In article <bm7vna$10eq$1@pencil.math.missouri.edu>, map@economicdemocracy.org
says...

A serving US soldier calls for the end of an
occupation based on lies

The Guardian (UK)
September 19, 2003

Comment

By Tim Predmore, 101st Airborne Division

For the past six months, I have been participating in
what I believe to be the great modern lie: Operation
Iraqi Freedom.

After the horrific events of September 11
2001, and throughout the battle in Afghanistan, the
groundwork was being laid for the invasion of Iraq.
"Shock and awe" were the words used to describe the
display of power that the world was going to view upon
the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom. It was to be an
up-close, dramatic display of military strength and
advanced technology from within the arsenals of the
American and British military.

But as a soldier preparing to take part in the invasion
of Iraq, the words "shock and awe" rang deep within my
psyche. Even as we prepared to depart, it seemed that
these two great superpowers were about to break the very
rules that they demanded others obey. Without the
consent of the United Nations, and ignoring the pleas of
their own citizens, the US and Britain invaded Iraq.
"Shock and awe"? Yes, the words correctly described the
emotional impact I felt as we embarked on an act not of
justice, but of hypocrisy.

>From the moment the first shot was fired in this so-

called war of liberation and freedom, hypocrisy reigned.
After the broadcasting of recorded images of captured
and dead US soldiers on Arab television, American and
British leaders vowed revenge while verbally assaulting
the networks for displaying such vivid images. Yet
within hours of the deaths of Saddam Hussein's sons, the
US government released horrific photographs of the two
dead brothers for the entire world to view. Again, a "do
as we say and not as we do" scenario.

As soldiers serving in Iraq, we have been told that our
purpose is to help the people of Iraq by providing them
with the necessary assistance militarily, as well as in
humanitarian efforts. Then tell me where the humanity is
in the recent account in Stars and Stripes (the
newspaper of the US military) of two young children
brought to a US military camp by their mother in search
of medical care.

The two children had, unknowingly, been playing with
explosive ordnance they had found, and as a result they
were severely burned. The account tells how, after an
hour-long wait, they - two children - were denied care
by two US military doctors. A soldier described the
incident as one of many "atrocities" on the part of the
US military he had witnessed.

Thankfully, I have not personally been a witness to
atrocities - unless, of course, you consider, as I do,
that this war in Iraq is the ultimate atrocity.

So what is our purpose here? Was this invasion because
of weapons of mass destruction, as we have so often
heard? If so, where are they? Did we invade to dispose
of a leader and his regime because they were closely
associated with Osama bin Laden? If so, where is the
proof?

Or is it that our incursion is about our own economic
advantage? Iraq's oil can be refined at the lowest cost
of any in the world. This looks like a modern-day
crusade not to free an oppressed people or to rid the
world of a demonic dictator relentless in his pursuit of
conquest and domination, but a crusade to control
another nation's natural resource. Oil - at least to me
- seems to be the reason for our presence.

There is only one truth, and it is that Americans are
dying. There are an estimated 10 to 14 attacks every day
on our servicemen and women in Iraq. As the body count
continues to grow, it would appear that there is no
immediate end in sight.

I once believed that I was serving for a cause - "to
uphold and defend the constitution of the United
States". Now I no longer believe that; I have lost my
conviction, as well as my determination. I can no longer
justify my service on the basis of what I believe to be
half-truths and bold lies.

With age comes wisdom, and at 36 years old I am no
longer so blindly led as to believe without question.

>From my arrival last November at Fort Campbell, in

Kentucky, talk of deployment was heard, and as that talk
turned to actual preparation, my heart sank and my
doubts grew. My doubts have never faded; instead, it has
been my resolve and my commitment that have.

My time here is almost done, as well as that of many
others with whom I have served. We have all faced death
in Iraq without reason and without justification. How
many more must die? How many more tears must be shed
before Americans awake and demand the return of the men
and women whose job it is to protect them, rather than
their leader's interest?

B7 Tim Predmore is a US soldier on active duty with the
101st Airborne Division, based near Mosul in northern
Iraq. A version of this article appeared in the Peoria
Journal Star, Illinois

(C) LATWP News Service

http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1045297,00.html

[ANOTHER GOOD SITE IS THIS ONE BY FAMILIES OF THE TROOPS...NO
ONE "SUPPORTS THE TROOPS" MORE THAN THE FAMILIES THEMSELVES,
AND THEIR SITE IS: http://www.bringthemhomenow.com -ED]

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Reply #1:
here's the cause 8:35am Sun Sep 21 '03

so that halliburton carlyle bechtel that is cheney bush etc can fatten
their bank accounts with your blood,suckers.

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Reply #2:
Right Reasons (english)
Darleen Levin 9:10am Sun Sep 21 '03

You joined the military for the right reasons and, unfortunately, like
the rest of the forces are fighting for the wrong reasons.

Many of us know the reasons behind the Iraq war. We are the
enlightened ones who are not afraid to speak out. Maybe our voices
have been heard ever so slightly as President Bush is now backing off
his assertions that Iraq had anything to do with 9/11, in opposition
of Cheney and Rumsfield's opinions.

Well, this should have made front page news. But, here in Philadelphia
it was on the third page. As many of us also know, mainstream media
serves to further this government's agenda. Downplaying important news
and feeding us propaganda with respect to less newsworthy events.

Again, many of us know there is a bigger force at work in our
government. We just can't see them. They are the shadow government
lurking behind the curtain. They have been using "mind control" on the
masses for decades. Those who have not fallen under their spell must
enlighten others so as to wake those who have been sleeping for
decades and allowing our government to conduct business that is not
"for the people, of the people and by the people." Business that is
only in their best interest. Every voice counts. Every voice of
dissent must be heard and will be heard.

The tide is changing, though, and the real "evil doers" within our
government will soon be exposed. Their acts so blatant without respect
or cause, their transparency is wearing thin. They seek control. They
are power mongers. They have their own agenda and it does not include

the citizens of this country

RISE UP!!

Thank you for serving our country. God Bless you and yoru family.

Darleen Levin

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Reply #3
Bush doesn't care (english)
walrus 9:38am Sun Sep 21 '03

Judging by his actions, pResident Bush does not care about justice,
reason, law, the constitution, or any other civilized value. Don't
expect him to respond to an argument based on reason and values. He
knows only about pleasure and power. If you cannot enhance either of
these, his core values, he will not listen to you.

**********************************************************************
URL:
http://www.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=347683&group=webcast

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ANOTHER GOOD SITE IS THIS ONE BY FAMILIES OF THE TROOPS...NO
ONE "SUPPORTS THE TROOPS" MORE THAN THE FAMILIES THEMSELVES,
AND THEIR SITE IS:

http://www.bringthemhomenow.com

= = = =
STILL FEELING LIKE THE MAINSTREAM U.S. CORPORATE MEDIA
IS GIVING A FULL HONEST PICTURE OF WHAT'S GOING ON?
= = = =

Daily online radio show, news reporting: www.DemocracyNow.org

= = = =

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