Tell the dead children

Published on October 16, 2004 By d3adz0mbie In International

Think Saddam was contained? Think he wasn't a terrorist? Do you think, in any fashion, that the Iraq war was a mistake?

More Iraqi mass graves
"The head of the unit, Greg Kehoe, who has seen more than his share of horrors in places such as the Balkans, couldn’t believe what he saw.
"I’ve never seen women and children executed, defenseless people executed in this fashion," he said. "I mean, you look at a young woman holding her 2-year-old child with a gunshot wound to the back of the head. I can’t find any reason to justify that."
When I saw the images I could only think back to Hilla, a town south of Baghdad where I went in the spring of 2003, just after the fall of Saddam. A mass grave of Iraqi Shiites was discovered there.
I will never forget it for as long as I live. Thousands of bodies. Thousands of families swarming over piles of clothing and flesh. Earth-moving equipment digging through the raw humanity. Digging up the past."

Tell the dead children "wrong war, wrong time". Tell the dead mothers "blood for oil". Tell the sons, daughters and fathers of the dead that removing Saddam was a "colossal failure of judgment."

Go ahead, I dare you.

Comments (Page 4)

Texas Wahine

on Oct 16, 2004

This is Tex's husband. I just thought I would bring a little clarification for you dumbass arm chair generals who think they know everything because they watch CNN 24/7. I am not serving in Iraq currently, I am in Afghanistan. There are things going on here that you will never hear about. It is even more so in Iraq. That place is chaos. As to your opinions of a soldier's motivations, you don't know shit. It's people like Voodoostation that really piss me off. If you're so hot in the pants about the Iraq war why don't you reenlist and come fight with us? As for your great morality regarding mass murders, why didn't we intervene in Rwanda when over 800,000 people were killed in outright genocide? I guess because Rwanda doesn't have a great deal of oil or natural resources, it is not a viable target. I joined under a lot of false pretenses. I was told a lot of lies or half-truths. I guess it's my own fault for not having enough common sense to see through them, but alas here I am. I will follow the orders given me but that doesn't mean I can't question them if I think they're wrong. Please don't call me or my fellow soldiers dogs or robots, because we're all complex individuals capable of our own thoughts, dreams, and fears. We're also not kids. As a medic I've seen things that will haunt me for the rest of my life. You just can't wish it away and it strengthens your resolve and determination. If you weren't before, you become an adult. I have to go now, I want to enjoy the rest of my leave with my family.

Mitch21

on Oct 16, 2004

your assertion, not mine

that actually IS what you said

you do what you are told to do

You don't do your job because you believe in it

Deference

on Oct 16, 2004

Thank you for your time and contribution, enjoy your leave.

cactoblasta

on Oct 16, 2004

I think the test of Allied benevolence in Iraq will come when the US finally leaves. If Iraq becomes a democratic nation in fact and not merely name, where human rights are secured under either common law or US-style bills of rights, then we will know that the Iraq War was done for at least some of the stated reasons: spreading democracy and liberating the Iraqi people. However if instead the government of Iraq is a dictatorship at that stage, as previous US policy on subjugated nations would suggest, then it becomes obvious that the US government acted for purely selfish reasons and without recourse to the desires of the Iraqi people. Of course if the people of Iraq are permitted to vote on the kind of government they want and choose brutal dictatorship following a US withdrawal then the US's actions would be compassionate and morally correct.

To judge it now seems premature in my opinion as most/all? of us here lack access to the internal documents of the current administration. Without the policy documents and the published minutes of Cabinet and upper echelon meetings it is extremely difficult to justify claims to knowing the intentions of the US government and their allies in this endeavour.

The opinions of the individual soldiers are largely irrelevent to the policy decisions of their political masters; as others have said and as many a psychological textbook claims, the entire process of indoctrination is designed to instil more or less unthinking obedience. In their personal lives the majority of soldiers are largely free to hold whatever beliefs they like. But their military training is specifically designed to ensure that these men and women leave their opinions and beliefs at the door when they don the uniform. If they are asked to do something they believe is wrong but is legal then this instilled professionalism is what is designed to drive them to do their duty irrespective of personal opinion. I am no soldier, but that is the intention as described in the various texts on psych and political control that I have had to read in the past. So feel free to disparage my civilian status if that makes you feel better.

voodoostation

on Oct 16, 2004

Enemies, both foreign and domestic.

Yours is not to wonder why...

