One person claiming to be a soldier, who would not reveal his name or unit, defended his decision to post pictures of the dead, which he says he did after returning from a tour of duty. “I had just finished watching the beheading of one of our contractors that was taken hostage over in Iraq,” he said via e-mail. “I figured since that was all over the Web, maybe these pictures would make some potential suicide bomber think twice after seeing what happens AFTER you pull the pin.

“What you interpret [as] maliciousness and bravado may be how [soldiers] react to situations where they almost die or they just saw their buddy get killed,” he continued. “I will not defend the people who have posted pictures of dead, innocent Iraqis, but in my opinion, the insurgents/terrorists that try to kill us and end up getting killed in return have absolutely no rights once they are dead.

“Obviously these postings do not help our public image at all,” the soldier concluded. “However, I believe the US has been far too concerned about our public image as of late. ... We need to take a much harsher stand against these Islamic fundamentalists and stop giving them the royal American treatment. They need to be taught a lesson, a lesson hard enough that they will think twice before waging a jihad against us.”

http://www.eastbayexpress.com/Issues/2005-09-21/news/news.html

I am not going to say that the comments regarding maliciousness and bravado in the above quote are incorrect.  It is true, these soldiers are in a situation that life has not prepared them for and studies have shown that in situations of extreme stress we react in ways that many would consider inappropriate (Stanley Milgram's famous studies on the influence of authority is a good place to start looking if you are intersted) but that concludes the calm and rational portion of this entry.  Up next, the one and only time I have ever even considered using excessive profanity on this site (which I will refrain from doing because I think it is important that my little sister be able to sit at my computer and read what I have written, gather an understanding of the situation, see past my rage and form her own opinion without feeling as if she is being bullied by my use of profanity). 

I do not think there is an individual out there who can say that I have ever really been supportive of America or American decisions.  Looking back through many of my old posts I have lambasted America for many decisions and policies but nothing I have ever come across before today has caused the reaction I had today.  I would like to apologize in advance to those Americans who are not the stereotypical Americans that are often portrayed (for I fear I may make a statement or two that comes off as lumping all Americans as stupid, arrogant, insignificant pricks who think too highly of themselves and treat the rest of the world as their playground and all other individuals as their toys).  I would also like to apologize in case this becomes nonsensical (as sometimes rage causes that in me). 

That being said ...     

Where does an individual who is a part of an organization that illegally entered someone else's country with the purpose of killing get off calling anyone else a terrorist?  News flash: YOU are a terrorist.  You are involved in a war that recent reports indicate is actually a religious war; a crusade.  You are not involved in a war against terrorism, you are in a war that supports terrorism by those who have the power to be terrorists, not by those who are in a minority.  Where is the website devoted to pictures of dead American soldiers with Islamics soldiers laughing over the bodies?  Who are these dead insurgents/terrorists trying to kill you that the photos are of?  Those individuals who are fighting for their country, the country that you have entered illegally?  The men and woman who are trying to protect their families from the American terrorists who are attacking them?  WHO ARE THESE TERRORISTS YOU ARE REFERRING TO because they clearly cannot be the IRAQI SOLDIERS protecting their country?  When do we stop giving the American Fundamentalists the ROYAL AMERICAN TREATMENT?  Where is the lesson that will teach the Americans to stop waging their guns against everyone else?  Where is the superpower who will step up and invade America to rid them of the imminent threat that weapons of mass destruction pose ... I mean because they have the knowledge to create weapons of mass destruction ... I mean ...? 

Although I find it disgraceful that photos of the slaughtered Iraqi soldiers have made it online it is more the fact that they are being bartered with to get access to porn that causes me to react so violently to this.  It is unfortunate that anything like this is taking place, but hopefully the comments within the article will help people see how brainwashed many Americans are and how much of a disservice the Bush administration is doing to the American reputation.  I would tell you Americans who disagree with Bush to revolt but you may then become the insurgents who need to be taught a harsh lesson.    

Let me leave you with a poem that I wish the soldier who made the aforementioned comments would read:

The Man He Killed

Poem lyrics of The Man He Killed by Thomas Hardy.

Had he and I but met
By some old ancient inn,
We should have set us down to wet
Right many a nipperkin!

But ranged as infantry,
And staring face to face,
I shot at him as he at me,
And killed him in his place.

I shot him dead because--
Because he was my foe,
Just so: my foe of course he was;
That's clear enough; although

He thought he'd 'list, perhaps,
Off-hand like--just as I--
Was out of work--had sold his traps--
No other reason why.

Yes; quaint and curious war is!
You shoot a fellow down
You'd treat, if met where any bar is,
Or help to half a crown.

PLEASE take a look at the article from which the quote at the top of my page comes from.  If what you read  there impacts you in anyway write about it for as many people as possible need to read this article.  Thanks to Fight the Power for his entry about this article that brought it to my attention.