Reader Comments of the Week: Iraq III

Each week the Hot Zone team will select some of the more interesting, thoughtful or provocative reader comments to feature here.

Each week the Hot Zone team will select some of the more interesting, thoughtful or provocative reader comments to feature here.

Reflections from the Hot Zone: Iraq, Part II

No honest criticism can ever be made if people are not willing to say that they are are not supplied with all the facts. Maybe we should be in

Iraq, but then again maybe not. But we are there, and we should never be so quick to condemn those who are compelled to be there. Those honorable soldiers live a different, and fearful life where death waits to jump out it seems from every abandoned car. The fact is: life on earth has proven to be lethal (100% mortality rate on earth). And maybe only .005% of people in the whole of human history knowingly fight on the side of the "bad guys." But what makes any man the judge of who's the evil side and who's the good while evil resides in the heart of every man in some varying measure. Only God judges the motives of men. Let us never take that responsibility onto our ignorant heads. Let us never condemn a whole people; ours or theirs. And let us never say ignorantly of ourselves that we are the "good guys" or the "bad guys". It is not our place to evaluate anyone but ourselves because in this task we already have our hands full.
Posted by jarjamferreira@sbcglobal.net on Sat, Nov 19, 2005 12:56 AM ET

It's troubling how many Americans can't bear to accept our struggle with terrorism as anything but a video game, with its "good guys" versus "bad guys" simplicity. Recent polls suggest the majority of Iraqis don't want us there. That makes us occupiers. If an old man picks up a rifle to help rid his country of an unwanted foreign army, does that automatically make him a "bad" guy? Is every guy who ever put on a US military uniform "good?" The world is complex, even when at war. Those afraid to face that fact truly "can't handle the truth."
Posted by bloombaber@sbcglobal.net on Sat, Nov 19, 2005 3:43 AM ET

For all of those who say this is another Vietnam ... they are wrong, and it is people like Sites who ensure this. As a society we know more about this war than any other. We know the good, the bad, and the just plain ugly, and our reactions to this shove humanity in our face. As to the quote of "You can't handle the truth," as sad as it is many people can't look at the truth as what it is ... they try and analyze it beyond what they are able, and by so doing so take it out of context. The Mosque Shooting is a tragedy, but so is war in general ... and if showing that in the news and getting it out for people to see offends some, then maybe they will take that offense and channel it into helping make this world a better place so that incidents such as the MOsque Shooting do not take place. I salute all you have done for facing what most of us would not want to face, and for doing what needs to be done. Thank you for all you have written thus far and all you will write. God bless America.
Posted by viper1331 on Sat, Nov 19, 2005 8:08 AM E

Kevin, thank you for reporting what you see. While there are some who do not agree with you, one of our rights is that we may decide for ourselves what to believe. Sometimes, an opposing view is hard to hear, especially when one is so staunch in their position. I have a degree in international relations, as well as two high shool friends and two cousins in the infantry, with three in the same squad, and if I can tell you and your readers anything, is that this war, like any other, is not black and white. It is not so simple as good versus evil, and not all servicemen and women are good, and not all are bad. I think what people need to come away with when reading Kevin's reports is that we are very distanced from what is happening over in Iraq. This has been a complex situation for eons, and it is not a problem that America can "fix"- unfortunately, there will be repercussions for our actions, whether or not Hot Zone readers feel those actions are justified. Many Muslims and Iraqis feel that they are not, and the insurgent problems will re-manifest themselves over and over again because they feel that they have been violated. They don't see it "our way", that we are heroes and liberators. No one disputes that

Saddam Hussein and his sons were evil men in the worst light, but we need to remember that, as strong as the US may be, we will be struggling with Iraq for a long time to come. The servicemen and women over there will have to deal with their consciences, whether they've done anything wrong or not. Hearing stories from my friends about their experiences, a soldier cannot help but be haunted by what they've seen. It keeps some up at night, it makes some drink, and it makes some suicidal. If it doesn't, and they handle it better than most, then I question their humanity. Keep reporting, Kevin.
Posted by elenaputman on Sat, Nov 19, 2005 9:09 AM ET

