Sectarian Violence , Police State execution squads amidst the carnage the innocent,s women and children no matter who what and where they may be they must be protected at all cost,s !
For this is humanitarian for this is human for this is us the WEST !
Protect the women and children and my Canadian Soldiers and the American Liberators who want to protect PEACE albeit the troops are caught in this post saddam insanity they must do what is right and circle the wagons seperate the murderous thugs from the good men and protect the innocent,s God be with them and the children will remember and in a perfect world democracy will reign .
In a world like that our way of life must be grown and time and endurance can only foster and nurture our culture of tolerance peace and freedom !
P.S May our boys be safe and walk with their angels

This only makes u realise that there will be no end to violence in iraq...police and security forces are executing people...so who is going to enforce peace now?
Terrorism does not refer to a group of people. It is an ideology. One that is being passed on to the new generations by preachings of extremists like for example Abu Hamza and Abu Bakar Ba'asyir(I cant believe he was released). There is no easy way to control it. It needs global cooperation and vigilance. The present state in iraq does not seem to be leading anywhere constructive. Terrorists are killed but more extremists join them everyday. And in the bargain lives of good men and women are lost. People with families back home who worry about them every day.
I only hope the government of the United States comes up with an effective solution AND FAST!

Sectarian Violence , Police State execution squads amidst the carnage the innocent,s women and children no matter who what and where they may be they must be protected at all cost,s !
For this is humanitarian for this is human for this is us the WEST !
Protect the women and children and my Canadian Soldiers and the American Liberators who want to protect PEACE albeit the troops are caught in this post saddam insanity they must do what is right and circle the wagons seperate the murderous thugs from the good men and protect the innocent,s God be with them and the children will remember and in a perfect world democracy will reign .
In a world like that our way of life must be grown and time and endurance can only foster and nurture our culture of tolerance peace and freedom !
P.S May our boys be safe and walk with their angels

I say we apologize to Saddam, let him have his country back and get the hell out of there!

I read idiotic statements like Fla's about this war being about oil and it makes me sick. How can anyone be that dense? What an insult to our soilders and our country. Oh and Chris from Houston... news flash... they have found weapons of mass destruction.

God bless our troops and our country.

There is little doubt that Bush and Cheney lied, schemed, buried contradictory data (including the CIA analysts objections to the mobile WMD labs) to manipulate the press, the Congress, and American public opinion to allow their little ideological war. Condi is a bullshit artist of the first degree, Cheney and Wolfowitz are so conniving as to be surreal, and Bush is just a witless jackass doing more for the cause of Al-Qaeda than any radical Islamist could have hoped for...these guys have screwed up everything they have touched...

Now people are asking for a date to exit Iraq and these guys tell us no way...but there is a date...it's called November...use it, or lose it!!! Iraq is truly up to the American people...it's our call...just make it!!!

Just in case you think this is all something new...Churchill warned us of these guys...in 1927!!! It's been 80 years now...and a thousand years before that...how many more years shall our children fight for these lying, thieving, chickenhawks who are lining their pockets while our children die for nothing...

We were not misled into this war, our leaders carefully outlined the reasons it was necessary and as recent revelations show ALL of the reasons given were valid. Now the left wants to ensure that Iraq becomes another VietNam and, sadly, the press to a great extent seems to want the same end. Always tell the worst stories, never tell of the successes. It's not everyone - we actually WERE greeted as liberators, but for some reason most of the press chose not to broadcast that. Instead we have endless diatribes by leftists who are predicting gloom and doom and, but for the courage and sacrifice of our armed forces, the left would get their way and turn Iraq into another VietNam given half a chance. It's not a civil war, it's an insurgency. Look up the definitions if you don't understand that. Another thing - if the left had their way we'd be facing the sorts of horrors described in the story here - instead we've taken the fight to the enemy, which is really the only rational way to go. Contrary to popular belief, the administration does have an exit strategy. Win, then exit. The left isn't worried about winning, they would waste all the blood and treasure we've invested and just rush to exit if given the opportunity.

