At what cost?

[coloradodem2005]

Bush is plummeting. Look what it has taken. The economy in shambles. A quagmire in Iraq that has claimed the lives of around 800 people. A torture scandal, and now recently a U.S. civilian beheaded. People are finally seeing the light. It is terrible when I watch the news and while I am morally outraged, part of me feels good because you know who is going to get the blame for this ultimately and he comes 1 step closer to collapsing under the weight of all this. I think it is good that another thing has come out to hurt Bush but I feel guilty because people have had to pay the price for it. Iraqis, U.S. Soldiers, and Civilians. Things used to be simpler.

[OneBlueSky]

1. claimed the lives of around 800 people? . . . I think not . . .

the Iraq invasion, war and occupation has claimed the lives of thousands upon thousands of people . . . please don't discount Iraqi lives lost by leaving them out of your discussion . . .

[Serenity-NOW]

2. How many Iraquis has the BFEE killed so far? Poppy and retard.

I heard Randi say some 30,000 in the most recent effort. How many from incursion 1?

[coloradodem2005]

3. I was not....

...I meant to say U.S. Soldiers, not to mention the thousands of Iraqi's that died. I thought I made at least some mention of them. But I was getting contemplative over these horrible events.

[Dogmudgeon]

4. It's an easy mistake to make

We only count our own. It's a kind of atavistic sentiment, that "they" are non-human, but we all slip into it from time to time. And I agree -- it helps to be reminded of the universality of suffering.

Or, we could choose to think of war not as killing people, but as birthing baby ghosts.

--bkl

[coloradodem2005]

7. When I was writing,

I meant to say americans, and I am sorry I omitted the Iraqi's it was a mistake. I think it is just thinking of the losses to America. Though the loss of respect around the world is unmeasured.

[FireHeart]

5. This piece summons it all up. IMHO

Song: "Legion" by VNV Nation

"Legion" by VNV

Enveloped in a sentiment,
a sound that rushes over me.
Engage an impulse to pretend
I have a faith as pure.
Not forgetting what it means to dream.
Indulging everything.
Entertaining thoughts that I've the strength
of those I yearn to be.
Cheers and tribute greet the saviors.
Reckless thoughts survive.
Anachronistic and impulsive.

And what will happen?
Will I dream?
I am too scared to close my eyes.
For a second please hold me.
None can change in me these things that I believe.
But I don't know what happens now.
I am too scared to close my eyes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

All you need to do is understand it.

[coloradodem2005]

6. Not quite sure I do understand it.