Breaking Bread

Great story. I was in Iraq with 1st Marines Jan-Jun 2003 as a Navy corpsman. We moved around a lot so I saw a lot of Baghdad and parts South. Everywhere we went my experience was very much like what is described in this article. The kids loved us. If we didn't have a button or a pin to give them they wanted us to write on their arm, anything to show a connection to the Marines. I am glad to hear that this sort of thing is officially encouraged. By the way, in our tents we treated wounded Marines, enemy soldiers, women and children. Everyone got the same care; they were all patients to us.
Posted by rkchandler@sbcglobal.net on Tue, Nov 22, 2005 10:49 PM ET

The shift from charity to soldier must be hard. To go from giving food, to searching for weapons is such a different mindset. Accepting the bread from Amona was an act of kindness and trust. To accept someone's food - their hospitality - is a gift in itself. What a challenge - giving out food and gifts, yet having to be ready to switch without warning to "on duty"! I am really finding these essays thought provoking, and am thankful for the sharing. God bless, Veronica from Australia
Posted by veilingon on Wed, Nov 23, 2005 1:28 AM ET

As an Iraqi-American, I thank the US for its global leadership role which is very necessary because w/o it there would be much more tyranny and oppression around. Flat Iraqi bread (khubuz tanoor) is the best, especially for making kabob sandwiches ;)
Posted by m_enwiya on Wed, Nov 23, 2005 10:04 AM ET

Cache Out

thanks for such reporting. I thought nothing was being done against this unfamous roadside bombs.
Posted by osogo_e on Thu, Nov 24, 2005 7:16 AM ET

I've been against us being there in the first place, but I applaud the men and woman who serve an ideal even higher than this war, that of serving your country. You have my prayers each and every day for your safety. May God bless you and help you deal with being away from home over Thanksgiving and Christmas. Be safe and come home soon. If I were there, I would request this kind of duty....saving lives in any war through destruction of what destroys is a noble goal for any man in any nation at any time in any condition.
Posted by riverdreamer_100 on Thu, Nov 24, 2005 9:30 AM ET

Of course, there have to be the usual comments from nitwits and enemy sympathizers that are completely beside the point, but ignore those. The story is the thing, and it is a good one. This is the kind of reportage that people saw in WWII -- real news about solid, honest soldiers doing a hard and dangerous job, not the muckracking garbage that the news media usually shovels at us nowadays.
Posted by brooksjmark on Thu, Nov 24, 2005 10:16 AM ET

You people are so ignorant. You pray to a God that you believe supports war, violence, and killing. You can read the scriptures of every major world religion and understand that God is a god of peace and love. So don't use God and religion to justify acting on the fear and hate that lives in your hearts. Because that's exactly what the terrorists do. Kinda hits close to home, don't it.
Posted by song_riter on Thu, Nov 24, 2005 11:24 AM ET

i have TWO daughters and a son in law in the army at present. NOT because of some misguided political agenda, but rather they were raised to understand freedom is not free, it's bought by blood from those who stood before us. it's not because bush jr. has a unresolved family honor issue, it's not because of some religious differences(that's MY beliefs!) but rather whats duty bound to our country, a land where even the lowliest has a voice. i support my daughters/son in law not because of a political agenda, rather i support them because thet're doing the RIGHT thing to do as AMERICANS!
Posted by tttk0012000 on Thu, Nov 24, 2005 1:56 PM ET

through all this no one has mentioned the poor farmer,whoes feilds of potatoes and onions, his food for is family and liveley hood now have two big holes in them and part of his crops are gone.
Posted by s.mccallum@rogers.com on Thu, Nov 24, 2005 4:20 PM ET