I think that what Richard has given us is a glimpse of what life without the rule of law brings to a nation. While some say that life under Saddam was better, they speak of the difference in the way people were killed: Saddam had torture camps and mass graves, killing hundreds at a time; thugs now kill a few at a time, but far more often. While the end result is the same (killing), the fact that the state is no longer the killing agent gives me some hope that with the establishment of a new government, they can find their way to some kind of peace. Until that day, however, thugs will continue to kill. Note, also, that the thugs will continue to kill even after the Iraqi police and security forces are stood up. That's the nature of thugs... And the police, whether Iraqi or a U.S. Soldier, will be the only ones to stand between the darkness and the light for the innocent. If we leave before that Iraqi force is fully stood up, the thugs win. It really is just that simple... Our military has found hundreds of tons of chemical and biological agents and their delivery systems. This hasn't been widely reported by the media because our military Public Affairs people (inexplicably, in my opinion) keep saying that what we've found wasn't what we thought we'd find, and therefore it isn't significant. If those weapons haven't found their way into the thugs' hands, they will, unless we get in the way and prevent it. Will it take one of those weapons killing our troops to rally all you nay-sayers? Wasn't September 11, 2001 enough?

the sad part is this happens all the time i have a son deployed in samoria the kerds are ok but they are the only ones that you can trust at all the others are rideing the fence are killing people as far as our boys being there to stop this the sector was left to the iraqis its time they stood up and we started too stand down

the way it seems, if us troops remain in iraq they will never know peace. they will always have to look over their shoulder for religious zealot and bang it will be beirut all over again.
that is how i see it, you cannot change people down deep, you may pacify them and make them keep low untill they think their opportunity has come.

Good for them. They are taking the fight back to the people who started it!

Unfortunately, it doesn't matter how much humanitarian work Marines or soldiers do, it will never be enough to makeup for the Abu Ghraib scandal, the lies that we would be greeted as liberators, the absurd threats of mushroom clouds that frightened Americans bought, "Mission Accomplished" banners behind a man in uniform who doesn't know combat and yet is the lying Commander In Chief sending good troops into an unwinnable war. People just don't understand that Iraq has been going through decades of armed conflict and they aren't ready for "American" freedom because they haven't been stable enough to own it. Giving them "American" freedom is like giving guns to toddlers. Iraq was at war with Iran from 1980-1988, invaded Kuwait, got themselves really wiped out by Operation Desert Storm, had a decade of containment by primary US forces and now is enduring Operation American Freedom; that's over 25 years of war! Anyone with half a brain and knows a little history could see they aren't ready for "American" freedom and it's just too bad that Bush's people don't really care. They just want no-bid Halliburton to make tons of money from the war at American taxpayer expense because they know Iraq won't be safe for decades. It would have made more sense for Bush to save up the military for greater and cleaner challenges such as Iran and North Korea. And yet, because Bush and no-bid Halliburton would never say that the war in Iraq can't be won, we will eventually have a draft if the world situation continues to deteriorate with North Korea and Iran (the true threats). All of this may be news to many people, but it's not. I saw this coming as a Desert Storm Marine veteran who understands that you can't end terrorism through war or any other kind of violence; the conditions that created the terrorism must be acknowledged and stopped to end the cycle. One only has to compare Ireland to all the places in the world where there is ongoing terrorism to see that you must have reasonable parties on both sides who are willing to acknowledge each other and end what doesn't work to have peace. Bush and no-bid Halliburton understand that if you want war without end all you must do is keep waging it and the profits will rise. It's too bad the good Marines are over in Iraq wondering why there is declining support for the war when they are doing as good of a job as can be expected. It's the war that's wrong, not the troops on the ground fighting it.

I read all of these comments and I shake my head. Yes! Your, right these people are uneducated and it will take years to educate them, but if we leave now we will create a worst enemy than Sadaam. They hate us becuase we failed them after the Gulf war. We need to finish the job. Oh yeah ! They will still hate us after we finish the Job.But we still need to finish the JOb

This is an Ugly War.....over 50K Iraquis killed...2400 Americans....Civil War...ya think??? our being there merely gives them an excuse to keep fighting....split the Country in two and be done with it...North and South....sound familiar?

After two deployments to the Iraqi theater of Operation I can say that a lot of people back home and especially in Europe have little to no clue as the real situation over there. The Marine who stated that the media wants only the bad news because whether we like it or not the bulk of Americans want to hear about Blood, death, and the increasing number of American killed in action. What TV station besides the Armed Forces Network actually shows the work we are doing to help the Iraqi people? In 2003 I had an Iraqi elder ask me in Umm Qasr, "when will we get the lights on?" He thought we were going to come in and re-build the country over-night. I told him, "how can we rebuild the city when other Iraqi people allow the insurgents to blow equipment up and fire on workers?" He shrugged and said in Arabic, "God willing maybe we can get it right."

