This is one of the most unbiased, non-political reports on Iraq I have ever read. You can make your own judgement. As the reporter states:
True, I am anti-war, but I recognize that at this juncture in human history that refusing to fight in many parts of the world means that we agree to be beaten to death, or we agree to allow airliners to ram into our buildings. War is a pitiful human reality that we must face, and we are far from finished with facing this demon. We live in a rough world where strength is rewarded, weakness is penalized.This is something we should all think about. Nobody likes war but is it necessary? There are some hard questions we must face as a society. If you want to know what is going on in Iraq, I would suggest you sit down with a cup of coffee and read this piece: Of Words
h/t Celestial Junk
Another human piece from an Iraqi: Kill us, but you won't enslave us
h/t Michelle Malkin
17 comments:
The author of the article you refer to, does not offer any historical background, nor does he speculate as to the motive behind the attack of 911.
It would seem that he sees this as an unprovoked, unforseeable, senseless act of aggression.
He implies that the five years of war that followed that event, are justified.
This is much like the American interpretation of the Cuban missle crisis.
No one it seems, dares ask the question, "Why did the Cubans ask the USSR to place their missles there?"
No one asks, "Why do the Iranians feel that they must develope weapons for their defence?"
Our political rhetoric, consistently portrays these smaller countries as the aggressors.
Why is it that we do not consider the story from the perspective of the enemy?
Fear.
Even as I write this, I fear that I may be flagged by some agency, that protects our national security.
Like everone else on this continent, I was shocked and angered by the attack of 911. If you remember, allied planes broadcast messages to the Afgahns.
One of them was, "We have come to avenge our dead."
It has been five years now. Two countries have been reduced to ashes. Have those dead been avenged yet? The attack of 911 has already been imprinted upon every mind in the middle east. This five year war of vengeance will be spoken of in every household for the next two generations.
The perpetrators of 911, and their supporters, did not imagine that vengeance would be so swift, and so terrible.
The war has achieved its end. The question has become. "How does one justify its continuance?"
You make a few statements that I disagree with.
First of all, I do not believe the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are acts of vengeance. Is there a feeling amongst the Americans of vengeance? Absolutely. However, that is not what the war is about. Americans found out on 9/11 that if they sit idly by and do not get aggressively involved in anti-terrorism, they will still be attacked. 9/11 was a wake up call that their are fanatics out there who think nothing of targeting innocent civilians in America as they are infidels.
Secondly, the small countries are pegged as aggressors? Mark my words, they were aggressive. Iraq invaded Kuwait. Saddam considered US an enemy and as you can see by documents, meant the US harm. Saddam was not content to simply abuse his own people. Iran has stated they intend to decimate Israel. They have made it clear it is not merely for their defence but to actually erase Israel from the map. These leaders were definitely aggressive to other countries and for self defence, the free world must make some stands. Terrorist training camps were harboured and encouraged under these regimes. These are not peaceful countries minding their own business.
Thirdly, your comment regarding reducing Afghanistan and Iraq to ashes. You obviously disagree but I believe these countries were ashes long before and it is only now that there is some hope for their people. Hundreds of thousands of people suffered under the hands of Saddam and his regime. I personally would have invaded to save these poor people alone but I know my opinion is rare.
Fourthly, your statement that the war has achieved its end. I don't believe that. The war is still on with the terrorists and we cannot leave these countries until they are stable and not in a position to continue promoting terrorism against the US. In my personal opinion, the wars are not over until the people of these countries are not under threat from the fanatic groups that terrorize them. Personally, I feel if we left now, all would be for naught and it would be similar to the US withdrawal in 1991 where the people who had believed and fought for their own freedom were rounded up and massacred. I grieve for those people.
When will the war be over and what will it look like? I really don't know. Time and history will tell however I pray for the peace and freedom of the Iraqi people and the peace and freedom to continue for us "infidels".
Dear Lanny,
You misread much of what I intended to say. Perhaps it is my fault. I will not bother to clarify
because it both fatigues and bores me.
You know nothing of war. You have never seen how much blood shoots out of a man who has had the top of his head blown off. You have never clutched your guts while you were bleeding to death out of your asshole and screaming in pain for your mother.
You are one of those criminals who sends other women's sons to die or to be maimed for some obscure principle. You rant that other people should die for what you think is right.
You are wrong.
This war is over. The rhetoric that enabled it, and supported it
is unravelling before your eyes, but you cannot see it.
Your ranting is irrelevant and misinformed.
Ahhh, well then we shall agree to disagree. You are right that I have not seen this horror because I am blessed to have been born in Canada and a truly free country. As for the "rhetoric" that enabled it, it is coming to light as we speak. The ranting went on regarding war with Hitler as well stating that we should not get involved. I believe we should have been then and should be now. History will tell.
oh and herb? you're not fooling anyone
It amazes me that, with your excellent references for reading, the best someone can say in their comments is to call someone a criminal! I found statements about the "waring" factions in these countries wanting things to go back to where they had "total control" and "truth is often a colateral casualty of war" to be particularly interesting. Too often in my life I have witnessed the need for people to control other people----including their opinions. And in that process, truth does indeed become a casualty. Comments on the "weasel words" used by the media to refer to mass murderers as suicide bombers, or martyrs reminds me of the news media calling our medical "risk" lists "waiting lists".
