In the end, we need to recognize that our presence may have released Iraqis from the grip of a tyrant, but that it has also robbed them of their self-respect. They will soon realize that the best way to regain dignity is to call us what we are ~ an army of occupation ~ and force our withdrawal : Army Specialist Jayamaha, Army sargeants Smith, Roebuck, Mora, Sandmeier, Gray and Murphy.
America, don't wait for Gen Petraeus's watered down September Iraq Progress report ( which is now being drafted by the White House to be presented on 9/11 ) ~ listen to Seven U.S Soldiers speak the truth about our growing folly in Iraq as they see it from the ground.
I see them as somewhat similar to the Magnificent Seven of movie fame who saved a Mexican village by empowering their hosts to action ~ even at the cost of four of their own lives.
Brynner, McQueen, Buchholz, Bronson, Vaughn, Dexter, Coburn: The Magnificent Seven
For those of you who remember this classic movie, that was based on Akira Kurosawa's 1954 film, Seven Samurai , the last prophetic lines are worth repeating ~ as Chris and Vin ride away, pausing briefly at the graves of their fallen comrades, Chris observes, "Only the farmers won. We lost. We always lose."
The occupiers always lose in the end for the people will always eventually turn against their occupiers ~ as they are in Iraq. As such, the troops are merely pawns being utilized by Bush and Cheney to avoid America's most humiliating and costly failure ~ which they hope to hand over to the spineless Democrats in 2009.
Allen L Roland http://blogs.salon.com/0002255/2007/08/20.html
Seven US Soldiers Speak Out | The Iraq War As We See It
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/08/19/3270
Excerpt:
Four years into our occupation, we have failed on every promise, while we have substituted Baath Party tyranny with a tyranny of Islamist, militia and criminal violence. When the primary preoccupation of average Iraqis is when and how they are likely to be killed, we can hardly feel smug as we hand out care packages. As an Iraqi man told us a few days ago with deep resignation, “We need security, not free food.”
In the end, we need to recognize that our presence may have released Iraqis from the grip of a tyrant, but that it has also robbed them of their self-respect. They will soon realize that the best way to regain dignity is to call us what we are - an army of occupation - and force our withdrawal.
Until that happens, it would be prudent for us to increasingly let Iraqis take center stage in all matters, to come up with a nuanced policy in which we assist them from the margins but let them resolve their differences as they see fit. This suggestion is not meant to be defeatist, but rather to highlight our pursuit of incompatible policies to absurd ends without recognizing the incongruities.
We need not talk about our morale. As committed soldiers, we will see this mission through.
Buddhika Jayamaha is a U.S. Army specialist. Wesley D. Smith is a sergeant. Jeremy Roebuck is a sergeant. Omar Mora is a sergeant. Edward Sandmeier is a sergeant. Yance T. Gray is a staff sergeant. Jeremy A. Murphy is a staff sergeant.
Allen L Roland http://blogs.salon.com/0002255/2007/08/20.html
