[SOC] Iraq, the war, et al: Part 1 of 2

[Mike Besemer (KG8L/4)]

Okay guys... the darn server keeps rejecting my message for being too large,
so let me try this in 2 parts...

Certainly any loss of human life is tragic, and to simply label these types
of events 'collateral damage' completely dehumanizes their loss.  What has
happened to Ian's friends is a terrible and unfortunate thing and I mourn
their loss, just as I mourn the loss of the thousands who died on September
11th, the loss of the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines who have fought
bravely since (and before) that terrible day, and the loss of the thousands
of innocent Iraqi citizens at the hands of an evil dictator.

I, for one, wish there was a way to do what needed to be done in that part
of the world without causing pain, suffering, or loss of life to anyone not
directly involved with the heinous crimes that have occurred in Iraq (among
other places).  Unfortunately the world we live in is far from perfect and
in any conflict of this nature innocent people will be affected.

WMD notwithstanding (and I still believe WMD will be discovered eventually),
the human rights violations committed by Saddam and his henchmen more than
justify the events of the past several months.  If you've not been to that
part of the world (and yes... I HAVE been there) it's not really possible to
understand the suffering that those people have had to withstand.  The Iraqi
people are incredibly intelligent and proud, but years of oppression by the
government has they so afraid and brainwashed that it's going to be very
difficult for them to relearn to govern themselves.

Part 2 follows:

Mike
KG8L