bring out your dead
It has been a particularly deadly week in Iraq with at least 20 soldiers getting killed, so of course the president has been brought out by his handlers to tell us how brave they all were and how we appreciate their sacrifice (sacrifice being such an appropriate term here) and how we're winning the war on terror because of their brave effort. The worst thing about the escalating death toll, which is now well over 1800 Americans in a what was supposed to be a quick and easy punitive expedition against Saddam, is that it helps Bush wrap Iraq into the war on terror. Americans are sick of Americans being killed by shady elements in Iraq who may or may not be an indigenous rebellion against our occupation. We are sick of the war, but as long as we believe it is a part of the war on terror, we'll support our jackass president. And you know, it is becoming a part of the war on terror now because we have made it that way. We invaded a stable, secular, country in the middle east, got rid of its only leader of the past 20 years, and then are amazed that everything has gone to hell and Islamic fundamentalists have moved in because we have given them easy targets to strike back at the US through (namely, our soldiers). Saddam was a brutal fucker who deserves to rot in jail next to Milosevic, but there is absolutely now way this war was justified at the time, and more and more Americans realize we were lied to and misled and not have almost daily reports of dead Americans to listen to. Don't worry though, I'm sure our blind patriotism will pull us through these hard times, as it always has in the past. Most people who oppose the war keep that opinion to themselves unless it is in a poll, because Fox News tells them the hate their country and are traitors if they express their opposition. We are also reassured by the fact (and the "liberal" media) that even though Iraq wasn't a den of terrorists when Bush told is was, it sure is now and so he must have been right all along. Jesus, Orwell must be laughing at us.But, back to the all of those dead soldiers. When I was in DC this spring, I came across this very interesting art exhibit showing all of the dead soldiers at that point in time.
The exhibit made me so angry and sad, especially looking at all of those reservists with big smiles on their faces and notes from their wives and kids tucked in behind the paintings. None of them ever thought they'd get stuck in such a shitty dangerous place thanks to our army being over extended and our leaders turning the whole world against us (one weekend a month, eh?). I even feel bad for those over testosteroned marines who act so tough and unflappable, because most of them are just stupid kids. Younger than me and with no way to make a life for themselves other then through the armed forces. They are "braver" and more macho then the reservists, but that's because they are brainwashed to be like that from the second they hit boot camp and they tend to not be the smartest members of the service. They're more robots than people at times, but they are still dead and they still have loved ones grieving for them back home.
I though this show was a great way to start to remembering that real people are dying over there, which we sort of forget because the media refuses to show us the flag draped coffins coming home and the families who are torn apart because of their loss. They only bust out the people who support the president no matter what and keep telling us how proud they are of their loved one and how they died making us safer. I hope that helps them though their grief, but those folks died for nothing. No WMD, no terror links, no threat to us, just a ruined nation with a sick leader. But looking at these soldiers reminded me of our last big loss of life abroad, which was of course Vietnam. Also pointless and based on lies. So, here are some pics of the Vietnam War Memorial:
To the soldiers: I wish you were all home with your loved ones and that our draft-dodging leaders were there in your place. They sent many of you to your deaths, but the rest of you, keep safe.
posted by AngryYoungMan @ 5:55 PM
3 Comments:
well said. God, I hate that fucking asshole Bush and all of his sleazy handlers, and they all deserve a special place in hell to pay for all of the lives they have sacrificed just so that they can keep their jobs and keep Amurika in a constant state of panic.(perhaps there can be a TENTH circle of hell created just for them. And I still don't think that's enough.)
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