FACE OF WAR - NO JOY THIS SEASON
For Bush&Co what are the real costs of war. Expressed in $$$ billions of costs or worse the glut of large oil contracts to revive Iraqi oil industry? The cost and means of reconstructing a devastated Iraq, their loss of innocent lives, ruined livelihood and daily hurt because of criminal acts that cannot be policed.
Meaning of statistics - number of fatalities, seriously wounded and mentally or physically incapacitated for life.
Looking at CNN.com for info on Iraq, after watching a report out of Iraq or Kuwait which once again looked more like a promo for Rummy's Department of Defense that really upset me. The anguish of daily suffering by our troops and of family and loved ones, was played down in propaganda style. I hoped to find that video to view it again.
In honor of the lives lost in Mosul:
The report showed a happy buch of US troops reflecting on their job in Iraq. Their engagement in battle and spending time to relax. No, their was no uncertainty in their job or fear. The soldiers weren't aware of the deadly Mosul bombing until their family in the states raised some questions about it. Couldn't believe hearing this promo. Like saying it`s all in the game.
What really pissed me off was an officer next to an armoured humvee exclaiming its robustness in war, saying it was no problem even for his own son to get in one. Undoing of course the effect of questions asked on Rummy's visit to the troops recently. Make up your own mind, but are these guys running the `show' of war in Iraq so cold and calculated that there is no emotion and empathy?
On the same site of CNN.com the listing by the Pentagon of the young service men who died for the country they loved and making that ultimate sacrifice. No more embracing and loving, not forgotten and yet not able to express their love to their friends and dear ones in this special moment of Christmas.
In their honor and for their purpose of what they thought was right, I find it necessary to add their names in this diary, no not pure statistics Mr. Bush!
MOSUL DEATHS
The Pentagon has released the names of those killed in the attack on a military mess hall.
Soldiers
- Capt. William W. Jacobsen Jr., 31, of Charlotte, North Carolina, 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division.
- Sgt. Maj. Robert D. O'Dell, 38, of Manassas, Virginia, United States Army Intelligence & Security Command.
- Sgt. 1st Class Paul D. Karpowich, 30, of Bridgeport, Pennsylvania, Army Reserve's 2nd Battalion, 390th Infantry Regiment.
- Staff Sgt. Julian S. Melo, 47, of Brooklyn, New York, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division.
- Staff Sgt. Darren D. VanKomen, 33, of Bluefield, West Virginia, 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division.
- Staff Sgt. Robert S. Johnson, 23, of Castro Valley, California, 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division.
- Sgt. Lynn R. Poulin Sr., 47, of Freedom, Maine, Army National Guard's 133rd Engineer Battalion.
- Spc. Jonathan Castro, 21, of Corona, California, 73rd Engineer Company, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division.
- Spc. Thomas J. Dostie, 20, of Sommerville, Maine, Army National Guard's 133rd Engineer Battalion.
- Spc. Cory M. Hewitt, 26, of Stewart, Tennessee, 705th Ordnance Company.
- Spc. Nicholas C. Mason, 20, of King George, Virginia, Army National Guard's 276th Engineer Battalion.
- Spc. David A. Ruhren, 20, of Stafford, Virginia, Army National Guard's 276th Engineer Battalion.
- Pfc. Lionel Ayro, 22, of Jeanerette, Louisiana, 73rd Engineer Company, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division.
- [Sailor] Chief Petty Officer Joel E. Baldwin, 37, of Gulfport, Mississippi, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 7.
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