The Iraqi people are unique because they seem to care to dish out murder, beheadings, and torture for reasons as old as the Crusades. Americans forget or care less about issues after 2 weeks. Look at issues like New Orleans, TX, Mississippi POST Katrina? The Islamic community remembers the wrong doings of several hundred years. I had a Iraqi Police Officer discuss with me the inter-rivals of families, religious beliefs, or grudges back before these people figured out that they had oil in their backyard.

The American servicemember goes where he or she is ordered, we look after one another and try to make it back home in one piece. You think the average soldier wants to spend a year in Iraq? I would gladly take sitting in AC and spending time with family and friends than sit at a checkpoint waiting for someone to walk up or drive up and blow themselves up. Maybe if the protesters would stop and look at the "big picture" they might actually learn something. How many actors/actress know anything on Middle Eastern history let alone know what it is like to worry if that car on Route Irish is going to open fire at you. Iraq has had the country handed to them but these people can't figure out how to look past basic problems. Too bad we can't find a huge oil reserve somewhere and just give the middle finger to Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and all the other OPEC countries. They are rich only because of the American dollar, take that away and they would be sitting back in the 14th century mentality killing each other for the same worthless sand they have been fighting for since the creation of man. Arabs hate the U.S. because of our blind support for Israel. What is 90% of the IDF ammunition, weapons, and equipment brought, acquired, given? United States. Hard to tell Arabs that the U.S. wants to assist when civilians get killed at the beach by an American made 155mm arty shell. But what Congressman/woman would dare attempt to cut back Israeli funds? They know the amount of pressure and power the Israeli lobbyist holds.

The Middle East is quick sand of religious beliefs and in the middle is the U.S. trooper. Don't give me wrong the Arab community is just as bias as the rest of the world. Who could hack the heads off unarmed prisoners then the same message say God is Great? What other group claims that they are doing God's work but they kill innocent women and kids? Maybe when the Iraqi people get off their rear and put their life on the line and take the fight to the insurgents then we can bring the troops home.

Maybe the U.S. should just let the rest of the world go to the way side, it is not like the United Nations can do anything unless the U.S. provides troops, air support, and logistics.

Maybe the news stations should run several days of in-depth coverage on why the Middle East is so messed up instead of the 90 second clip they run everynight on attacks, IEDs, sniper fire, or the suffering of the Iraqi citizen. Show more on how Iran is supporting insurgent groups with weapons, ammunition, training, and advisor role.

There is a huge gap on what the soldier in the field knows then what the American public can see.

Iraq is a minefield we have ran into and no one at the top is attempting to find the best way out.

I have a son also over there and I worry about him all the time , yet , I know my atleast getting to chat with him by instant messanger I can get a feel from him .. the life they have over there is nothing like what we have here , and even though were middle class americans , we've both up our sons to see the best in all people , as young boys we traveled to Chicago and they saw the projects , the homeless people in the tunnels of the highways . He tells me the peolpe there in Iraq are so much worst off than anyone he has seen before. So I value his opinions and insight into this war, and support him totally... I just hope he can recoup from all that he has seen there and has gone though. I pray for all of our troops , wishing them safe and well for themselves and there families.

We can't change insurgents or militias anymore than we can change the Crips or the Bloods. To many Iraqi's our presence if simply a continuation of the crusades of the Middle Ages, which we read about but they remember. We must help those who earnestly ask for it, and 2500 lives cannot have been lost in vain, but we must show them we truly intend to leave when they are strong enough, and let them take back their country by their own blood and resolve.

Since before we went into Iraq, these lyrics have rung in my head. All wars are similar lies, death and suffering are the norm. Love your children and teach them to not accept hatred of any kind. The children are the only chance we have. Thanks for the blog Richard, even bad examples are good to learn from.

'What we've got here is failure to
communicate.
Some men you just can't reach...
So, you get what we had here last week,
which is the way he wants it!
Well, he gets it!
N' I don't like it any more than you men.' *

Look at your young men fighting
Look at your women crying
Look at your young men dying
The way they've always done before

Look at the hate we're breeding
Look at the fear we're feeding
Look at the lives we're leading
The way we've always done before

My hands are tied
The billions shift from side to side
And the wars go on with brainwashed pride
For the love of God and our human rights
And all these things are swept aside
By bloody hands time can't deny
And are washed away by your genocide
And history hides the lies of our civil wars

D'you wear a black armband
When they shot the man
Who said 'Peace could last forever'
And in my first memories
They shot Kennedy
I went numb when I learned to see
So I never fell for Vietnam
We got the wall of D.C. to remind us all
That you can't trust freedom
When it's not in your hands
When everybody's fightin'
For their promised land

And
I don't need your civil war
It feeds the rich while it buries the poor
Your power hungry sellin' soldiers
In a human grocery store
Ain't that fresh
I don't need your civil war

