Secrets of Iraq and Tal Afar

[Don1]

It is important for us to remain informed on the issue of Iraq, regardless of what our news media does not show. There are some examples of the atrocities here:
http://www.yourtaxdollaratwork.com/ (WARNING: graphic )

If you recall, it was last October/November that the Johns Hopkins study was published on Iraqi civilian deaths caused by the war which totaled 100,000. The largest reason for those violent deaths was bombing from air strikes. That 100,000 had been computed by surveying, on the ground, representative regions in Iraq. They went door-to-door and got the facts from citizens, documenting and confirming everything. It had to be done using this methodology, because these types of deaths are not covered in the media generally. Every time a plane flies over and drops a 1000-pound bomb, the “collateral damage” is not reported. This is why the deaths reported in the media tally only approximately 25,000.

When the analysis was done, the authors found that the Fallujah violent death counts were so beyond normal that they were outliers. They, therefore, could not include them in their analysis. This fact in the context of the observed devastation in Fallujah, means that the 100,000 is likely a gross underestimate.

There is another city in Iraq being destroyed right now, too. The name of it is Tal Afar. Right now, the direction of what is to happen will make this city the next Fallujah. You can find more information about Tal Afar by Googling for it. Or there is a very informative article here, if you feel like trusting a socialist article:
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/sep2005/iraq-s08.shtml

Note this section:
"The US push into the city was preceded by airstrikes and artillery shelling, and spearheaded by Abram battle tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles. The Al Jazeerah website reported on Monday that at least four mosques have been bombed. F-16s destroyed alleged ‘insurgent safe-houses’ with 500 and 1,000-pound bombs. The Iraqi newspaper Azzaman reported: ‘Eyewitnesses, refusing to be named, spoke of ‘scores of casualties’ due to indiscriminate bombing.’ "

[MyNameGoesHere]

1. It seems i will have an oppurtunity

to see for myself what is going on in Iraq. I have just been accepted for an IT position there. I am seriously conflicted about this position but I damn sure could use the money. I hope to blog some while i am there, if it isn't verbotten. This will be my 3rd time to Iraq, I am sure it is a hell hole.

[Don1]

2. Interesting.

I am glad you will blog. That should be very helpful in keeping people informed in the US.

What kind of IT position? is it military or supporting or other? I was 92A MOS myself.

If military, did you think about conscientious objectioner status? Perhaps, that could resolve some of the internal conflicts you are having...

And are you anywhere near Grafton, WV? (I have family there).

[MyNameGoesHere]

4. Ex military

I did my "tours" in the middle east after i got out. And unfortunately <not right feeling> it will support the military in some form or other. The reason i go now are financial and my wanderlust has kicked in again. I love seeing the world.

[Don1]

6. Ah, wanderlust...

I recommend somewhere peaceful instead, like Seattle. I don't know what kind of IT experience you have, but there are some jobs in that area:
http://www.devbistro.com/jobs/city/Seattle/loc/US-WA

[MyNameGoesHere]

10. Haha.

thanks but as nice as Seattle is, it's not quite the same. I need the extreme.

[welshTerrier2]

3. Iraqi newspaper: "Tal Affar Latest Victim of U.S. Bombardment"

This thread is RECOMMENDED ... great post, Don1 !!!

the following comes directly from Azzaman, a prominent Iraqi newspaper ... it appeared in the paper on September 10 ... can anyone read this article and still believe the US is winning the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people ... so much for the US as liberators ...

source: http://www.watchingamerica.com/azzaman000035.html

The onslaught is described as a “joint U.S./Iraqi” operation, but Iraqi soldiers are too few to spot among the thousands of Marines who say they are determined to retake the city. The Marines are advancing from directions, allowing civilians to leave while blocking any entry. But not everyone is allowed to leave. The soldiers see all men able to carry weapons as suspects and many of those attempting to flee have been arrested.

In terms of firepower, the fighting is reminiscent of the U.S. bid to retake Falluja last year. The troops resort to shelling by heavy artillery and air bombardment before moving in where they suspect an insurgent may be holding out. The Marines are barging into residential quarters, and breaking down the doors and windows of mostly empty homes.

Since the fall of Baghdad to U.S. troops in 2003, promises of compensation have always accompanied ongoing military operations. But the country’s cash-strapped government now finds it almost impossible to cover compensation claims in the aftermath of the repeated U.S. onslaughts on Iraqi towns.

Last year as well, U.S. troops attacked Tal Affar amid government promises of compensation to those affected. Inhabitants say the promises have proven empty, and that nothing has been done by U.S. or Iraqi authorities to pay for or repair the damage.

Dr. Qassem said: “We have detected 170 cases of people suffering from the impact of a curious poison which could be the result of inhaling gases. We are also aware of civilians being wounded of falling debris, the result of U.S. shelling and collapse of their homes.”

[Don1]

5. Thanks! n/t

[ArkDem]

7. I don't think this type of protest helps us any more than abortion

protestors using the same methods.

[welshTerrier2]

8. what "type of protest" are you referring to?

i saw no reference to "protests" in the BP ... are you saying that we shouldn't try to tell the American people the truth about what their government is doing in Iraq?

and when you say that this type of protest doesn't "help us", whom are you referring to? do you mean it doesn't help the Democratic Party? or do you mean it doesn't help the Iraqi people?

please clarify ...

[ArkDem]

11. yes. yes. yes.

It can be done without the gory pictures. They (rightly or wrongly) just turn off the people we are trying to reach. Just like the abortion protestors holding up pictures of aborted fetuses at the abortion clinics.

[welshTerrier2]

12. well, if you don't believe in telling the American people the truth ...

we are clearly not on the same page ...

exactly what potent arguments do you believe Democrats should be making to end the war?

if Americans don't understand the death and destruction bush's policies are causing, why would they oppose his policies?

if Americans don't understand that the risks of terrorism are growing because of bush's hawkish policies, why would they oppose him?

if Democrats are NOT willing to tell the American people the truth and fight like hell to put an end to bush's policies, why would anyone support them?

if the Democratic Party continues to fear the "shoot the messenger" syndrome, we will remain a minority party ...

[ArkDem]

13. Flog those pictures then, by all means...

[welshTerrier2]

16. manufactured news ???

what we have now is a situation in this country where newspapers are refusing to regularly publish statistics of how many have died in Iraq ... bush has banned the publishing of photos or corpses in New Orleans ... TV networks won't or are not allowed to show flag-draped coffins returning from Iraq ...

if Democrats won't tell the truth and you think it is unwise for DU'ers to publish such information, how will the truth get to the voters? or do you believe we can have a democracy in which voters don't need to know the truth?

just how much "controlling of the news" are you willing to condone ??

[Don1]

14. Hmmm...

I think it's different. People at abortion clinics are not taken seriously because they are, for lack of a better word, morons.

[ArkDem]

15. There you go...

[Don1]

9. I was just trying to give some facts.

I have quite a bit of opinions on what to do with them (and that does include protesting), but I didn't mention that here. However, I am up for discussing the value of protesting anyway.

By "us" I think you are saying the Democratic Party, but in reality you mean people who have similar political ideology to yourself, i.e. the left.

So, is it good for us to protest for leftist causes? Yes, it pulls on the center in the US which is already too far right.

This is especially true with this large DC demonstration where there will be lobbying of Congress afterward on Sept 26th, and 27th.