OCCUPIED COUNTRY

Just Gimme Some Truth

I came across a link to a serving soldier's blog - direct from Iraq. It's humbling to read what the ordinary has to go through in the name of the "War Against Terrorism". But this guy seems to be beginning to understand the flaws in the argument. Here's a snippet:-

they told us today...in a battalion formation...early in the morning...standing in the dirt of our motor pool...that we are here...to fight terrorism on its home ground...that we are taking the war to the terrorists...i'm not so sure about that...i think we've brought the terrorists/freedom fighters/militants/loyalists/what ever to iraq...i've read that al-queda is rushing to iraq to support arabs and their fight...

i remember reading that osama wanted nothing to do with saddam and his stalinist regime...osama's only concern was for the islamic people of iraq...saddam is now gone...thanks to us...and we are here...in full force...convoying everyday...easy targets...ignorant of just about everything...and we are on their home turf...so we might have to play by their rules...

i'm so baffled...and confused...9-11 changed my life...in every way...and i do think that if we wish to stop such things from happening we do need to step up and take action...we do need to fight these things on their home turf...but i'm not really sure if the people that hijacked those planes...and brought down those buildings even have a home turf...how do you fight an enemy that has no borders...how do you win a war when the enemy can be anyone...any where...at any time...

it's a 'war on terrorism'...kind of like a 'war on drugs'...and we know how well that one is panning out in america...unwinable...because the more you fight it...the smarter the enemy gets...the more you try to squash terrorists and terrorism...the more martyrs you create...the more troops yo send...the more symbols of rebellion against 'unjust occupiers' you spawn...the longer you 'occupy'...the more people will want to step up and take action...they want a higher meaning...and they want to do what they think is right...i'm terrified of this cycle...and it all seems so simple to me...i wonder why others can't see it...

americans like to think in terms of we...or i...or us...and them...and those...and you...they don't see both sides of the fight...they only perceive right and wrong...good and evil...america and terrorists...many many arabs think america is evil...and they think along the same terms as those americans...only in reverse...so who is right...who is misguided...is there even such a thing as good and evil...

i laugh when i hear americans spouting off with what they think the terrorists reasons are for hating america..."they hate our freedoms"..."they hate our religions"..."they hate our capitalism"..."they hate our s.u.v.'s"...i think they hate us because we make them our business...we come to their countries...and we bomb them...they then come to our country and fly planes into sky scrapers...we then send more troops to their countries...and we drop more bombs...i'm not sure who started this cycle...and does it even matter any more...what is important...is how will we end it...and when i say we i mean all of us...everyone...because it is our problem...

many of those arabs think up conspiracies...they try to figure out our real reasons for dropping bombs...and many of them think that we americans laugh and dance in the streets each time another arab child is killed...they think we rejoice at their demise...they think that all of us are 'zionists'...it's all so sad...the level of misconception...

part of me is so relieved...my time is almost up...and i will head back to the states...i will be reabsorbed back into the ignorant masses...i've wondered hard about how i will continue my life...and i know for sure that the first thing i will do is unplug my t.v. for at least 3 months...well maybe i'll watch 'the simpsons'...because that is the best show on television...but i'm not sure if i even will want to care...i thought along these same lines when i returned from afghanistan...i thought that if i even saw a picture of that country on the news i would change the channel...but i watch them now any way...because i've been there...and i know that place...

people throw around terms like 'brain washed'...and 'misguided'...and 'wrong'...they do this a lot when they them selves are brain washed...by such things as politics...and patriotism...and religion...because how could 'they' be right...that would mean that every thing that 'i' believe in could be wrong...it's easier just to blame others then admit your own misconceptions...

Posted by: moja / 17:20

For those of you intrigued enough for more, his blog can be found here. And, yes I do think it's authentic.