I received these two pictures via email at work. I think they are very telling and are a great example of who we are (or should be) as a people.

I'm not sure where the pictures came from, but they definitely show a very scared little boy who runs to seek shelter and safety in the only place he knows how. Perhaps the most amazing fact is that despite all of the chaos and turmoil of what is going on in the background, the US Amy soldier still stands tall and provides the needed protection to the child.

If only we were all as brave and steadfast as the soldier in the pictures.

Those pictures are amazing. Our soldiers are doing great work out there!!

Canto,

What you fail to realize is the fact that there would be no need for the "scared little boy" to run and hide behind the "brave and steadfast" soldier if it wasn't for the fact that we invaded their country to begin with.

This glorification of war and battle that you are promoting is what got us into this mess in Iraq to begin with.

You couldn't be further from the truth. Your statements are incorrect.

You couldn't be further from the truth. Your statements are incorrect.

*** this comment was not directed at the original poster.

Could you be a little more specific than "You couldn't be further from the truth. Your statements are incorrect."

How's this for specifics.

Under Saddam Hussein if he (or any of his best buddies, generals or sons) didn't like you. You and your family (cousins, grandparents, aunts/uncles, wife, children, etc) would be hauled away to a nice quiet room. They would then tie you up to the wall facing the center of the room. Then they would rape your wife, your daughters (as young as 2 years old) and drill holes into the knee caps of your grandparents and other relatives. They would then execute (by various means) all your relatives in front of you...except for your wife and kids.

Your wife and kids (after being raped by a train of Iraqi special police) would have their limbs sawed off, and then have their skin peeled away from their faces...and then let to scream and bleed until they died.

Then the special police would start the real 'fun' with you.

And that is just what they did to people they didn't really care for. Then they dealt with soldiers who fled from duty, people who couldn't pay taxes or fines, people who had things that the higher-ups wanted.

Then if you happen to be female you could be randomly plucked off the street by any number of soldiers, police, or government officials and treated much like the above 'specifics'.

Or you could be unlucky enough to be a Kurd living in a northern city...then they would just drop bombs of Sarin and Mustard gas on you while you watched your children puke up their own internal organs, while your's dissolved inside your throat....for protesting the government.

It seems to me that American soldiers sound at least marginally better than the Saddam regime. Regardless of the 'why' we started the war. Getting rid of that regime was a noble cause, and eventually when we leave Iraq, and if it does mature into even a shadow of Rule of Law Democracy...the world WILL be a better place for it.

**this post isn't directed at anyone...just informing...