Letters to the Editor
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War is war.
We can try to make it nice and neat and only kill the "bad guys". but in the end, bombs go off. Those bombs have a tendency to kill people nearby. and the fact that we're bombing in highly populated areas means that more likely than not, people are going to be nearby. "Minimizing" casualties is great. But the best way to minimize casualties is not to go to war unless you absolutely have to.
In Iraq, the biggest crime is not the bombs going off. The biggest crime is that we are at war there in the first place. Every civilian death stemming from this unjustified and illegal conflict is also unjustified and illegal. Since our invasion, this war has become a war of self-defense against an insurgency, and now we must bomb to save our own sons and daughters. it's a no win situation.
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2 points:
1. The United States is a participatory democracy; we, the citizens, voters, and taxpayers, approve and enable what our elected representatives do in our name. In a government "by the people," there is no such thing as an "innocent civilian."
2. The United States is confused about its hyphenated religious loyalties. The US increasingly refers to its
"Judeo-hyphen-Christian" groundings. But those traditions, Judeo and Christian, are very different.
Jesus not only did not advocate but taught against war.
The Judaic tradition is based on war--by war and genocide the Jews claimed the land of Canaan and by war and genocide the same peoples seek to reclaim that land.
So Americans need to choose: Are they a Christian nation or a Judeo-Christian nation?
The choice is important, because in a government by the people, there's no such thing as an innocent civilian.
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bughouse1
You're right, let's exterminate them back.
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Reply to msbau
All the architects of the war WILL NOT feel any comparable loss which marines, soldiers, and medics face each and every brutal Iraqi day. So if they don't care, why should you?
I care even more because of what you stated. The average Soldier didn't chose to invade Iraq and yet there are there risking their life. They need all the support they can get.
What support are you receiving from the American people you are allegedly protecting? I'm sacrificing nothing, you are sacrificing all - for what?
I'm sacrificing so that you and so many others don't have to. I guess it is a bit selfish of me in a way but I love my job and what I do because of that. I am sacrificing but at the same time I have a fulfilling sense of duty.
You ought to help your fellow marines by protesting against the war....but I think you'll go to jail, be killed, or discharged, so that's not a viable option.
I'm actually an Airman, not a Marine. But still the same, I encourage everyone who can to protest the war if you are against it. Myself, while I don't agree I will not protest due to the consequences. But as long as I serve and America is a free country I encourage any who feel it is appropriate for them, to protest this war.
I'm scared of battle. Unless I feel my life is threatened or will be threatened I couldn't bear being in another country fighting for a war I don't 100 percent believe in.
I doubt there are many out there who don't feel the same way. But so long as there are men and women in harms way I will go and do my duty, do my job and help them any way I can. I go to war for them and I go to war for all of the Americans. I may not 100% believe in the war but I volunteered to be an Airman and I volunteered to obey the lawful orders of the President and those appointed over me. While some people feel it that this war may not be lawful (I refuse to give my opinion on this), I will go to Iraq because it is my duty to.
go at your own risk. it's not worth it. if war with iran breaks out, things will be much, much worse.
I realize the risks I'm taking, especially if things break out with Iraq. However I feel that it is worth it. Maybe not worth it in the overall aspect of the war but it will be worth it to the Soldiers, Marines and Airmen who are there.
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Pro-lifers
And these A$$holes call themselves pro-life. I refuse to be a part of that train. The pro-life agenda of the right wing Catholics and the Popes are merely pro-death, of our troops and Iraqi and Afghani families who are helpless to stop these so called right wing religions and killers.
But then that is the hypocrisy of the Republicans and their enablers, the two big right wing religions. I refuse to be a part of their train of death, death for profits and political power.
Popes John Paul and Benedict are consumed by their GREED for political power. Imagine that they actually can rationalise killing to save. They call it the 'greater good', I call it the greater GREED.
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Reference to the Lancet/Johns Hopkins Study
You linked to the study but you certainly did not check the facts in the reference. The Lancet study did not give a "high end estimate." It gave a median estimate. The high end estimate was well over 700,000. The study authors clearly state the rationale for their choice. Because this is an otherwise credible article, this fact should be corrected.
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Bombing
I, at times, can hardly believe we (us, me and you) can really discuss bombing. Have you or your relatives been bombed?
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Rule of 30, Hogwash
This is our problem, limits upon what we can do. Now in WWII we burned up a lot of Germans in Dresden, Hamburg and Berlin. We incinerated a bunch of Japanese in Tokyo and of course with the bombs that the blessed Truman ordered to be dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
So what happened?? We won the damned thing that's what happened. We do want to win don't we or ain't we sure?