Reality Of War In Iraq

[John J. McCarthy]

Greetings,

When I first found this video, I showed it to friends in Los Angeles who are in

the movie business. They were impressed with the technical aspects of image,

editing, sound, continuity and impact. Obviously, the people who took many of

the photo's were in close proximity to the action and were therefore US. Some

of the photo's were on the Internet before the video came out, but by no means

were all of them published before hand. People that I know who have seen this

video came away with a persisting, repetitive emotion, from the impact of the

images and the beat of the music. This was a professional effort, but not made

in Hollywood.

http://johnmccarthy90066.tripod.com/id362.html

My purpose of placing it on my website was to provide those being recruited for

the wars in Iraq/Afghanistan with the truth that the mainstream media will not

provide. I have not received one negative comment or a suggestion that it should

not be shown. Combat veterans experience extreme emotions when viewing this

work. They are the first to notice and remember that a simple rocket propelled grenade

can stop a multi-million dollar main battle tank and kill those inside.

Those being recruited don't get to see that except

on sites such as mine.

I have morphed into a pacifist. A very pissed off pacifist.

The lies that led to this war are coming home to roost in black spades, body

bags and tens of thousands of wounded, some grievously. The total incapacitated

so far exceeds 65,000 US. God only knows the real number of Iraqi casualties.

That figure does not address those infected with Depleted Uranium radiation poisoning.

The arrogance of the American's who say they 'don't do body counts' flies in the

face of the bald face lie of bringing 'democracy' to the Cradle of Civilization,

just as the excuse for not allowing photo's of the returning flag draped coffins

because it might 'offend the families of the dead'. That squirmy reasoning

makes about as much sense as forbidding anyone from attending the funeral of a

fallen soldier. How stupid do they think we are? It's the COUNT they want to

hide.

And the mid-term elections are SCHEDULED for November 6, for those who voted for the War

Powers Act---unless, of course, the Constitution is suspended because we are at war....

Bests,

John McCarthy

vpocv@comcast.net

[David Richardson]

Rudyard Kipling's poem, "Arithmetic on the Frontier" ought to be read more often by those deciding to send troops to Afghanistan and Iraq:

A great and glorious thing it is

To learn, for seven years or so,

The Lord knows what of that and this,

Ere reckoned fit to face the foe --

The flying bullet down the Pass,

That whistles clear: "All flesh is grass."

Three hundred pounds per annum spent

On making brain and body meeter

For all the murderous intent

Comprised in "villanous saltpetre!"

And after -- ask the Yusufzaies

What comes of all our 'ologies.

A scrimmage in a Border Station --

A canter down some dark defile --

Two thousand pounds of education

Drops to a ten-rupee jezail --

The Crammer's boast, the Squadron's pride,

Shot like a rabbit in a ride!

No proposition Euclid wrote,

No formulae the text-books know,

Will turn the bullet from your coat,

Or ward the tulwar's downward blow

Strike hard who cares -- shoot straight who can --

The odds are on the cheaper man.

One sword-knot stolen from the camp

Will pay for all the school expenses

Of any Kurrum Valley scamp

Who knows no word of moods and tenses,

But, being blessed with perfect sight,

Picks off our messmates left and right.

With home-bred hordes the hillsides teem,

The troopships bring us one by one,

At vast expense of time and steam,

To slay Afridis where they run.

The "captives of our bow and spear"

Are cheap, alas! as we are dear.

-------

The Afridis and Yusufzaies are two tribes from what is now the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, a jezail is a musket and a tulwar a type of sword.

It comes from Departmental Ditties and Other Verses, published in 1886. It was written about the aftermath of the First Afghan War.

Edited September 24, 2006 by David Richardson