Just a former US soldier who served 2 combat tours in Iraq as well as an additional tour as a Federal Civilian. These are my thoughts on life, family, the Army, and other insights. ****DISCLAIMER**** ALL opinions expressed on this blog are those of myself in my private capacity and not as a representative of the DoD, DA, or any particular element of the Government. By viewing this site you accept and agree to this disclaimer in the use of any information accessed in this website.
Friday, August 26, 2005
Take it for what it's worth
Eternal Damnation you swear on me. Your eyes show the hate you harbor.
Here is my neck, I say to you, Your hands are cold as they begin to squeeze.
It is a diamond you hold, you know? As imperfect as it is it is still a soul.
16 comments:
Anonymous
said...
Dude, that is heavy!! Keep on writin, I am still readin.
Thank you for bringing the Iraq war to so many of us here who care. I was your age during the Vietnam War, and Iraq seems nearly identical, especially in terms of the experiences of fighting soldiers.
I don't believe we have a great deal of national interest in Iraq because there is no draft for this war. Still, everyone I talk to (in New York) feels wretched that soldiers have to be there, aiming a rifle at other human beings.
What is so wrong with Homo Sapiens that we don't learn?
I think about you, I pray for you. My personal politics don't matter here. I want you all home safe, out of harm's way.
Take care, the men and women who have to be so brave. My heart is with you all.
I read another entry of your blog in an online forum and I was moved.
I just want you to know that I will be keeping you (and your family) in my thoughts and prayers.
Stay strong and be encouraged. Initially, to an extent feel at loss because all I have to offer you are my prayers, but then I remembered the power of and how it's changed my life.
I'm not sure if there is anything you may need (supplies etc), but please do not hesitate to let us (your blog readers) know... I know i'll do everything in my power to see that you get it.
"pointless war based on lies, and being continued for the ego of your president."
The "Ego" of your former president...
Dr. Muhemed Ihsan, Ministar of Human Rights, KRG-Erbil:
"When a Dictator Regime commits crimes of any magnitude, they will usually try to hide it. Just as will the criminal mind. Sadly this is not so with the Iraqi Regime. It did this with pride, & gave itself the right to kill the innocent. This way of thinking is more frightening than the killing itself".
On March 15 1988, in Halabja, one Chemical Bombing alone Kills 5,000 Civilians for Saddam's Anfal. As of the Fall of 2004, 275 Mass Graves were discovered containing a total of 300,000 bodies. Men, Women, Children, Whole Families, & Generations of families. They were taken bound and thrown on a caravan of trucks. Not even allowed to say "GoodBye".
These are only a handful of the Mass Grave sites: Samawah, Basra, Fehrsar, Rasasa, Karbala, Diwahnia, Shanhafia, Ihrwadhania, Najaf -------------------
Ebdul-Fetah Reuf Al Idrisi, Assistant Director of the Free prisoners' ASSN, BaghDad:
"In some cases, a particular family, over 5 generations, would be imprisoned, Tortured, Killed". "90 Percent of the Iraqi people have suffered under Saddam". -------------------
Kerim Atia Hasan, Eyewitness, Haydaria:
I saw soldiers come with a truck and digging equipment, they told us to leave, and started digging. We left and watched from a distance. When they were done, they put something in the hole and covered it up, and left. We came back later and dug in the ground. We found 14 Bodies, in 1 square meter, all in Kurdish clothing. They had been burying them here, for over 60 square meters. If you multiply 60 square meters by 14 it equals 3000 corpses, or at least the 1400 that we found so far. We think they are Anfal victims, based on what we found on the bodies. -------------------
Sandra L. Hodgkinson, Senior Advisor on Human Rights - CPA:
"of all the peoples that lived & existed in Iraq during Saddam's regime, Kurds, Shia, Sunni, Turkomann, every ethnic group for whatever reasons at some time in Iraq were persecuted and killed". -------------------
Husain Yusif Sadiq, Al Najaf, Mass grave Survivor:
They brought us in large trucks and dumped us out. They formed squads and shot us 4 at a time. They made us sit at the edge of a hole with our hands tied behind us. We were not allowed to look as they shot us, we would just wait for the bullets, and the bullets would keep coming till you died. There were 600 in my group, they brought us out daily, at 20 to 30 per truckload. When they shot me the bullet hit my shoulder and I fell in the hole. They would quickly look to see if we were still alive, and they would shoot some of us again. When they drove away a good distance, I opened my eyes and saw 4 others who had not died. Among them was a Saudi, he was amongst the gulf people from Kuwait & Bahrain. I Stood up and looked around. I saw my uncle, brothers and cousins who were all dead. The 5 of us were wounded, I was bleeding badly, but we started walking. We saw bodies all around us, and had to walk over some of them to get out. We walked about two miles to some houses. The people there helped us. They brought us medicine and food. We stayed only a couple of days with them. We would leave during the day, because the family was afraid they would be discovered. If we were discovered the whole family would be in peril. We left as soon as we could. -------------------
Dr. Muhemed Ihsan, Ministar of Human Rights, KRG-Erbil:
1.3 Million Iraqis are currently missing. -------------------
Dr. Rafid Al Husaini, Head of the Mass Graves Action Committee - Hilla:
We need the help of the new government, and the world. -------------------
The Truth will not simply "Go Away" like you wish the US would.
