Veteran WaPo Reporter Shot Execution-Style in Iraq

A veteran reporter for the Washington Post was shot in the forehead at close range in Iraq today.

Salih Saif Aldin, 32, was reporting on the violence that has plagued Baghdad's Sadiyah neighborhood Sunday afternoon when he was shot in the forehead. According to residents of the neighborhood and the Iraqi military officers at the scene, he was taking photographs on a street where several houses had been burned when he was killed. His wounds appeared to indicate he was shot at close range.

"Courageous beyond imagination, Salih was determined to unveil the truth," said Sudarsan Raghavan, The Post's Baghdad bureau chief. "He was instrumental to The Post's coverage of Iraq. He will be sorely missed by his friends and colleagues."   Washington Post link

I have heard conflicting numbers of press that have been killed, 154 in one place, at least 118 in another report. This certainly is no evidence that violence has taken a holiday in Iraq, and should be enough proof for anyone that there will be more violence and bloodshed there in the coming months and years.

I am not hopeful about the US leaving Iraq. The situation has deteriorated to the point that we will be in that position of being between a rock and a hard place for some time to come.
I don't have any more words to describe the feelings I get when I read a story like this, or a story about civilians, or troops dying for a war that was totally unnecessary.

Dying for a man whose ego and willingness to do anything he is told has brought us to this unfortunate point.

That would be you, Mister Bush.

Moratorium - October 19, 2007 This Friday. Be there, aloha.