I'm posting this because it needs to be seen...

[kimbari]

and I care. I'm not going to cut it, just scroll if you don't care. (And if you do scroll, or have any kind of problem with this, please, let me know.) I'm making it public, because everyone needs to see it. There is nothing I, nor anyone, can add to it.

Please pass it on.Suicide Was the Only Way Out of Iraq for Col. Westhusing

Comments

So Very Sad

[honeyswtrose]

Thank You Kim for Sharing this.

Truly is an eye opener..
and if you do not mind I would like to share this.

[innegrire]

Thanks for this, Kim.

I am pragmatic about these things: War is never right, but sometimes it is necessary. But some hopped up intelligence and questionable satellite imagery is NOT a reason to go to war. An unjust and inexcusable war will unfortunately lead to such awful situations.

I was strangely proud of my country over this matter. We normally support America, for while we really don't much care for the government, we like Americans. We're so similar, there are no two peoples better suited to sharing a continent. We went to Afghanistan with you, because that was right. There was solid, convicting evidence that those involved in 9/11 were there. And when Iraq was raised, we didn't ask much to gain our backing, simply show us proof that this is a real threat that needs to be stopped. And the US couldn't do it.

/mini rant.

[altitudeandwine]

I'm unsure if this will offend - as I do not exactly understand why you put it here, Kim.
I do not want to offend. But this is what I thought when I read it.

*************
I hate it when people die in Iraq. And with Sandy going there soon, I would really very much like it when the killing would stop there.

I hate it when people commit suicide in Iraq. And I would have completely understood it when the man had done so because of the brutal horror of it all. I would not survive that attack on my soul for very long.

Having said that, I feel a bit differently about this man. Because apparently he didn't commit suicide because of the horror and the killing. He did it because someone dishevelled his virgin sense of honor. And he did not know how to cope with that.

He was a West Point teacher. He was a philosophy PhD. He thought the war was good. He went there on his own volition. That's why I am analytical about the man and his death, more than that I am feeling sorry. I do feel for his family. Very much. But I do not feel half as

[kimbari]

I don't need to justify ANYTHING I put in my journal, Emma. You can read it or not, be offended or not, express that or not, I don't care. *shrug*

That said, I posted this because it is the sharpest, most searing anti-war message I've seen to date and I wanted to pass it on. There are people out there who STILL believe that Bush is good and is doing a good thing. Well, here's someone who believed that, to his detriment. And people need to know.

Perhaps you would understand if you, yourself were American. This is the first time I've had such a strong example of the cultural difference between Americans and the rest of the world. This guy is the epitome of this culture. This article illustrates what is happening to America, and all Americans.

This war is killing us all.

[altitudeandwine]

I don't need to justify ANYTHING I put in my journal, Emma.
Of course you don't.
When I wrote "I dont understand why you put it there", I meant that I didn't get what point you were trying to make, that the story seemed to be able to make many points, from where I was looking at it.

But yeah - there's definitely a difference between the US perspective and that of the rest of the world.

[kimbari]

there's definitely a difference between the US perspective and that of the rest of the world.

Which until George W. Bush wasn't (for the most part) a BAD thing.

[kimbari]

I found it on AlterNet (or was it Salon?). Nobody else seems to know about it.

A European online friend didn't think this was such a tradgedy. She said the guy had a degree in philosophy and should have known better. She wanted to kick him in the butt. I told her that I just then realized the cultural difference between the US and Europe. I TOTALLY understood what this guy was feeling. The "worldly" European couldn't fathom it.

Not to say that all Europeans think this way. Actually, I've gotten very little feedback from anyone on this post. *shrug* Whatever.

Thanks for writing. :)

[grace_om]

Finally had a chance to get back here...

If it were just this guy, it would be a terrible tragedy. But there are so, so, many suicides of active duty and returned soldiers. I heard another story recently of a young man who came home after his tour, was diagnosed with PTSD, started having suicidal thoughts, called the VA multiple times to try to get help, was told "You're 26th on the list, we can see you in a couple of weeks..." Needless to say, he didn't make it, leaving family including a baby daughter behind.

On a related note, did you happen to hear yesterday's "Fresh Air"? The interview was with an author of a new book about Blackwater", which is essentially "our" (Bush's) private mercenary army--all paid for by contract of course. They answer to no one except their fanaticcorporate bosses. Not congress, not the courts, and certainly not the voters. They are not only being used extensively in combat, but also made guest appearances in New Orleans, and are seeking a base of operations in California--you know, in case of

[kimbari]

Oh, geez. I didn't hear it. I used to listen to NPR all the time, too. Maybe I should again.

How did this country get so screwed up? :(