On another blog - "American Soldier" - I found this incredible statement:
"American Soldier Says:
Carrie,
I cannot make your husbands mind change if he is set on something. I am nothing more than a mere Soldier in this war. Whether I’m home getting fixed or in the mix of it. I am a Soldier and Soldier’s fight wars.
Let your husband read ‘Another chapter yet written’ post. Maybe he will see that Soldier’s don’t need a reason to fight, we do it because it’s deeply rooted within us to.
I hope that helps."
How do you cope with people like this? Are they simply insane? Are there many like him?
ted turner (what a cutsie name) the truth is also that the bush administartion commited War Crimes and other crimes that are against the LAWS of the United States of America. Many of those laws carry the death penalty. The support of murder, armed robbery and vigilantism even for your stated reasons is still immoral and uneithical.
"bush administartion commited War Crimes and other crimes"
If this is so, why hasn't congress done anything to stop it? Or the UN levied Sanctions against the US? And don't tell me because the democrats are in the Minority, give me a Real answer.
ted turner, sorry I didn't comment on your comment sooner. I only visit here once in a while but thought I'd better today as I see many Mil. Blogs may get taken down soon. As far as formal charges against Bush or UN sanctions I suggest you take a look at history. I don't think you'd have to look very far to see many leaders who are well known to be war criminals yet little or nothing is done. The reason in most cases is financial as most of those in control of such things operate within a limited system of greed. It quite often takes decades and international pressure before most war criminals are brought to justice. In the specific case of Bush though the wheels of justice have been set in motion. But it still could easily be a decade or more before the results of that materialize as indictments or sanctions. And if you are as informed as you sound then you are very well aware of that and only ask the questions to try and muddy the waters of justice. Rest assured that, although it will take quite some time, America will recover from the damage done to Democracy and the Constitution by this administration.
Anonymous loser: you're saying that you're too scared to post using a verifiable name? If you have to give a name in order to post, you'll choose to be silent instead? That's sad.
Buck up! Grow a spleen and get your own web page. Doesn't even have to have your real name in it, all you have to do is get your own blogger account anonymously. You can even have in named "Anonymous coward" if you want!
16 comments:
Dude, that is heavy!! Keep on writin, I am still readin.
Beautiful, Zach.
Take care --
Remember that you and your family are constantly being lifted in prayer. Your sacrifices are not in vain.
-tmg
Hurria,
Do you think Zach is some wild cowboy out there shootin up Iraq?
Joe
Thank you for bringing the Iraq war to so many of us here who care. I was your age during the Vietnam War, and Iraq seems nearly identical, especially in terms of the experiences of fighting soldiers.
I don't believe we have a great deal of national interest in Iraq because there is no draft for this war. Still, everyone I talk to (in New York) feels wretched that soldiers have to be there, aiming a rifle at other human beings.
What is so wrong with Homo Sapiens that we don't learn?
I think about you, I pray for you. My personal politics don't matter here. I want you all home safe, out of harm's way.
Take care, the men and women who have to be so brave. My heart is with you all.
Zach,
I read another entry of your blog in an online forum and I was moved.
I just want you to know that I will be keeping you (and your family) in my thoughts and prayers.
Stay strong and be encouraged. Initially, to an extent feel at loss because all I have to offer you are my prayers, but then I remembered the power of and how it's changed my life.
I'm not sure if there is anything you may need (supplies etc), but please do not hesitate to let us (your blog readers) know... I know i'll do everything in my power to see that you get it.
Again, you and your family are in my prayers.
God Bless.
Hurria Said...
"pointless war based on lies, and being continued for the ego of your president."
The "Ego" of your former president...
Dr. Muhemed Ihsan,
Ministar of Human Rights, KRG-Erbil:
"When a Dictator Regime commits crimes of any magnitude, they will usually try to hide it. Just as will the criminal mind. Sadly this is not so with the Iraqi Regime. It did this with pride, & gave itself the right to kill the innocent. This way of thinking is more frightening than the killing itself".
On March 15 1988, in Halabja, one Chemical Bombing alone Kills 5,000 Civilians for Saddam's Anfal.
As of the Fall of 2004, 275 Mass Graves were discovered containing a total of 300,000 bodies. Men, Women, Children, Whole Families, & Generations of families. They were taken bound and thrown on a caravan of trucks. Not even allowed to say "GoodBye".
These are only a handful of the Mass Grave sites: Samawah, Basra, Fehrsar, Rasasa, Karbala, Diwahnia, Shanhafia, Ihrwadhania, Najaf
-------------------
Ebdul-Fetah Reuf Al Idrisi,
Assistant Director of the Free prisoners' ASSN, BaghDad:
"In some cases, a particular family, over 5 generations, would be imprisoned, Tortured, Killed".
