Just curious. Truthout reports as many as 50-80 civilians, many of them women and children, may have been killed in Afghanistan as a result of air support bombing of a village.
Most can agree a suicide bomber strapping explosives around his or her waist, venturing out in public to board a bus, or visit a crowded marketplace where s/he then detonates himself, killing many innocent bystanders, is committing an act of terrorism.
But I'm just curious: What's the difference between that and strapping an F-15 around your waist and indiscriminately incinerating women and little kids?
It's time we quit fishing with dynamite and get the fuck home.
But not to worry. That's not gonna happen. As one British officer in Afghanistan said, "Every civilian dead means five new Taliban."
To that Dada would add, "And every new Taliban dead means 5, 10, or 15 more civilians must die at the hands of a terrorist with an F-15 strapped around his middle."
(And we, Homo sapiens, consider ourselves the top of the food chain? You have got to be kidding. We're nothing more than an evolutionary dead end!)
5 comments:
Afghanistan-- the other war. We hardly ever hear about Afghanistan and the Government goes through great pains to split the casualty numbers to manipulate the data- to make it look better.
But I rmember back to the shockingly awful, shock & awe bombings- Rumsfeld at the podium, holding a press conference, announcing the pinpoint precision of the US modern explosives. Hell- we even had glimpses of the explosions. They told us one thing, but anyone could see- there was no way that could drop that much explosive power & know exactly what or who they were hitting. Akin to Bush telling us over & over that "we are making progress", as the death toll soars. IF by "progress" he meant total failure, than yes... that was an accurate assessment. I do believe people reach a breaking point- you kill enough innocent people, and more "terrorists" are born. After all war is just terrorism with a bigger budget.
On a totally unrelated note- our family went to see SICKO today (Michael Moores new film). Let's just say he airs the US dirty laundry re our healthcare situation (I won't even call it a system). It's an excellent film.
Ah yes, "Shock and Awe!" What a great day of entertainment that was as we were told of "smart bombs" being sent by smart asses. And "collateral damage"? Those were just the dumb-asses who weren't bright enough to get out of the way of the smart bombs.
And, "on a totally unrelated note" - our family couldn't go see SICKO. That's because we're in a secondary market apparently. SICKO doesn't arrive here until the Fourth, but thanks for the "review"...looking forward to it.
me too, me too (waiting for SICKO). I endured an hour of Larry-mysuspendersaresotighttheyarepushingmytesticlesuptomyshoulders-King just to hear MM talk about it. I'm a dedicated fan.
Re: "evolutionary dead end" ... I worry about the next species in line for top of the food chain. Will they become as batshitinsane as the peculiar, but doomed, homo sap? Let's not leave any artillary behind to tempt them. ~~ D.K.
d.k. - For the past twenty-something years now I've been searching for the perfect words to describe Messr. King. Thanks to you my search is over.
You have a great talent with words, i.e., "Are you batshitinsane?" I can't wait to use that...maybe this afternoon when I take that one to Las Cruces with me and we hit the liberally populated microbrew pub there.
Scathing new rendition of the National Anthem
(WARNING: If you are a flag waving patriot who likes the National Anthem- don't bother to read this rendition) Original & revised lyrics included:
To me, there is not much to celebrate, this 4th of July. Indictments, subpoenas, violations of International law, the mangling of the US Constitution, global meltdown. Claiming executive privilege in refusing to turn over documents, or when that does not work, denying being a part of the executive branch. Lies, innuendos, fabrications that lead this country into the invasion & occupation of a soverign nation. Shall we call them bloody lies?
I have never liked the national anthem- the lyrics are difficult, and violent, so here is the original & scathing revised edition:
Original:
Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight'
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming.
And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore dimly seen, thro' the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream;
'Tis the star-spangled banner: oh, long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash'd out their foul footstep's pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Oh, thus be it ever when free men shall stand,
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation;
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Power that has made and preserved us as a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust";
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Revised Version:
Oh, say, can you see, the light,
What so sadly we hailed at the Constitution's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the fabricated fight'
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming.
And the rockets red glare, shock & awe bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our illegal occupation was still there.
Oh, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the depressed, and the home of the grave?
On the shore dimly seen, thro' the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses the truth?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory dejected, now shines on the stream;
'Tis the star-spangled banner: oh, long has it been Made in China
O'er the land of the oppressed and the home of the grave.
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
War profiteering should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash'd out their foul footstep's pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in shame doth wave
O'er the land of the patriot act and the home of the corrupt.
Oh, thus be it ever when free men shall profit,
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation;
Cursed with quagmire and war, be damned
Abuse of Power that has strangled us as a nation.
Then Impeach we must, when our cause is just,
And this be our motto: "Make it stop";
And the star-spangled banner in shame shall wave
O'er the land of confusion and the home of the apathetic.
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