This Iraqi boy knows who he can trust for protection against insurgents
I originally posted this in Sept 2007. I just updated the date
so we could see and appreciate this truth again.
This boy knows who will not kill him
and who will save him
Look at the US Soldier standing upright and
alert while everyone else runs!
Baghdad yesterday adding to the choas of the
bombing which killed at least 21 people
and injured at least 66, was a shooter,
maybe targeting people in the crowd.
Admid all the Iraqi's who are running from the
gunfire was a U.S. Soldier standing tall perhaps
looking in the direction of the gunshots,
not apparently looking for cover.
An Iraqi boy seeks shelter behind the Soldier,
a member of the 82nd Airborne Division.
The first picture shows it all. The kids face
shows he is scared to death, and he's running
to the safest spot he can find:
This Soldier who stands between him and danger.
It would be difficult to stage a picture
that provides a more potent metaphor for the
role played by the United states
in this wretched world.
This Kid Just Did a Perfect Essay on
"What America Means
To Me"
SURE DIDN'T SEE THIS
ON CNN,
NBC, ABC or CBS...
NOW DID YOU?
Comments
The soldier would probably say he wasn't doing anything brave or special, that he's just a guy doing his job. I admire the members of our military so much. It gives me goosebumps to see these pictures because I see how brave our soldiers are and it makes me so very proud to be an American.
If I were in there I probably would have done the same thing that poor kid did - grab that soldier and hang on!!
Good post Twana! Those pictures are priceless.
Brave men like this shouldn't be dying in a senseless war.
It is a shame that bad politicians are ready to betray them so that they can appear more powerful and get re-elected and repeat the exercise.
I met a convoy driver from Iraq yesterday - ex of Minneapolis - and he told me that the Iraq war is pointless. He is going back to keep supplying his buddies but he said every man jack of them hated Bush for what he has done. From his experience (and he was in Gulf 1) the Iraqis are not anti-american and want to take over the government but they aren't allowed to because the place is overrun with foreign jihadi's and mercenaries who want to keep the flames alight so they can make money.
The service men are brilliant - its the administration that is a disaster
And whether or not you want to blame US policies for creating the problem, the fact is that we're confronting a force that is dynamically opposed to our interests in the region and opposed to global interests of peace and stability. Indeed, we're fighting a foe that has expressed its willingness to export violence to achieve its ends. Rather than turn inwards, it is incumbent upon us to fight. So where would you prefer to do that? I think maybe London in, oh, 15 years or so. By then they'll have a sizeable Muslim population which will contain enough wackos to get things rolling.
And while I certainly laud our troops for their service, I will say the unpopular thing: it is not the place of the man on the ground to give his opinion on global strategy. His job as a professional soldier, for which he volunteered and was compensated very well, is to fight for the United States wherever the country's leaders determine he is needed. We can trust the eyewitness of troops in so far as it relates to daily life and perceived progress/failure on the ground. But to say the war is "pointless" is not the purview of the soldier, nor is it within our scope to make such a judgment. It certainly has a point. Whether we understand all the ramifications of it is the question. And regardless of whether we ever understand it, let us work towards victory instead of agitate for an inconclusive return to the status quo.
Baria, I see your daughter or small child with you in your picture. You both look happy and content - not afraid someone is going to burst through your door and do the unthinkable to you, your family - this small child.
You called this war a senseless war. Have you been on the Iraqi ground?
Have you talked with any Iraqi's living in Iraq?
Just because WMD have not been found, that does not mean there are not any and also that there never were. I also keep hearing "the war is for oil." Do you really think that to be right?
Do you not think we can get energy from others or invent other energy for our use?
As I look at the small child in your photo, I also think about all of the children throughout this world. The millions who do not know comfort and contentment - because the murderer's we call terrorist disrupt their lives in the most brutal ways.
Do you not remember the rule of Saddam on his people?
Do you not think that to be important?
Why should we not help the people in Iraq protect their children and be free to give them the freedom to live life as we know it?
Do you not think the Iraq people deserve a better life? Do you think only us few should be worthy of such a life?
Do you think it ok for someone to come into your home and kill you: torture you or anyone else living in your home including children? Imagine the fear the children lived with under Saddam's regime. Is that ok?
Is it ok to leave so many children orphan's because of brutal rule?
Every country where these murderous men (we call terrorist) do their vile hating and murdering under the name of God; there are many many ophans left, many widow's trying to care for the children and protect them from this form of evil hatred and brutality. Is that ok with you?
We don't have these concerns here and that is why we fight here and why our good and honorable men and women are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan and also other countries.
It is not ok with me to pretend horrible things are not happening to peoples.
You talk of the convey driver you met, and the conversation you had with him. Whatever his thoughts I don't know - I have not talked with him. But do know - I know many of our honorable soldiers, marines and airmen. Not one of them believe they should not be there. They know the good they are doing and they see the people they are helping.