One does not have to lend full support to the war to stand up and cheer on these young men and women. Oh, yeah, there is a lot of "plus" stuff going on - there always has been when US troops can spare time from the battles. Yet, for all the good we do, I mourn the loss of over two thousand wonderful minds. Too bad war has to be. Life is so short; that we even have life is beyond our ability to understand. You'd think world leaders would contemplate where they were 100 years ago! Yeah...think about it; think about how they came to be human beings. Would not that alone make people stop and think about what their religion REALLY teaches? Guess not...and so to war. God Bless our young men and women. We miss them a lot. Bring them home soon. R.S. Hale
Posted by bobshale@prodigy.net on Thu, Nov 24, 2005 5:10 PM ET

Through the Looking Glass

Eventually the Kurds will have their own country, and it will represent yet another failure of U.S. strategic planning.
Posted by darmarlow on Mon, Nov 28, 2005 11:09 PM ET

Very encouraging to see another part of the world enjoying freedom and prosperity. Bravo!!!
Posted by dantsang8@sbcglobal.net on Mon, Nov 28, 2005 11:10
PM

Well it's good to see that the Kurds are finally getting something good out of thier long association with the US. I just hope that political expediency wont force us to screw them yet again.
Posted by admrvonbek on Tue, Nov 29, 2005 12:37 AM ET

gee they have corruption just like we do here with power...hmm gotta get the money out of government--i am sick of seeing people like randy cunningham cry when they get caught. should have thought why they were in congress in the first place--to help people-our government is so corrupt and selfish-they care not one whit about every dead american soldier or innocent iraqi. why don't all of you who post here join the military and make iraq secure and pay for the war. let us poor folk not pay for it- just the ones who want it pay-i think that is only fair. thanks kevin, you are a great writer.
Posted by kd1222 on Tue, Nov 29, 2005 1:36 AM ET

I had the good fortune to spend a week in Sulaimaniyah earlier this year. I saw the same prosperity and growth you've reported. Construction was going on everywhere. The people were friendly and hard-working. While I was there, Talibani was elected President of Iraq. The party started at 10am every morning and lasted until midnight for three days straight. The Kurds possess a unity and a (recent) history of stability that the rest of Iraq lacks. But, the prosperity comes with a price tag. A friend in Erbil came back to her apartment after a month to find the landlord had moved a family into her apartment because they would pay a higher rent. She had to pay even more to get her apartment back! Thanks for the report.
Posted by uhrgerat on Tue, Nov 29, 2005 7:59 AM ET

Kevin, was it not worth a few words providing background on the reason why "Chemical Ali" saw fit to kill 182,000 people during Anfal? That many Kurds were fighting alongside the Iranians during wartime - and using terrorism as their main tactic. Or don't you think readers should know that the US was supporting Sadaam's genocidal campaign at that time, even blocking UN efforts to criticize them... and perhaps even tactically helping Iraq. Or shouldn't we also know that Turkey (our good friend) razed even more Kurdish villages and displaced more people than Iraq ever did (again without a peep from us). Some more context that is ignored everywhere else would be a nice addition to your fine on the ground reporting.
Posted by mglesne@sbcglobal.net on Tue, Nov 29, 2005 11:49 AM ET

What is exactly what the Pacifist Movement is asking for? Do they ask for a total withdrawal of America out of world business? Being the world superpower has its downside fellows. Terrorist all over the world will target America no matter the attitude America will take. Do you believe they care about your attitude? Ask the pacifist they have just kidnapped if the terrorists do care about who they are. So what is the point? Surrender to terrorism becuase going to war will cost lives? I tell you: not going to war will cost you not only your live but everything you and your family have. GOing to war cost America 21000 servicemen. Not going to war will cost America 210 millions. Mark my words.
Posted by agcala on Thu, Dec 1, 2005 8:26 PM ET

