Wait.. are these the troops I was supposed to be supporting? Or was is just hte 'healthy' ones who chose a job who's primary description was to kill. I mean lets be honest, there was no draft, and this isn't 1942. So, for those that don't get it... the American Empire is done. These pictures will have more of an effect on the balance of power, and future politcs than September 11th. The amazing thing is how deep this goes, and how little, it seems from here, that the government understands how bad this really is. Even a completely unpresidented (heh) quasi apology is so completely besides the point. This isn't about individuals, as much as the machine always blames its failures on the individuals, this is about a system that fosters a culture of actions without consequences. How could a bunch of kids who kill for money (and a bunch of private contractors who flourish on misery), fly half way across the world to start a war based on total, and blatant lies, do anything less than this? The particular nature of these photos (and apparently the videos put the stills to shame) reveals a deeply troubled national psyche. This is the Bush America. This is our America. This is what we have become. This is what becomes of all countries that fall in love with the idea of war.
Why am I ranting here about this? Because here in Lomié, at the end of the road, and again the end of that one, where people don't care about politics. People are turning against the US. Americans were gods here. Gods of light and power. The power now has limits, and the light has developed a sickly reddish hue.
Posted by mrsclean at May 7, 2004 05:56 AMit is horrifying - on every level - in so many ways.
sentence #2 / war is a force that gives us meaning /blatant book plug/ it's on the way
and the online headlines on the NYT site:
Rumsfeld Accepts Blame and Offers Apology in Abuse
G.I.'s Kill Scores of Militia Forces in 3 Iraqi Cities
A Giddy Heartland Gives Bush Warmth Missing in the Beltway
A Rent-Free Place, if You Can Find a Spot to Park
.....I wish I was kidding.
xo-charlene
Posted by: charlene at May 8, 2004 09:24 AMWhat amazes me is that there are still many people (many of them very intelligent people, contrary to what some may like to think) who think Bush is doing a good job and America is doing the right thing. They somehow believe that this is different from our history and that we are not creating a new cycle of violence. I used to think this was as bad as the 80's all over again, but I'm beginning to feel that this is much worse. I'm trying not to be cynical (because that won't heal our divides), but it is very difficult. They degree of myopia in America is astounding.
Despite being cold here, it has been nice to be in Toronto for the last two weeks. I feel like I'm on the other side of the fence looking back into the insane asylum (only it isn't an asylum and they have big guns). If I didn't have San Francisco to live in, life would be very difficult these days. :)
Posted by: locke at May 8, 2004 01:27 PMafter the 911 attacks, much of the response that I heard in this country was "we thought we were so safe". I always thought: "speak for yourself, beanhead..."- but people still think that way. i am not looking forward to the endless repercussions of what is going down these days- on all sides. Yikes.
Posted by: eeno at May 11, 2004 08:17 AM