Soldier to my family member: "unfortunately, all is true."

[JanMichael]

A close family member of mine sent an email yesterday that contained the following description of a conversation with a potential homebuyer:

"Sue is about 31 and had just returned from Iraq. She has a son and a daughter 4 and 7. She was there 18 months. She cried whenever she mentioned her children. Sue wants to get a house set up before she has to go back. She said she was ashamed of how soldiers are being portrayed in the media...the abuse...and said, "unfortunately, all is true.""

How terribly sad. I think we need to remember that many (I don't know the percentage but I hope its high...) of the people in the military are as shocked by the torture crap as we are. I also think/hope that many are feeling betrayed by the lies/avarice/Imperialism that sent them there in the first place. And with that ashamed.

We also need to remember that many young people that enlist do so because of economic pressure on "lower classes", lousy job opportunities, no or lousy healthcare, as well as limited educational opportunities after HS. They see the pretty ads, they hear "Tuition payed!", they hear "Technical Training!", "An Army Of ONE!", and it looks so much more appealing than WalMart...Or worse. I would also assume (I know that's a "bad" thing but hey, I'm doing it anyway.) that many probably figure that the US is a "Good" Super Power and would never use them as mercenaries for Halliburton, Brown and Root, Carlyle, or ChristianReconstructionistNeoConservativeNeoFascistTheocratic purposes.

I pity those that now realize how they've been used by el Presidente Busho and Gang and are now shit out of luck until their time is up.

Our lunatic Administative Branch must be stopped...

[calimary]

1. I particularly wince at the idea that a twisted, malformed

"Christian Crusade" is what's still powering much of this among bush's followers. It's certainly turned into a huge cross to bear. Quite a resounding way to take Christ's name in vain.

[happynewyear]

5. yep their new cross to bear alright

and an unforgettable one it is. Where will this image be in 2,000 years I wonder?



The new "Crucifixion" IMO.

[alfredo]

2. We need to fire the CEO and his board of directors.

We shouldn't have been there in the first place.

[JohnyCanuck]

3. And don't forget

how many of them were propaganidized by the whore media and the highest levels of the republican leadership into believing that Saddam and/or Iraq was involved in 9/11 and therefore they were legitimately attacking a country that had already attacked the USA.

[cliss]

4. And let us remember where to place the blame for this.

These soldiers did not go over there to torture and abuse innocent Iraqis. They WERE following orders, and now that piece of shit Bush is using them as scapegoats, like he said this morning, "just a few bad ones". Like they can take matters into their own hands.

Just give it a little more time (fuming) let the mouths start opening and we'll hear who REALLY ordered the torture.

[happynewyear]

6. target the military intelligence

They were admittedly in charge at the time the photographs/videos were taken. Military intelligence = the CIA.

Brainwashing - works every time.

Fear rules he who fears.

Scapegoats I agree.