Shameful

I have been, in the past, one of the first to jump up and support the USA when we're getting otherwise battered for one political reason or the next. I.E., there was significant animocity towards the USA from other countries when the question was raised as to whether or not aid should be sent to help with the Katrina disaster. I think it's ridiculous...it's damn low...for anyone to say the USA doesn't deserve aid considering the immeasurable aid we have leant in the past to numerous nations both during war time and times of natural disaster.

I've even tried...tried hard...to give our current administration the benefit of the doubt about the so-called war on terror. But now...well I'd be lying if I said I wasn't ashamed of the USA's current activities in the middle-east. First there was the Abu-Grhaib. Unbelievably sick acts performed on and forced to be performed by prisoners of the Iraqi prison. Not least of which - beating, electrocution, and breaking of spirit through lude acts of public nudity and covering prisoners in feces.

Now...there's the Haditha massacre. We've been found...our troops...to have killed more than 20 civilians in the town of Haditha in cold blood. Sure, we try to paper over it with pretty words and excuses. "Collateral damage" "mistake", etc. But you know what, when you've got little boys who witnessed the attrocities saying that they were killed in their homes while unarmed, there is no excuse.

Today another story emerges. A pregnant woman and her female cousin...both Iraqis...were shot dead at a road block north of Baghdad. Apparently the woman was going to the maternity hospital, her cousin driving her. After the car was ordered to stop and wasn't the troops opened fire on the vehicle to 'disable it'. Yeah right. I could almost believe that if they shot out the tires, in a moment of "what if they're hiding a bomb". Stranger things have happened. But when witnesses point to bullet holes in the windscreen...guess what? It's no accident...it's not an effort to disable the vehicle. Three innocent lives were lost today, one the most innocent of all...a baby unborn.

This news comes at a great time for the USA as we are having death cirtificates for the 24 dead Haditha civilians stating they all head bullet holes to the head. Hmmm...ever heard the term "execution style"? These were no mistakes.

How does the US respond? They paid $2500 to 15 of the families. $2500! Granted, that's probably a lot of money to someone in Iraq compared to what it would be in the USA. But I think we all know that's not the point.

Then there's Zarqawi. Sure, we've taken him out. Sure, I guess that's a good thing. Better to take him alive, of course. Question him...use him. But...well I guess it is good that he's not out there killing innocents anymore. (Instead, apparently we're doing it for him!) But why does this happen now? Smoke & mirrors, folks...smoke & mirrors. I'm appalled...this is merely a tactic to draw attention from the Haditha masacre.

It won't work on me. For once, I'm actually ashamed to be associated with the American military. They tell you, "Even if you don't agree with the war, you have to support the troops. They don't choose to get deported to Iraq. It's their job." Okay, I'll give you that. But how much support do you expect me to offer when they're killing citizens...women & children...in cold blood?

Fuck that.