An interesting use of the recently released Google Maps API is the Iraq War Casualties Map. It shows, by increments of 30, the homeplaces and details of the American casualties of the Iraq War. Pretty compelling.
President Bush just made a visit near our neck of the woods in North Carolina. To be honest, I actually approve of his current stance which is surprising. I was never supportive in commencing hostilities, but now that we’ve gone in there and turned things on their head I firmly believe that we owe it to those people to help them make things right. For that I applaud Bush for not kowtowing to demands to set timetables, or to tuck our tail between our legs and get out immediately.
You know the people I’ve lost any semblance of respect for? They’re not the ones that supported the war and still support it. They’re not the ones who never did. It’s those folks on both sides of the aisle that supported it in the beginning and now are changing their minds and pressuring for getting our troops back home. Folks, we went in there and beat the shit out of the place, completely changed the dynamic — some say for better, some for worse but regardless it’s unrecognizable from what it once was — and it’s our duty to help them get back on their feet.
Anyone within those percentage points on the daily news polls that switched from “hell yes, let’s bomb them into the stone age” to “you mean our people might die too? Let’s bolt” should be ashamed. I suppose I should have some sympathy for those of you who supported the war based on assertions that haven’t necessarily proven true but I don’t. The simple fact is, regardless of the reason we’re in there — whether you believe there were those yummy WMDs hiding somewhere, whether you believe Hussein was a bad, bad man and needed taking out, or whether you bought into the Bush mind-control ray linking Iraq and the September 11th attacks — it would be a gross injustice to leave now with that country in the state it’s in. Sorry, war is not all news clips of mighty US bombers nailing bunkers with TV-guided munitions.
Bush’s speech at Fort Bragg was a bit disconcerting. I don’t think he necessarily got the reception he was looking for from his audience of soldiers. This was no USO visit with cheering crowds and standing ovations. These people were soberly listening and listening carefully. When he talked of whether the sacrifice was worth it I really had to wonder what was going through those peoples’ heads.
I’m continually amazed at how effective it has been for him to logically and straightforwardly mention Iraq, Osama Bin Laden, and the September 11th attacks in one sentence but I suppose I shouldn’t be. It works for the majority of Americans. I’ve mentioned it before (actually a couple of times) and it still holds true so I suppose I should stop being so damned astonished when people keep up the status quo. And I can’t blame Bush for continuing to use it as a political device amidst slumping approval ratings… you use the tools that you have.
well, he is their Commander-In-Chief. Military protocol frowns upon them interrupting a commanding officer’s speech with applause and “you da’ man!!!!!111″ chants.
CF, my dear friend, you are making the assumption that by staying over there we can “help them get back on their feet”.
Just how many Abu Ghraib’s, extraordinary renditions, “terrorist” families killed at “checkpoints” and unaccounted billions lost by Helliburton will it take to get them back on their feet?
Oh shit, now you got me started.
Sooo, how’s the volleyball? — you got me a champions shirt?