"90 Percent of the Iraqi people have suffered under Saddam".
-------------------
Kerim Atia Hasan,
Eyewitness, Haydaria:
I saw soldiers come with a truck and digging equipment, they told us to leave, and started digging. We left and watched from a distance. When they were done, they put something in the hole and covered it up, and left. We came back later and dug in the ground. We found 14 Bodies, in 1 square meter, all in Kurdish clothing. They had been burying them here, for over 60 square meters. If you multiply 60 square meters by 14 it equals 3000 corpses, or at least the 1400 that we found so far. We think they are Anfal victims, based on what we found on the bodies.
-------------------
Sandra L. Hodgkinson,
Senior Advisor on Human Rights - CPA:
"of all the peoples that lived & existed in Iraq during Saddam's regime, Kurds, Shia, Sunni, Turkomann, every ethnic group for whatever reasons at some time in Iraq were persecuted and killed".
-------------------
Husain Yusif Sadiq,
Al Najaf, Mass grave Survivor:
They brought us in large trucks and dumped us out. They formed squads and shot us 4 at a time. They made us sit at the edge of a hole with our hands tied behind us. We were not allowed to look as they shot us, we would just wait for the bullets, and the bullets would keep coming till you died. There were 600 in my group, they brought us out daily, at 20 to 30 per truckload. When they shot me the bullet hit my shoulder and I fell in the hole. They would quickly look to see if we were still alive, and they would shoot some of us again. When they drove away a good distance, I opened my eyes and saw 4 others who had not died. Among them was a Saudi, he was amongst the gulf people from Kuwait & Bahrain. I Stood up and looked around. I saw my uncle, brothers and cousins who were all dead. The 5 of us were wounded, I was bleeding badly, but we started walking. We saw bodies all around us, and had to walk over some of them to get out. We walked about two miles to some houses. The people there helped us. They brought us medicine and food. We stayed only a couple of days with them. We would leave during the day, because the family was afraid they would be discovered. If we were discovered the whole family would be in peril. We left as soon as we could.
-------------------
Dr. Muhemed Ihsan,
Ministar of Human Rights, KRG-Erbil:
1.3 Million Iraqis are currently missing.
-------------------
Dr. Rafid Al Husaini,
Head of the Mass Graves Action Committee - Hilla:
We need the help of the new government, and the world.
-------------------
The Truth will not simply "Go Away" like you wish the US would.
You must be one of the 10%
On another blog - "American Soldier" - I found this incredible statement:
"American Soldier Says:
Carrie,
I cannot make your husbands mind change if he is set on something. I am nothing more than a mere Soldier in this war. Whether I’m home getting fixed or in the mix of it. I am a Soldier and Soldier’s fight wars.
Let your husband read ‘Another chapter yet written’ post. Maybe he will see that Soldier’s don’t need a reason to fight, we do it because it’s deeply rooted within us to.
I hope that helps."
How do you cope with people like this? Are they simply insane? Are there many like him?
ted turner (what a cutsie name) the truth is also that the bush administartion commited War Crimes and other crimes that are against the LAWS of the United States of America. Many of those laws carry the death penalty. The support of murder, armed robbery and vigilantism even for your stated reasons is still immoral and uneithical.
"bush administartion commited War Crimes and other crimes"
If this is so, why hasn't congress done anything to stop it? Or the UN levied Sanctions against the US? And don't tell me because the democrats are in the Minority, give me a Real answer.
Why then hasn't the UN levied Sanctions against the US?
NO ANSWER FOR U
Zack, your anonymous posters are mostly jackasses. Why don't you disable anonyposting?
Yeah, Zach, Then all us "Intellectuals" can Coddle eachother and have a group hug after we've silenced those with different opinions!
ted turner, sorry I didn't comment on your comment sooner. I only visit here once in a while but thought I'd better today as I see many Mil. Blogs may get taken down soon. As far as formal charges against Bush or UN sanctions I suggest you take a look at history. I don't think you'd have to look very far to see many leaders who are well known to be war criminals yet little or nothing is done. The reason in most cases is financial as most of those in control of such things operate within a limited system of greed. It quite often takes decades and international pressure before most war criminals are brought to justice. In the specific case of Bush though the wheels of justice have been set in motion. But it still could easily be a decade or more before the results of that materialize as indictments or sanctions. And if you are as informed as you sound then you are very well aware of that and only ask the questions to try and muddy the waters of justice. Rest assured that, although it will take quite some time, America will recover from the damage done to Democracy and the Constitution by this administration.
Anonymous loser: you're saying that you're too scared to post using a verifiable name? If you have to give a name in order to post, you'll choose to be silent instead? That's sad.
Buck up! Grow a spleen and get your own web page. Doesn't even have to have your real name in it, all you have to do is get your own blogger account anonymously. You can even have in named "Anonymous coward" if you want!
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