Whenever I think of occupied countries (currently Iraq), and the fear and upheaval it would create for native people in the country, I have to reminisce about the fine 80's film Red Dawn.
In the movie, the USSR, inexplicably, pulls off a full scale invasion of the US - surprising not only a rural Midwestern high school, but also the entire US military. The movie heats up as a ragtag group of high school kids escape the invading forces, which have rounded up the rest of their town, and head off to the hills to organize insurgent attacks against the occupying commies. Led by Patrick Swayze and rallied with the heart pumping cry "WOLVERINES!", these young patriots proceed to hand the Russians their asses. Yet ultimately, they die one by one as the violence and stakes escalate - giving their lives for their fellow "Wolverines!" and their country.
Now in Iraq, we see continued insurgent attacks, and a line from the WH that the insurgents are trying to undo the heroic work of the Coalition. If I try to imagine some country invading the US, I can't imagine that most gun toting, red blooded `Mericans wouldn't be risking life and limb to defend the homeland.
Granted - I don't like to hear about any US or Iraqi deaths, but man, thinking about Red Dawn really brings home the fact that crushing any insurgency ain't realistic. Nor are the words of Paul Bremer realistic, "These are horrific attacks (Fallujah) by people who are trying to prevent democracy from moving forward..." I mean, it's like the commies in Red Dawn arguing that the Wolverines were trying to prevent communism from moving forward.
It's also not realistic especially when "most of the people dying in Iraq are Iraqis. It's very interesting that about a month ago, four women, two men and a baby were shot dead in a house in northern Iraq. Their bodies were discovered three days ago. The discovery got one paragraph in the A.P." - Robert Fisk
But whatever! We're all doing our jobs and gotta know what side we're on.
Thank you, Patrick Swayze, for keeping me sensitive to the lives and motivations of others when my gov't can't do it anymore.
Oh well, good luck to the troops.
WOLVERINES!