[Peace-discuss] an email from Iraq

[Alfred Kagan]

It would be great if she would read some of what is on this listserv.

Ken, can you suggest that?


At 4:50 PM -0600 3/30/04, Morton K.Brussel wrote:
>Interesting letter. Thanks, Ken, for sharing it.
>
>the writer is just one person, but some of her 
>comments must be typical of many others. The 
>racism is evident: viz.:
>
>  "I no longer care about the people of Iraq. 
>They will never know freedom because they aren't 
>willing to fight and die for it.  Their idea of 
>freedom is for the US to keep them safe, so they 
>will never have it.",
>
>and
>
>  "Šbut ultimately, their country will fail 
>because of the attitude and fear/cowardice of 
>their citizens."
>
>>>An amazing comment. Perhaps she thinks that 
>>>the Iraqis are cowards because they won't come 
>>>out and face our gun-ships and tanks--to be 
>>>slaughtered, or won't stand up for the USA.
>
>She's full of self pity, and pity for the 
>wounded Americans, but has none for Iraqis.
>
>But I'm glad she wants to come home.
>
>Nobel soldiers!
>
>MKB
>
>There's little questioning about motives, and
>On Mar 30, 2004, at 1:49 PM, Ken Urban wrote:
>
>>I got what was posted below from one of my students.  She was struck by
>>the statement that there are constant mortar attacks going on, thought
>>I'd share this with you.  (She *REALLY* knows the person's mom).
>>
>>>Ken,
>>
>>>I am sending you this email my best friend just received this morning
>>from
>>>her daughter in Iraq.  She is a physicians assistant that has been in
>>the
>>>Army National Reserves for over 17 years and was activated just right
>>before
>>>Thanksgiving.  Her orders call for her to be in Iraq for 18 months, as
>>I
>>>understand it.  Her mom said to me, you know, I can tell she is really
>>>upset by her spelling errors and that is not like her.  It is just
>>something
>>>I wanted to share with you.
>>
>>>me
>>>=========================================================================
>>
>>>Today, like every day, I need my mommy....
>>>
>>>I am so glad you are never far away.  I always know that you are close
>>to
>>my heart.
>>>
>>>I may the way you can help us/me...
>>>
>>>My post is the most mortared in theater.  I worked on (and lost)
>>another
>>soldier last night because his unit continues to go into our town and
>>get
>>blown up by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).  They swept the town
>>four
>>days for weapons and insurgents, but the mission was comprised and they
>>came
>>up with nothing...then they have run into almost a dozen of these
>>bombs...but we kept sending them out there...My post, a group of combat
>>support mechanics and truck drivers, continues to get bombed, but we
>>stay
>>here and take it.  Is this someone's ego keeping us in harms way???  
>>Our
>>post could easily operate 2-3 miles down the road, out of reach of the
>>mortars.
>>>
>>>I no longer care about the people of Iraq.  They will never know
>>freedom
>>because they aren't willing to fight and die for it.  Their idea of
>>freedom
>>is for the US to keep them safe, so they will never have it.
>>>
>>>We need to come home.  I don't think any good will come of this --
>>maybe
>>for some individuals, but ultimately, their country will fail because of
>>the
>>attitude and fear/cowardice of their citizens.
>>>
>>>I did everything I could last night...just like four nights ago...and
>>it
>>didn't work.  I'm doing procedures here that I never dreamed I would
>>ever
>>do.  I cut into a man's chest last night as a final effort, but it was
>>too
>>late...it was actually too late before he got here, but I couldn't bring
>>myself to pronounce him.  The damage these devices do to the human body
>>is
>>incredible.
>>>
>>>I love you so much.  Maybe it is time to send up the flag to
>>Washington.
>>Let them spend just one frickin' night in my aid station, ruin another
>>uniform with a 22 year old husband/son/father's blood, have to convince
>>my
>>medics that we are just...that last one I just can't do anymore, so they
>>need to.
>>>
>>>I don't mean to vent, but I don't know what else to do at this
>>point..and
>>it's only been a month...
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>>Ken Urban
>>Assoc. Prof., Computer Science
>>Parkland College
>>
>>Office: B129A
>>            (217)-353-2246
>>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>>
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>>
>
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-- 


Al Kagan
African Studies Bibliographer and Professor of Library Administration
Africana Unit, Room 328
University of Illinois Library
1408 W. Gregory Drive
Urbana, IL 61801, USA

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fax. 217-333-2214
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