One of most feeble excuses for violence in my opinion is "I was provoked". So if anyone feels the 9/11 murdering was justified by U.S. foreign policy,or whatever, they are taking a supportive position of the child that uses a baseball bat as a response to teasing. But last time I checked, self defence was still a recognized acceptible response to life threatening actions.
Well Said Dr. Al,
I did in fact imply that the US foreign policy brought about 911. I do not say anywhere that such an attack is justifiable by any argumnet.
I agree with you, that it is impossible to support the position that the US foriegn policy justified the mass murder of 911.
I wholeheartedly support the military response to the 911 attack.
We may choose to call it vengeance or self defence, it does not matter.
I do not fear war. It was me doing the screaming, and I am Canadian. I was also born here. The war was not WWII but a much more modern one.
I am here to write this because my comrades and a Canadian surgeon saved me.
I was offended because too often, the armchair critic calls for war,
but has no idea what war is.
Our soldiers are worth their weight
in gold, there are too few of them, and they are poorly equiped.
They will go where you tell them to
and die there if they must.
We should think well before we squander this precious resource.
These are lives we are squabling about we three. Not chessmen or numbers or opinions.
What is criminal, is that it is too easy to send another man to his death. One should take a moment to reflect, to ask, "How many lives will it cost for us to make this noble gesture?" "Can we
as a nation, afford to pay this price?"
The last and most serious question we should ask is "Whose war is this?"
There is one more thing I should like to add. To use the phrase "history will tell", is the most disgusting and disrespectful thing to say about the lives of soldiers that I have ever seen.
I might also tell you, that the soldiers have become accustomed to such shabby treatment.
Well Said Dr. Al,
I did in fact imply that the US foreign policy brought about 911. I do not say anywhere that such an attack is justifiable by any argumnet.
I agree with you, that it is impossible to support the position that the US foriegn policy justified the mass murder of 911.
I wholeheartedly support the military response to the 911 attack.
We may choose to call it vengeance or self defence, it does not matter.
I do not fear war. It was me doing the screaming, and I am Canadian. I was also born here. The war was not WWII but a much more modern one.
I am here to write this because my comrades and a Canadian surgeon saved me.
I was offended because too often, the armchair critic calls for war,
but has no idea what war is.
Our soldiers are worth their weight
in gold, there are too few of them, and they are poorly equiped.
They will go where you tell them to
and die there if they must.
We should think well before we squander this precious resource.
These are lives we are squabling about we three. Not chessmen or numbers or opinions.
What is criminal, is that it is too easy to send another man to his death. One should take a moment to reflect, to ask, "How many lives will it cost for us to make this noble gesture?" "Can we
as a nation, afford to pay this price?"
The last and most serious question we should ask is "Whose war is this?"
There is one more thing I should like to add. To use the phrase "history will tell", is the most disgusting and disrespectful thing to say about the lives of soldiers that I have ever seen.
I might also tell you, that the soldiers have become accustomed to such shabby treatment.
And you think I don't know that, anonymous. I know well what war is and it terrifies me and I am thankful, as I said, to be in Canada. However, I strongly believe that this is a worthy effort on our soldiers part. I respect that you have been a soldier, if indeed you have. However I disrespect your smearing of my character. I have thought long and hard on this. I have read and listened and read and listened. My stand does not come lightly. I know of the reasons and the action and I stand behind these wars. Your arrogance is unwarranted and unneeded.
History will tell is a statement that is not disrespectful to our soldiers but instead is disrespectful of you. I can tell that your arrogance will not see otherwise. History will tell YOU, and others of your ilk.
and Whose war is this? It is ours as well as theirs. Did you not read the post? It answers your questions if you care to think beyond your own armchair. And where would we be if we decided that the Jews plight in Germany was not ours to fight even when they attacked other countries. I have stood up to a bully right here at home who would choose to abuse someone weaker. It is a responsibility we have despite the risk.
I am assuming you are saying that you would consider the pain to yourself before standing up for someone weaker? I know our soldiers are proud to be doing so and I salute them. You, I do not.
I am sure we are all significantly influenced by our experiences in life. I obviously am in the field of medicine.I have seen many people die in paliative care, often with less support and help than the family can afford but "the program" has only so much allotment per month per palliative care patient and the hospices and hospitals are full. When asking the family caregivers whether they would do the :die at home" care for a loved one again, many will say they were glad they did it this one time but feel they would not have the emotional and physical capability to do it again. I have seen my old people suffer in pain with their degenerated joints waiting for joint replacements. I recall one man who fell and broke his hip because of the dopyness caused by his analgesics while waiting for his hip replacement. He then had his hip replaced within two days. People who have finally had their hips replaced after waiting for two years say the pain is less within four days after surgery than it was for the preceeding two years. This is not a small matter. Many of these people effectively are having two years of their life taken from them when they may only have four or five years left.
