'Selfless' Spirit Killed In an Ambush in Iraq

[Resistance]

Washington Post

BAGHDAD, March 11 -- Fern L. Holland was tough, passionate and anything but predictable -- leaving a secure job at a Washington law firm to work in Africa, then going to Iraq to help local women assert their rights in the postwar political process, her friends and colleagues recalled Thursday.

On Tuesday night, Holland and Robert J. Zangas of Trafford, Pa., became the first American civilian employees of the Coalition Provisional Authority to be killed in Iraq. Gunmen wearing Iraqi police uniforms stopped their vehicle at a makeshift checkpoint near Hilla, 60 miles south of the Iraqi capital, and shot the two Americans and an Iraqi translator to death, according to U.S. and allied military spokesmen.

Holland, 33, was based in Hilla and spent much of her time with the occupation authority promoting women's political empowerment. She helped draft sections of the Iraqi interim constitution intended to ensure a role for women in the country's evolving system of governance, relatives and colleagues said.

[Resistance]

1. I just wanted to comment (rant) on this

First of all, this is a tragic death and the story is heartbreaking, angering, and disappointing that the world has lost another great soul in this woman.

However, I don't recall the Washington Post writing any stories on the 'selflessness' of Rachel Corrie or Tom Hurndall, two peace activists murdered by Israel just about one year ago. Instead, because the Israeli army were the killers, they ignored their stories and went along with the whitewash.

This is why I view all American mainstream media with extreme skepticism. They only tell you want you're 'supposed' to know, and what they intentionally leave out only serves to blind us. No wonder Americans are supporting Bush, the war on Iraq, and Israel so utterly unconditionally. We basically don't know what the fuck is going on in the world.

[ithacan]

2. plus by personalizing this they ignore the bigger issue

it does not really matter how well-intentioned and selfless the individual Americans are who are in Iraq.

They are part of a larger policy that is disastrous and oppressive and is causing resentment. By only focusing on individuals like this, the effect is to blame the Iraqis for being ungrateful and uncivilized, and thus we have the right to be angry at them and blame them.

The true blame is who set up this situation in the first place, who sent well-intentioned Americans into a country about which they know nothing, without an awareness of the situation Bush has created, etc.

[Gulf Coast J]

3. She was trying to make sure women have a role in the new Iraq

I'm sure that is causing some resentment among some Iraqis, but too bad.

The blame lies on those who pumped her body full of bullets, nobody else.

[ithacan]

4. nope

the blame lies with Bush the liar and his regime.

Because of them, any american who goes to Iraq is fair game, as a representative of an occupying power.

I guess you missed the point here...

[Skittles]

5. I disagree

I hold the lying, thieving Bush Inc responsible for all the carnage occurring now in Iraq.