I'm tired of so many things. I'm tired of Foleygate and I'm tired of pundits who treat politics as a game. We as a community of strong progressives are taking our eye off of what really counts; and that's the daily struggle for life in Iraq. This war, based on lies, has been made remote by our cravings for the sensational and a media that's willing to feed those cravings.
You want something real sensational? Read the following excerpt.
BAGHDAD (AFP) - A single shot rang out and Staff Sergeant Jonathan Rojas dropped lifelessly into the cramped hull of his armoured car, pitching forward as bright red blood spurted from under his helmet.
His team reacted instantly.
Platoon medics piled in through the 17-tonne Stryker's rear door and one of his men stepped up to replace him in the squad leader's open roof hatch and guide the vehicle out of an east Baghdad slum.
"God damn it. He's hit in the head. He's shot in the f(expletive) head" -- "Roger, roger, gotcha" -- "He's got a pulse, got a pulse" -- "Is he breathing? -- "He's got a gunshot wound to the head. He's got pulse. He's not breathing."
For a fearful moment the crush in the crew compartment seemed like chaos, but Rojas' team was well drilled. Every soldier on board had a job to do as the platoon roared to the nearest US base, fighting to save their sergeant's life.
"He's not breathing" -- "We need to move" -- "Get the ramp up, get the ramp up, get the ramp up" -- "Go, go, go" -- "I need you up on top" -- "I need a weapon" -- "Here, take my weapon. It's got one in the breach, OK?"
"OK. I need immediate f(expletive) dust off at Loyalty, copy?"
Despite the platoon's efforts, it was clear that the hidden sniper had found his mark. Rojas was dead on arrival four kilometres (2.5 miles) away at Camp Loyalty and no longer needed a "dust off," or emergency evacuation by helicopter.
The sergeant, a 27-year-old from the industrial town of Hammond, Indiana, left behind a wife and two pit bull terriers
Was that sensational enough for you? Hope so.
I'm a 57 year old vet. I have no stomach for any more blood, wars or torture.
If you want more of this piece you can get it here.