They are thanked everyday by the Iraqi friends they have met. Their Iraqi friends beg them to please not leave.
These men and women had made bonds with these Iraqi people. They are friends in heart - true friends. Here in America most of us believe in the honor of friendship. Friendship is sacred. It's not something that throw away.
The honorable men and women of integrity in our US Armed Forces are reinlisting when their service time is up. The reason they reinlist is because they know the good work they have begun, and accomplished, and they want to see it through to the end.
They know the people of Iraq are worthy of the very same life we live. When I read comments like yours I wonder how many unthankful and ungrateful people can become so unthankful and ungrateful.
What if it were your daughter left after your brutal murder or torture where you could no longer defend her from rape that is done right in front of you? Or for that matter - your wife, mother, sister, grandmother, niece, granddaughter, etc.?
Everyone of these Iraqi people fighting for their freedoms just like we have is extremely honorable. You should be ashamed of the complancey in your heart to allow others to suffer under conditions you will probably never endure.
If you were killed by any of the murderer's, just know the honorable men and woman from my country and your country would do all they could to protect your family and not let them live the lifestyle you think is ok to leave others in.
We all have our beliefs and understanding of what should and should not be done. I happen to disagree on the reasons for the war and the conduct of the political classes. I also happen to believe that - as I believe most Americans do - people have a right to decide their own destiny. In this instance I am convinced - you are free to disagree of course - that the Saddam Iraqi regime was a disaster. But that does not mean that what is happening now is any better.
In Europe we have suffered for centuries with "warrior" kings who took their people into battle and if you look at the history books you can clearly see which battles were worth fighting. This is another example of stupid Imperialism and from the point of view of an Arab there is no difference between this war and the extermination of the Catholics in Europe 500 years ago. When you are being bombed, shot and beaten it really does not matter who is doing it - all you care about is who will help you fight back. That is the tragedy of war and we never seem to learn that. Simply exterminating the enemy is not an option - there are always more and they are not a unified force we can target. They are a disparate and amorphous mass of individuals all with their own agenda. the banner of "terrorism" is far too simple and far to crude.
Iraq is a repeat of the Mesopotamian campaigns of years ago and the only result of those incursions was fudged borders and genocides - Armenia, Marsh Arabs, Turkey - the formation of Iraq itself - Churchill invented the country so that the British empire had access to the Gulf and its oil. Our political map is another legacy of wanning powers being overwhelmed by new ones. The entire region is a collection of failures and the only unifying point is that of religion.
We may condemn "fanatics" but they begin on the road to this lunacy no more fanatical than you or I. It is events and the perception of threat that makes men insane. I take your point - although I bitterly despise the fact that bring my family into an adult debate - and I can tell you that I too would be a fanatic if I genuinely thought that we were threatened. However to say as Scio does - that London will be under threat fails to take into consideration that we have always been at war here and we are able to conceptualise and put into perspective the potential attacks and their impact on our lives. We are not traumatised or afraid. We know we will endure because we have already endured. The Nazi blitz, Ira, Al Quaida and all the rest are just blips in our history that make our determination stronger. We have no fear of Muslims - they can be a part of our society and add to it in any way they wish. If they try to destroy it they will fail and we will simply stop them in their tracks. Even as the bombs went off in London and the Ira tried to bomb their way to power we kept on going. A shroud or a mosque won't be anymore threatening than a man who drinks beer and tries to shoot you.
The big difference between us and the fanatics is that we are able to conduct our disagreements without violence because we all hold a belief in free expression.
The only way to bring about peace - get the troops out - and restore some semblence of calm is to engage with the people who live there. We should allow them to do whatever they want - even at the cost of civil war - because if we try to impose a "victory" by using external power the victory will be false. We will leave and they will stay and like the Balkans, feuds and resentment simmer in the hearts of men - sometimes for centuries - until they erupt in orgies of violence that are far worse than the disaster we are trying to avoid.
I know you will disagree with me on 99% of this. You have every right to do so but I do think that it is be-holden on us all - no mater what our political, national or religious persuasion - to hear another point of view. Other wise we too become dictators and I know for certain one thing: If I think I am right I am almost certainly wrong.
We are human, frail and we do not have the ear of God. We have only our own concience as a guide to what is right and what is wrong and I for one believe what we are doing is wrong.
I shall say no more
Thanks, when my brother in law sent this to me in a power point, he wanted me to get this out to as many people as possible. He'll be very glad to know how many people are thankful for this view into Iraq.
And I should believe the Corp. Media...WHY?
Have they started telling the truth? I'm betting - NOT!
Point taken. That's an area we can both certainly agree on. Most of the media is owned by a few people who have plenty of reasons to hide or even lie. Thu numbers below are no where near up to date and I believe some of these companies not only bought out several companies but were then bought out themselves. It won't be long before 1 or two people have final say over the media worldwide. Rupert Murdoch already has an audience of about 5 billion people and is known for his hands on/anti-journalist style.