I often wonder if those people that oppose war, and the news media that seems to continually want to question the commitment of governments that oppose terrorism, ever think that they may be responsible for many of the deaths in places like Afganistan. At present Canadians are divided on our commitment there (so the news media states). The news media seems to want to fan the flames of indecision. If I were a terrorist or the Taliban, I think I would cause all the casualties possible before the present commitment runs out, in an effort to discourage and raise anti-support for a renewed commitment. What would happen if the decision was made now for a commitment of ten years. Wouldn't that be a position that would encourage the terrorist to go elsewhwere?
So you see, it is easy to find people to blame. The truth, in my mind is (spoken by wiser than I), if good men do nothing, evil will prevail.
Anonymous,if you were indeed a good man that did something, take pride in that. You have done more than most. Relate your experiences in a constructive way. "Anti" is easy, "pro" is tough.
Dr. Al,
I understand your point. Thank you for finding the words to express it so well. I can see now why your patients are devoted to you.
I see now that my experience has had a profound effect on my thinking.
I will consider what you have said
over the next few days.
Thank you again.
Dear Lanny,
You are not the first person who has told me I am arrogant. So I must admit to you that I am.
Obviously, I have offended you. This I now regret, and apologize for.
I hope you will accept.
I would like to compliment you on your integrity. It would have been easy for you to delete my comment, but you did not.
Having read Dr. Al's letter, I realize that I need some time to reflect.
Again, I offer you my apology. I regret any slur that I may have cast upon your character.
The two of you have pointed out several flaws that I must consider seriously.
Thank you.
Dear Lanny,
When I was a younger man, wars raged on several continents. Much as they do today. My war was not a Canadian or American one. It was in a jungle, ten thousand miles from here.
It was an unjust war.
I did not think about these things then. I, like other young men, thought myself to be invincible.
As the war was not morally justifiable, I was in effect a murderer. All of this guilt still torments me. For some five years I
dreamed of Lucifer. For at least ten or fifteen years I was like a powder keg, waiting to go off.
Sounds or people would startle me, and suddenly my adrenalin and reflexes took over. Finally, a woman I loved gave me an article
describing my condition. It took a few years, but eventually I was able to eliminate the dangerous reflexes I had aquired.
It was hard. I lived with this terrible guilt. I had horrible dreams. I was always afraid I might harm someone.
It took twenty years for me to put those demons to rest.
So many times I wondered if it would have been easier if I had not returned.
Forgive me again for having offended you.
Perhaps there are still some ghosts that haunt me.
Dear Anonymous:
I am sorry for your experiences. I really am. I understand also that with your experience, it is hard to hear people voicing opinions that may be mere political posturing or ranting. However, as I stated, I do not make this decision lightly. You have a point, perhaps many others do one way or the other.
I cannot comprehend the demons that haunt you for being in a war that you did not believe in. I cannot imagine. I do pray that the soldiers in this war realize that they can believe that they are making a difference. I also pray, although I cannot know, that it does make a difference. There are many variables that can detract from this difference depending, as Al said, what kind of ongoing commitment we make. From the reports I read, many of these nations' people are grateful for their release from horrific regimes. I think about their life in this war but I also think about the horror of life before for them.
The fact that you had guilt shows that you are a good man and good to question. We all learn more about the world as we age and the idealism/naivety of youth is left behind.
Perhaps all wars are unjust as many say. I believe that it is a noble and worthy cause. I will have to discuss my views with God when the time comes.
Take care.
Dear Anonymous, it sounds to me you are still in considerable pain. Make a decision to move forward and do the positive things that you know to be good with the rest of your life; leave the negatives in the past where they belong. I'm sure you have learned from them.
Sometimes what is percieved as arrogance is simply taking a strong position to deny our insecurity----and it sounds like you have been through enough to justify both insecurity and distrust of those in authority.
Keep well.
Questioning authority is necessary to our freedom.
Being 'reactionary' is detrimental to it.
It's possible that some people have forgotten that our freedom is hard-earned and comes with a price. We don't all pay the price and yet we all enjoy the end result. Perhaps some people have a sense of entitlement to freedom, like they do with the rest of the benefits of living in this country. Perhaps they forget that the reason we have freedom is because people fought and have died for it.
I agree that our soldiers are serving a noble cause. I don't agree with war, but also see how it may be necessary at times. I do not claim to know anything about anything as I am sheltered in this society from the many horrors that occur worldwide. This I know for sure and can be ever thankful for. Whoever has granted/fought for the freedom we all enjoy, I thank them for their truly noble sacrifice, for their country and fellow country people.
Those are just my thoughts.
Always praying for peace...
Post a Comment