The boy's image is powerful and has even crossed into other media - http://www.asiapac.org.fj/cafepacific/images/bell.jpg .

But powerful also is the other's side of the war story. I firmly believe that the American government (and certainly its military) wants nothing more than to be out of Iraq. But where there was a commitment made to the Iraqi people first and Southwest Asia second with Operation Iraqi Freedom, "peace at any cost" with militant Islam in Iraq (or Afghanistan) is untenable and cheapens all the lives that have been lost.

Sergeant MacKenzie

Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun
Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun

When they come a wull staun ma groon
Staun ma groon al nae be afraid

Thoughts awe hame tak awa ma fear
Sweat an bluid hide ma veil awe tears

Ains a year say a prayer faur me
Close yir een an remember me

Nair mair shall a see the sun
For a fell tae a Germans gun

Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun

Lay me doon in the caul caul groon
Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun

Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun

May all of them – civilian, military, and militants – find peace eternal in their rest - http://compuball.com/av/sgtmackenzie.htm .

by Tom Murphy (3 articles, 5 quicklinks, 16 diaries, 2100 comments [55 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Thursday, Apr 3, 2008 at 1:37:38 PM

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- http://www.awitness.org/bloody/war_dead_1.jpg

- http://www.awitness.org/bloody/war_dead_2.jpg

The American loss of the war.

by Tom Murphy (3 articles, 5 quicklinks, 16 diaries, 2100 comments [55 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Thursday, Apr 3, 2008 at 1:39:19 PM

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Remember, Tom ~ we are the illegal perpetrators of a war and occupation that has cost close to a million innocent Iraqi lives ~ with a vast percentage of them being children.

We have blood on our hands and there are no rational excuses for Bush's illegal war, occupation, destruction and economic rape of Iraq .

Allen L Roland

by Allen L Roland (1045 articles, 7 quicklinks, 44 diaries, 420 comments [15 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Thursday, Apr 3, 2008 at 3:18:04 PM

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While I could debate your assertions, I think it more important to note that such nuances as legal or illegal really don't matter all that much to the ones in the images, now do they?  These are the ones that should be the focus here and not a philisophical or legal construct.

by Tom Murphy (3 articles, 5 quicklinks, 16 diaries, 2100 comments [55 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Thursday, Apr 3, 2008 at 8:25:28 PM

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Agreed, Tom

 Allen L Roland

by Allen L Roland (1045 articles, 7 quicklinks, 44 diaries, 420 comments [15 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Thursday, Apr 3, 2008 at 8:37:04 PM

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But where there was a commitment made to the Iraqi people first and Southwest Asia second with Operation Iraqi Freedom, "peace at any cost" with militant Islam in Iraq (or Afghanistan) is untenable and cheapens all the lives that have been lost.

Sir, no sir.

The illegal attack and subsequent occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan were unprovoked attacks on sovereign nations that posed no threat to the US.

We would fight just as intensely if we were attacked and occupied by those who would make a commitment to the North American peoples to stop the spread of Radical Armageddonist Christianity/Judaism, which is untenable.

Any soldier anywhere knows that when you pick up a weapon with the intent of using it to kill, you face a chance of being killed yourself...such is the lot of the soldier. Kill or be killed. In fact , in this day of modern warfare with the myriad of ground/air support personnel, all military personnel in war zones are legitimate targets no matter if you are a cook, motor t, a supply person, etc.

Recently , one of my fellow Veterans of the Vietnam Era, died of agent orange induced brain cancer. He would often say of dead soldiers, "Don't cry for them, they're soldiers, that's what they do. They fight, kill and die. They know the risks. Save your tears for those innocents caught in the crossfire."

In this day of the 'all volunteer military', there is no draft. No one is being dragged to the plane, kicking and screaming as was done in my day. ALL who freely and voluntarily enlist to go to wars of liberation (oil, heroin, pipelines etc.) take the chance of being killed by people who are trying to rid their countries of these occupiers.

Just as my father told my brother and I as we were going to freely and voluntarily enlist in the Marines back in '68, "The Vietnamese are not invading America. This is not a John Wayne movie (ironically we were marched in formation to watch John Wayne movies prior to processing out). If you go to a foreign country for gawd, guts and glory and sombody offs your stinking ass, don't cry to me. Think about what you are getting into before you sign those papers."

The dead Iraqi boy was innocently playing, when courageous US terrorists dropped internationally banned cluster bombs on him.

Save your tears for him and millions like him who have been molested by our 'spreading of democracy'.

by Thaddam Rawke (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 8 comments) on Sunday, Apr 6, 2008 at 10:15:31 AM

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