Being the offspring of Vietnam vets, I don't believe I am desecrating the memories of veterans of a time not so long ago. I believed, and still do, my service was right. I felt obligated to serve my country. I served during a Presidency that made military members serve cocktails and meals to dignitaries as if they were common waitstaff. I served during a Presidency that mocked military servicemen and women. I served during a Presidency that made military members wear civilian clothing when visiting the White House. I served for a President who called himself the first "Black President in History." I picked up Haitians from the ocean when they fled their country. I served during Kosovo. I was in the battle group that rescued the Air Farce pilot in Bosnia.

I came from a family whose annual income was less than $15,000. My father joined the Navy in 1957 because he had two choices, the military or jail. My mother served in the Navy during Vietnam. My mother's dad was a sailor. My neighbor, the closest I ever had to a grandfather, was a gunner in WW II. My father made a 24 year career out of it. The Navy, to this day, is my father's first love. I did not join the Navy because I was "poor". I felt an obligation to serve, to make the world safer.

Many, if not most, sign up for a reason civilians will never understand. I don't expect them to. I do, however, expect them to step aside and show respect. I expect them to treat us humanely. I expect them to love their freedom. I never expect thanks.

I don't want everyone to march in lockstep. That makes for a very dull world. I do, apparently foolishly, hope they have the intelligence to understand good and evil.

Deference

on Oct 16, 2004

So you say they're all mindless robots, worker bees, tending to the queen. If you really believe that crap, you got another thing coming. You're saying they joined the military because they were bored, they were poor, they had nothing better to do, no good prospects.

That is what was referred to by this statement:

your assertion, not mine

As you well know. Got any other zingers, Mitch?

Thank you for your comments cactoblasta (haven't seen you around for a while).

Respect for your service, Voodoo.

voodoostation

on Oct 16, 2004

Dear Tex's Husband,

I'm rather disheartened to know that I pissed you off. Not my intention. I would have given my left arm (I'm left handed you see) to reenlist, but I got out while Clinton was President. I also had a wife. No children at the time, I believe in sex after marriage. If it hadn't been her, I would still be a sailor and would have called you a dumbass for not reading the paperwork before you signed up. That being said, when September 11th came around, my wife and I spent hours, many hours discussing my return to military service. I would still go back today. Call me an armchair general, you have the right, but you signed up to do a job, and regardless if you think so, it is a noble one few can do. I understand the thoughts of your wife, but I do not understand the selfishness. I never have.

You speak of Rwanda and the genocide that happened there. Understand, this President was not on watch then. Everyone dotes on the United Nations and yet they did nothing. You may argue the same thing is happening in the Sudan and we are doing nothing. What happened to the great U.N.? We have seen genocide in Iraq. We have taken care of it. We may yet take care of Sudan. You may want to pack light.

I never called you dogs or robots, people who don't understand military life call you that. I've been there. I call you "kids" collectively because the average age of a military service member is well below mine. I had a good job in the Navy, a long, hardworking, thankless job, but a good one nonetheless. I don't envy you yours.

May life be good to you and yours and may you enjoy a peaceful leave. And, finally, thank you for what you do.

Joe Eberly, EM2, USN, now civilian

T B

on Oct 16, 2004

Something not often enough expressed. I would like to thank each of you that has chosen to serve our country, regardless of reason. My prayers and hopes are with each of you for a safe return. God speed.

MythicalMino

on Oct 16, 2004

You know....I served in the army.....Chemical Operations Specialist (54B), 1993 - 1996. Spent a year in Korea, 1 1/2 years in Ft. Campbell, KY (63rd CHEM Co, what did we do? http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/63chem.htm). I was Air Assault....

That uniform....I was proud to serve....and oddly, enough....my recruiter was actually completely truthful, all the way down to what would happen as soon as I got off the bus at Ft. MeClellan, AL. The military instilled in me a self-confidance...I remember telling my mom, when i left for Korea....I knew I wouldn't see her for at least a year (i really didn't plan on coming home for the 1 month leave)....I told her, I don't want to die if a war breaks out anywhere....but if I do, know what I would die with honor....

The strange thing...I joined up, knowing full well what could happen....I know (and knew then, also) that sometimes...well, war is just inevitable....I don't believe that the US goes around looking who in teh world we can bully, and knock down....but I know that the majority of the American ppl know that if there are problems somewhere....it is usually the US that HAS to deal with it, cause nobody else really will.

One of my all-time favorite movies is Band of Brothers....and I think one of my favorite parts in that movie (if you can call it a movie....a VERY long movie) was when they were getting ready to march into Bastone (spelling? and I believe it was at that point in the movie)....anyways, the soldiers coming out of the woods told Col. Winters that the Germans were all over, and that they would all be surrounded....cut off to supply lines and all....Winters' response? "We are Airborne....we're supposed to be surrounded". To me...that is the epitomy of the duty of a soldier. Duty.

