better way to "support the troops."
posted by The Cunning Realist at Sunday, July 31, 2005
11 Comments:
Don't worry. . . the cabal will have this dialed down by 2008 and be on to some other fantasy narrative
You know when the Swift-Boaters were attacking John Kerry's duties and diminishing his medals, I thought, man, this is pretty low and it set a precedence of how we treat and think of soldiers, past and future. Make no mistake, the swift-boaters political tactics worked and reduced the merits of everyone's service. The swift-boaters taught us all service people can not be trusted and they aren't heros.
Swift-boaters taught us
how you treat and attack a person that served their country. I thought then and still do, that all those young men and women, and not so young, who are serving today, could be in John Kerry's shoes and what will we think about them then.
There are two Iraq war veterans running for office today, and an election in Ohio is Tuesday. Yes, we'll see how they treat veterans of war, just like they treated John McCain and Max Cleland.
We'll also see how they treat veterans by what they do to the VA.
Republican politicians are some of the most schizophrenic people in our society. One minute they are one person saying one thing, and the next they are someone else saying something else.
They don't really care about other people, they care about propaganda, gossip, lies, innuendos, rhetoric, and anything to get elected.
Andy Rooney did an excellent Memorial Day piece.
snippet:
"Remembering doesn’t do the remembered any good, of course. It's for ourselves, the living. I wish we could dedicate Memorial Day, not to the memory of those who have died at war, but to the idea of saving the lives of the young people who are going to die in the future if we don’t find some new way - some new religion maybe - that takes war out of our lives."
This one was also good.
What about a new government department, Department of Peace
In Japan - "Thousands gather in support of retaining pacifist Article 9" (to prevent a military buildup).
I've read many articles on our Pentagon and the civilian defence boards. Why can't we set a goal to try to prevent wars in the first place, and look for peaceful solutions? It would be nice if we'd try at least.
A reporter in Iraq was on the Charlie Rose show the other night and said that we can call Iraq a "managed civil war". And the administration new early on that it screwed up. The lessons learned: understand history and culture. Our role in the future probably will be to watch their war and assist as needed. We are going to be there a very, very long time.
WE need to support our troops and keep the heat on the men that sent them there. I feel so very sorry for the young men and women who are over there... some of them doing things they shouldn't do.... all of them supporting our country and democracy.
The way to support our troops is to give them excellent training, adequate equipment, and then take care of them when they get home. That means the VA system should be supported to the fullest, both with medical and psychological programs. I hate to think what these numbers of young men will be like when they get home, many of them suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. Difficulty with jobs. Marriages that have fallen apart while they had extended stays in Iraq, or were sent back too quick.
Some day history will judge our current leaders. I don't know when - they are pretty good so far at fooling a good number of the people. But I know it will happen and I hope I am alive to tell to look in the face of those that voted in this administration and then turned their faces away rather than see what their votes hath brung. And I will be supper pissed off if my grandson ends up drafted and sent over there for this immoral war.
CR, I again thank you for making me believe at least some of the Republicans can see what is happening.
Those troops we're so proud of are just drive-by shooting thugs that terrorized our cities during the 1990s. The neo-cons did us a favor by shipping them off and restoring some peace to blighted domestic neighborhoods.
Now if we could just figure out a way to flood the entire area between the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean, we'd have finally have some real peace.
I wonder when, in their misplaced patriotic fever, they will wake up and realize they took part in a campaign in raping Iraq.
After World War II we, the victors heaped shame, etc. on the ordinary german soldier, for committing the crime of serving in their countrie's army. They had no choice but we condemmed them anyway.
Our soldiers have that choice and eventually may realize that they too will have to bear shame for their service.
The question sadly remains, will this democracy survive the assault it is undergoing from the enemy within. Bush, the GOP and the neocons have done more damage to the fabric of this country than the "terrorist" could ever have achieved.
'Weep o' country for you are watching the destruction of our american dream'.
I wonder when, in their misplaced patriotic fever, they will wake up and realize they took part in a campaign in raping Iraq.
That's right. What about the hundreds of thousands of dead Iraqis? $8 billion missing from Iraqi coffers; the unspeakable desecration of cities, villages, homes??
With friends like America who needs enemies?
I pay attention to news I think. At least I usually surf cable news, but if I hadn't read this blog today I would have had no idea we lost those troops. Maybe I missed it. I know everything there is to know about Aruba though. Not to minimize that tragedy but I believe this administration has effectively quelled the coverage of this war.
Jim Maclaren won the Arthur Ashe Courage Award - along with Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah from Ghana - and quoted Maya Angelou, "a hero is any person really intent on making this a better place for all people."
Emmanuel's story was amazing. His spirit awesome. We often forget places like Ghana exist.
I guess we can focus on the evil or the good of people. It brings fear to my soul when politicians or entertainment news journalists talk about getting rid of a group (as in we should bomb the middle east or kill'em and convert them). I like what Russell Simmons said when he was asked about race. He said I don't see race, I see culture.
I don't think hero's lie, use propaganda, or use other people to promote their own agenda. And we do need to hold our government accountable.
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