Reply #108: **WARNING*** very long, opinionated post, read at your own risk.

[frankly_fedup2]

I'm sure that Iraqi has seen more death in his lifetime before we . . . even showed up there.

As for my "logic" I base it on the fact that I do not think our young men and women would ever have seen the types of murders, public beheadings, and torture that this man as well as other Iraqi citizens have lived with under their dictator, Saddam, and I know for myself, I don't think I could handle seeing constant death and destruction of my fellow soldiers OR innocent people that just happen to get in the way. How does one handle the thought that a bomb they shot or gunfire from their gun killed a 13-day-old baby girl? I just cannot imagine what they are going through with the constant threats, not knowing who is friend or enemy, and not being able to come home when they have been told they could, their tours in combat lasting twice as long as they should. I know I would lose it.

I think the worst stress our troops have been through before this war was trying to get enough money for college, or a good-paying job, or trying to raise their children the best they can, and taking care of their families. Our young soldiers now have to deal with all of this emotionally as well as physically.

This major battle is happening in Fallujah, and according to what we are being told, the ones they are fighting are the insurgents (terrorists or whichever you prefer), and even though this man was wounded, if our doctors treated him, they would be healing a man that as soon as he was well, he would try to kill Americans again.

Also, they have killed, killed, and killed each other over time due to differences in how strong one tribe believes in a certain part of the Koran more so than the majority tribe, or who owns what part of what land, or what Cleric knows more about the teachings, etc. Killing is all they know. It doesn't make it right for us to go in there and slaughter anyone. However, our soldiers are following orders, and that is all they can do. That have to do what they are told to do. Plus, it's not the Iraq's who are fighting us . . . it's the terrorists who have moved in there with the Iraqis. Now I am sure the terrorists have had some Iraqis join them in getting the Americans out (which will never happen. This is a no end war). Actually, the first trained Iraqi military that our soldiers trained went into Fallujah with our troops to get the terrorists out of there. They want them gone as much as we do. Well, the majority does. They just want to be able to support their families like us, not live in fear everyday, and have control of their country. We would do the same thing.

Also, these extremists have no regard for human life. . . not even for their own people. If they did, they would not blow themselves up and/or kill innocent Iraqis. The next life is what they care about, well, the extremists anyway. They hate progress. They want it to be just like it was during the time of Muhammad, which, by the way, was when the Christian Crusades were happening. The Christians and the Jews were slaughtering the Muslims. That is why the Koran has some really militant stuff in it per Muhammad per Gabriel per Allah per Islam. That is why since 600 a.d. they have been taught nothing but to hate the Christians ("Crusaders") and the Jews ("Zionists").

Also, per the new hopeful Attorney General that Bush wants, stated in his little memo that we do not have to follow the Geneva Convention because they are enemy combatants . . . not another military, because they have claim to no country in particular NOR any army. That will mean more fun at Gitmo for the ones still stuck there. Also, these battles really started when they shot, burned, tore apart (I can show you pictures) the bodies of those four contractors then hung body parts from a bridge. Their type of warfare obviously has not changed over the centuries.

I know, I know, I agree that we follow the Geneva Convention and I think we should follow the "Rules of Engagement" (oxymoronic statement if I ever heard one), but this President and his new candidate for Attorney General believe torture is okay. I think the next four years are going to be a nightmare we won't be able to wake up from. This area of the World is cruel to their own people let alone outsiders and invaders (in their mind). Our troops want to come home. I remember when they first started the bombings in Baghdad while the troops came across Iraq with the embedded reporters. All the troops kept saying was that they were told that as soon as they got to Baghdad and took control, the sooner they would be home. More lies from their President.

As far as the beheadings, nothing can justify what was done to these people and I disagree with you there. I do not believe it was the Iraqi people doing the murders themselves. I believe it was individual terror groups with their own agendas that had militant causes such as the release of prisoners, getting troops out of Iraq (just to name a few that I can remember). They were using the situation in Iraq to kidnap and murder people. They still are to this day.

Now I do believe that the four contractors shot and killed and burned and then hung up on the bridge was the Iraqi people. They don't know who is on their side. Why would they think we were since we went in and have caused so much of the destruction of their country. Then the terrorists come in and they don't care if they kill Iraqis or Americans. They just want to kill and get on the news at night with their agendas.

We went into a country that did not even have a military to fight against us. They had the Imperial Guard or whatever, but since our soldiers were sent into Iraq, there has been nothing but constant
chaos that is STILL going on. The looting was the beginning of the loss of control

Where Bush thinks he is going to bring "our" Democracy to the Middle East, is amazing to me. I'm surprised he hasn't made the statement Ann Coulter made about we should take over all their countries and convert them to Christianity. Yeah, that's going to happen.

These people have fought each other (civil wars) since the beginning of their civilizations. They still have chiefs who lead tribes, especially in Afghanistan. Their teachings are against progress. That is why they supposedly hate the west so much, especially the past century with the manufacturing revolution that went on in this country.

Nothing that is said or that was done can justify any of the madness over there or over here. However, we do know who to blame, or if we should blame anyone. But our military is made up of young men and women following orders. I cannot pass judgment on them. I do not know what is going on over there. It depends on what paper or what country you get your news from. They are over there in this mess, not me. The least I can do is support them.

Sorry so long again. This is almost an article like an oped piece.