Look at the shoes your filling
Look at the blood we're spilling
Look at the world we're killing
The way we've always done before
Look in the doubt we've wallowed
Look at the leaders we've followed
Look at the lies we've swallowed
And I don't want to hear no more

My hands are tied
For all I've seen has changed my mind
But still the wars go on as the years go by
With no love of God or human rights
'Cause all these dreams are swept aside
By bloody hands of the hypnotized
Who carry the cross of homicide
And history bears the scars of our civil wars

'WE PRACTICE SELECTIVE ANNIHILATION OF MAYORS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
FOR EXAMPLE TO CREATE A VACUUM
THEN WE FILL THAT VACUUM
AS POPULAR WAR ADVANCES
PEACE IS CLOSER' **

I don't need your civil war
It feeds the rich while it buries the poor
Your power hungry sellin' soldiers
In a human grocery store
Ain't that fresh
And I don't need your civil war
I don't need your civil war
I don't need your civil war
Your power hungry sellin' soldiers
In a human grocery store
Ain't that fresh
I don't need your civil war
I don't need one more war

I don't need one more war
Whaz so civil 'bout war anyway

What can I say, I am also a fellow Marine that fought in Iraq during the 2003 Invasion with 3/5. I agree with Corporal Duran. He has a valid point. This is a war, not a some bloods and crips crap. We are doing wonders for the people of Iraq. Little kids have a new hero, old people are starting to feel a little peace in their lives for the first time. There is more good going on then bad. Granted war is ugly and dangerous our press is are the new terrorist of America. Why is it when our Soldiers and Marines see an enemy they can't shoot first ask questions later, and risk the chance of being kidnapped and ending up on TV with a rusty sword against there throats. Our press would rather press charges against our troops for murder and side with the enemy than see our president gain any credibility. Pull the reporters out, give civilians 72 hours to vacate and pull an Iron curtain over the entire country. I have no problem going house to house and shooting people in the head to put a fire under their butts. Our job is to kill. Not guest service at Bestbuy or any of your favorite resturants. You don't like it, then don't call on us to protect our country. I am not normal in you're eyes but I cannot stand serving you, kissing your ass or else for a living. That is why I am in the military. Has nothing to do with politics. God Bless our nation. Only a few like me will stand up and fight. Chip Reid of MSNBC, thank you for reporting on our unit. Also thank you for letting me call my daughter on you're satelite phone during the initial war invasion. God Bless.

Well.... I do not understand why these poor bastards feel proud? Because of killing another helpless human being? How would they feel 5 seconds before being shot in the head? I bet they would be begging for their life.
I'm afraid that even though there are lot of innocent people there is no other answer but to kill all of them.
I know you going to think this is crazy... but! Hey! This is how Saddam ruled them. He just killed everyone who opposed the law. When US invaded... we took that "law" that held them in place and we removed it.

And,,,Now they want to pass the olive branch to these (insurgents) and forgive them for attacking Americans who went there to get freedom for them. GO ahead and forgive them, but ask them to forgive the American soldiers who went to the houses that they were fired upon from and killed everyone there (one way to be sure you got the guilty one) IF THE INSURGENTS ARE FORGIVEN, THEY SHOULD ALSO BE REQUIRED TO FORGIVE THE FORCES WHO ARE FIGHTING TO GIVE IRAQ THEIR FREEDOM!

It is sad that people have no respect for humanity anymore. It doesn't matter if it is in Iraq, the United States, Africa, or wherever none of us will live forever!
Life is so short to be killing each other like we do, but we keep on doing it. It seems so simple, take one day and not pick up a gun. Maybe it will turn into two, who knows maybe it will turn into a lifetime. Just imagine how long a person could live if only more people would subcribed the theory that violence is not the answer?

if the offspring of some of our politicians who said lets invade iraq were to be shipped over there with some of these young soldiers, men and women who are facing these criminals would an american pullout be a little faster.you will never see headlines that say pfc so&so Bush was kidnapped at a checkpoint and was later found butchered in an alley!!

During WW II THE gI'S THOUGHT THE ARABS WERE WORTHLESS PIECES OF ECREMENT LOOKS LIKE TIMES HAVE CHANGED BUT THESE PEOPLE NEVER WILL.hOLY wAR MY FREINDS WE NEED TO GO mONGOLIAN ON THESE PEOPLE SACK THE CITIES AND CREATE A STENCH OF DETH SO GREAT THAT THEY WILL NEVER AGAIN DESIRE TO KILL.