Parent Companies:
General Electric
$100.5 billion
Time Warner1998 revenues
$26.8 billion
The Walt Disney Co.1998 revenues
$23 billion
Viacom1998 revenues
$18.9 billion
News Corporation1998 revenues
$13 billion
1998 revenues
About 2 months ago I learned that Rupert Murdoch owned Fox News and The New York Times.
That is an extreme contradiction. I did not know he was hands on though. Good to know.
GE:2006 revenues: $163.4 billion
Owns:
Bravo CNBC Focus Features & Rogue Pictures Global Networks iVillage MSNBC Mun2 NBC Entertainment NBC News NBC Sports & Olympics NBC Universal Television Group NBC Universal Television Stations SCI FI Telemundo Universal Parks & Resorts Universal Pictures Universal Studios Home Entertainment USA Network Weather Plus and thousands of other products and services...Time Warner:2006 revenues: $44.2 billion
Owns:
Walt Disney:2006 revenues: $34.3 billion
Owns:
ABC Broadcasting Stations ABC Cable Programming Services ABC Radio Group ABC Television Network ABC, Inc. ABC-owned Radio Stations Corporate Disney Consumer Products Disney Cruise Line Disney Imagineering Disney Regional Entertainment Disney Theatrical Productions Disneyland Resort El Capitan Theatre ESPN, Inc. International Operations - Asia International Operations - Europe International Operations - Latin America Publishing The Walt Disney Studios Walt Disney Internet Group Walt Disney Animation Studios Walt Disney World ResortNewsCorporation:2006 revenues: $25.3 billion
Owns:
BET Networks presents the best in Black media and entertainment featuring traditional and digital platforms. Brands including BET, BET J, BET Gospel, BET Hip Hop, BET.com, BET Mobile, BET Event Productions and BET International deliver relevant and insightful content to consumers of Black culture in more than 84 million households.
And with Paramount Pictures Corporation, audiences have access to a huge library of top films through brands like Paramount Pictures, Paramount Vantage, MTV Films, Nickelodeon Movies, DreamWorks and Paramount Home Entertainment.
Fueled by our world-class brands, Viacom serves an ever-growing population of kids, tweens, teens and adults who want their favorite media and entertainment, 24/7
Time Warner:
AOL
Home Box Office
New Line Cinema
Time Inc.
Time Warner Cable
Turner Broadcasting System
Warner Bros. Entertainment
Time Warner Investments
Global Media Group
This is great info. Thanks
Where or what is the name of the org. of Rupert Murdock?
Do you know any statics for News Papers and News Magazines?
They should be safer stocks. GE for example is supposed to be a very safe buy. Even the Queen of England has a lot of their stock I hear.
The heads of NewsCorp.
https://www.newscorp.com/
Board of Directors
* K. Rupert Murdoch
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
News Corporation
* José María Aznar
President
FAES - Foundation for Social Studies and Analysis
Former PRESIDENT OF SPAIN
* Peter Barnes
Chairman
Ansell Limited
* Chase Carey
President and Chief Executive Officer
The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
* Peter Chernin
President and Chief Operating Officer
News Corporation
* Kenneth E. Cowley
Chairman
RM Williams Holdings Limited
* David F. DeVoe
Chief Financial Officer
News Corporation
* VIET DINH
Professor of Law
Georgetown University Law Center
Dinh has served as Associate Special Counsel to the U.S. Senate Whitewater Committee, as Special Counsel to Senator Pete V. Domenici for the Impeachment Trial of President Clinton.
(Vietnamese: Đinh Đồng Phụng Việt; born February 22, 1968) is a lawyer who served as the Assistant Attorney General of the United States from 2001 to 2003, under the presidency of George W. Bush. Born in Saigon, South Vietnam, he was the chief architect of the USA PATRIOT Act.
Dinh was mentioned as a potential nominee to The Supreme Court of the United States in a Republican administration.
* Sir Roderick I. Eddington
Chairman, Australia and New Zealand
JPMORGAN CHASE Bank N.A.
* Andrew S.B. Knight
Director
ROTHSCHILD Investment Trust Capital Partners Plc
* Lachlan K. Murdoch
Chief Executive
Illyria Pty Ltd
* Roderick R. Paige
Founder and Chairman
Chartwell Education Group, LLC
* Thomas J. Perkins
Partner
Kleiner Perkins Caulfield & Byers
* Arthur M. Siskind
Senior Advisor to the Chairman
News Corporation
* John L. Thornton
Professor of Global Leadership
Tsinghua University of Beijing
As far as trustworthy news, good luck. I've not had much. What I do is get my infor from every source I can find and then try to find what doesn't make sense.
I just like to know things. Politics are of interest to me. Freedom, truth, and knowledge are fundamentals for me. I