Dear White House staff:
I'm sure you are more than aware of the recent casualties of American servicemen and women in Iraq. However, I wanted to share this morning's column by Jimmy Breslin with you, just in case.
I realize the President doesn't read the newspapers - but perhaps he ought to consider it. It may help elevate his worldview out of the feedback loop that seems to be the hallmark of the current administration.
He may also wish to consider how his claims that "Iraq probably isn't as bad as you think" makes this disconnection of his all the more obvious to the people.
I've excerpted the article below for your convenience.
Cheers.
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Brave American Troops Die in Obscurity in Iraq
Jimmy Breslin
October 14, 2003
"I am typing this list immediately after hearing on television about somebody actually shoving a man to the ground in a baseball game at Boston! The violence of it!...
...The last time I listed dead from Iraq, there were nine names. I went to California and returned to find faxes from the Department of Defense telling of many more. They are victims of George Bush's serial lying. It is his duty, and one that he shirks, to get up and read these names to a country distracted by a game for boys. Herewith the names, not including the three most recent, whose names are not yet available. We apologize that the manner of death seems repetitious but these wars happen to come out like this:
Army Spc. Richard Arriaga, 20, 4th Battalion, 42nd Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas. Home, Ganado, Texas. Killed Sept. 18 in an ambush of small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades in Tikrit, Iraq.
Army Capt. Brian H. Faunce, 28, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, Fort Carson, Colo. Home, Philadelphia. Killed on Sept. 18 in Al Asad, Iraq, when his military vehicle crossed under low power lines and he reached up and grabbed the lines.... "