Saddam's Shop of Horrors

Is this the same type of torture the US is encouraging and conducting in Guantanamo? This photo essay is so sad, so tragic but it means nothing if all the citizens of the world and especially the US allow poverty and greed to continue. If you can't change the world, change your neighborhood, if you can't change your neighborhood change yourself.
Posted by patrickvb007 on Tue, Nov 29, 2005 9:45 PM ET

what is the difference from what is being done in american jails and institutions other than no one bealives those who have undergone it or no one takes the pictures. If a tree falls in an empty forest and no one is around it still makes a sound but only the other trees hear it.
Posted by ninoloco1996 on Tue, Nov 29, 2005 10:05 PM ET

The only problem with this piece lies in the fact that according to the current administration, none of these acts is technically 'torture' unles it causes organ failure or death...dislocated shoulders, electrocution, stress positions, sleep deprivation...these are all interrogation tactics that have been perpetrated by American military personnel against people whose homes we have invaded. While I might not agree with Saddam or his tactics, G.W. commits very similar acts against Americans who choose to fight with the enemy in the name of 'National Security' and, I dare say, should California ever choose to side with Mexico in a war with the U.S., he would treat Californians in very much the same manner as Saddam did the Kurds. patrickvb007 is right. This is sad and horrible, but let's stop pointing our fingers at other countries and start fixing the system which is so drastically failing to live up to the ideals set on parchment for us by the framers.
Posted by wormgod138 on Tue, Nov 29, 2005 10:19 PM ET

To Patrick: no, this is not the "same type of torture." It doesn't begin to compare. Your post is an attempt to cast this falsely in terms of moral equivalence. The differences are both of degree and of intent. US interrogators are trying to stop terrorists; Saddam's torturers were trying to keep one man and his cronies in power. Severe injuries to detainees in US custody are the exception; in Saddam's custody, they were the rule and the intent at all levels. Poverty and greed will continue, despite all that we may do. To claim that this essay and these photographs will mean nothing if they do continue is absurd; if this were so, no exposure of evil could have any meaning.
Posted by uncasamus on Tue, Nov 29, 2005 10:20 PM ET

A little late in showing all the bleeding heart libs what Saddam was all about! Show them the real stuff next.
Posted by edsmidlifecrisis42 on Tue, Nov 29, 2005 10:26 PM ET

Everyone who takes word for word what the liberal media states is a fool. There is so much more going on that is good that these typhoons are not willing to share. The difference between the USA and Sadaam is that Mr. Hussein enjoyed "torturing his people". The US does it (if that's what you want to call it) to save the lives of the innocent. Before you make your assumptions based on the media, talk to one whose been over there...your military...for we are the ones that allow your free thought and speech.
Posted by soupermanus on Wed, Nov 30, 2005 1:02 AM ET

I am appalled to read many of these replies...you all are so misinformed it's ridiculous! Gee...lets remember back November, 1979...IRAN took 70 American hostages and held them for 444 days...

Iran was a SEVERE threat to the US. Of course we sided with Iraq and Saddam at the time...IRAN was the BIGGER threat to the US. Just as Hitler was the bigger threat during WWII when we sided with Stalin to defeat Nazism. Talk about rewriting history...you people need to stop reading LIBERAL NONESENSE and actually talk to people WHO LIVED THROUGH the '80's...
Posted by neat62_nana on Wed, Nov 30, 2005 1:28 AM ET

The Bushies here have demonstrated, yet again, the rank hypocrisy that is only now beginning to backfire on the Bush administration. Torture is an abomination...unless the Bush adminstration supports it. Saddam deserves to be removed...except not when the Reagan administration says otherwise. Thankfully, America is now seeing through the doublespeak and spin. How fitting and poetic that the party of moral absolutes is now dying of its own uncontrollably selfish relativism.
Posted by brandopolo on Wed, Nov 30, 2005 4:28 AM ET

Night all. Sleep well, and as your head hits the pillow be thankful you live in land where we are free to speak our minds.
Posted by spockf16 on Fri, Dec 2, 2005 4:01 AM ET

ALSO ON YAHOO!