My definition of a soldier? I really like the song by Toby Keith, "American Soldier"....not sure who wrote it (I would imagine it was him)....but the words ring so true to me....

American Soldier

I'm just trying to be a father,
Raise a daughter and a son,
Be a lover to their mother,
Everything to everyone.
Up and at 'em bright and early,
I'm all in my business suit,
Yeah, I'm dressed for success from my head down to my boots,
I don't do it for money, there's still bills that I can't pay,
I don't do it for the glory, I just do it anyway,
Providing for our future's my responsibility,
Yeah I'm real good under pressure, being all that I can be,
And I can't call in sick on Mondays when the weekends been to strong,
I just work straight through the holidays,
And sometimes all night long.
You can bet that I stand ready when the wolf growls at the door,
Hey, I'm solid, hey I'm steady, hey I'm true down to the core,
And I will always do my duty, no matter what the price,
I've counted up the cost, I know the sacrafice,
Oh, and I don't want to die for you,
But if dyin's asked of me,
I'll bear that cross with an honor,
'Cause freedom don't come free.
I'm an american soldier, an american,
Beside my brothers and my sisters I will proudly take a stand,
When liberty's in jeopardy I will always do what's right,
I'm out here on the front lines, sleep in peace tonight.
American soldier, I'm an American,
An American,
An American Soldier

(by, Toby Keith?)

Anyways....I respect the men and women that are serving in our military....and those that are in harms way, for us, and those that cannot protect themselves.

Chris

Texas Wahine

on Oct 16, 2004

SSG: Thanks for your support. I know you don't always agree with me, but you never belittle my thoughts, and I appreciate that.

voodoo:

I understand the thoughts of your wife, but I do not understand the selfishness.

Why do you insist on calling me selfish?

Guess who makes the sacrifice on the home front? Guess who cries at night alone in bed? Guess who will take the boys trick-or-treating alone while the other children walk hand in hand with their mommies and daddies? Guess who spends hours every week gathering and boxing comfort items to mail overseas? Guess who mops the floors and takes out the trash and helps with the homework and mows the yard and takes the car in for repairs, alone and overwhelmed? Guess who explains to a crying child why daddy is not there to wish him a happy birthday?

I take care of things here at home so that my husband can take care of business in the Middle East. I am a proud Army wife, and my sacrifices and those made by my children, contribute something important to the war on terror and to our nation's defense.

How DARE you call me selfish?

Daiwa

on Oct 16, 2004

TW & Mr. TW -

God bless you both for your service and your sacrifices. We are all fortunate to live in a country where such service & sacrifice are volunteered so selflessly. Thank you.

Cheers,
Daiwa

Dr Guy

on Oct 17, 2004

Well, the counter-argument would run something like:

How about Darfur? What do you say about the U.S. lack of response? If you say "well, we can't be the world's policeman" what were you doing in Iraq? If you say, "not our problem" what were you doing in Iraq?

The thing is that there are lots of bullies in the world. Many have a government address. But if we are going to be selective in our choices, then no war is any better than any other.

So, let me ask? Are you saying we should have gone to war solely to stop Saddam's cruelty?

If yes, I can give a list where it probably has been just as great.

Crispe.

I turn it on you. Where was Clinton for 8 years? Where are you now that you condemn Bush for freeing 50 million? If he has at Sudan, do you think you would change?

You are so duplicitous. You would sacrafice lives for your own agenda. Thank god your kind will soon be history.

d3adz0mbie

on Oct 17, 2004

I've received an interesting response to this blog entry. Thanks to everyone that has given their time and safety to defend my freedom and the freedom of my children. Each of you has my love and respect, and my prayers and well wishes go out to your safety and your families well being.

Freak Caliz

on Oct 17, 2004

Wasn't the reason we went to find WMd's, but once we got there, we found out we'd been lied to so now it's "to liberate them"

Jockoj

on Oct 17, 2004

Tell the dead children "wrong war, wrong time". Tell the dead mothers "blood for oil". Tell the sons, daughters and fathers of the dead that removing Saddam was a "colossal failure of judgment."

Go ahead, I dare you.

Yes, it's very hard to say to grieving family members that their loved ones death didn't accomplish much. Unfortunatly that is the case. The people of Iraq might benifit from Sadam being gone in 10 years but as far as quelling terrorim several reports have clearly stated that is has aided Al Queda in recruiting and fund raising.

Sorry famamies, there were no weapons we said were there. That is a fact. The basis for the war was wrong. Damn hard thing to say to you, but it shouldn't not be said just because it is hard to say. You deserve the truth.

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