From a Friend

I wrote a story last night about people mourning their victims in Sadr City: a child wounded by shrapnel from a U.S. military air strike, a man who lost his wife and daughter. I explained that the U.S. military was going after armed people in the area and these people were not targeted, but victims caught in this battle.

But they were still wounded or killed and their families blamed the U.S. military. It is important to tell that story.

But a conversation with a friend in the military moved me. He read the story with sadness and some outrage. The two men in the piece who said they were shot by a U.S. sniper may very well have been hit by a stray bullet, he said.

When he read that Haider Jassim, a four-year-old boy, was wounded he was moved to tears. He thought of his own child that he had to leave behind to serve in Iraq.

But he also knows how difficult it is to make the decision on whether to strike or not to strike. Sadr City is a crowded urban area and militants use rooftops and backyards to fight the U.S. military and fire rockets and mortars that kill both Americans and Iraqis.

The Mahdi Army, a militia who has been blamed for much of the sectarian violence in Iraq in the past two years, feel it is their right to resist the occupation.

"Why are they putting their families and friends and neighbors in danger," he asked me. "Why are they shooting from rooftops of civilian buildings?"

In an email he made a valid point.

"I think you know that I am personally saddened to read about the innocent victims of war - particularly children. I am a father myself and can't help but think of my own little boy," he wrote in an email. "I am a U.S. serviceman and I know that our troops do not fire indiscriminately...I'm sure that the men that were firing mortars and rockets from rooftops knew that they were endangering those who lived in those buildings. These people often put others in danger by their actions. If we are being fired upon, we must fire back. We have a right and an obligation to protect ourselves and our troops. I would hate to be the company commander that has to make those life and death decisions every day."

The point of the piece today was to show the general anger and sadness felt in Sadr City. Today our bureau will tell another story and tomorrow another. Everyone of them will anger someone, everyone will shine a light on a different struggle in this war.

Comments

[realitybites]

According to the Winter Soldier testimony, which was blacked out by all corporate press in the U.S., including McClatchy, free fire zones are now a reality in Iraq - meaning that commanders will tell their troops to "shoot anything that moves." it's Vietnam all over again - complete with the lies and propaganda put out by military public relations officers.

The Winter Soldier testimonials are at http://therealnews.com/web/index.php?thisepisode=127

Shame on the U.S. press for refusing to cover that story!

[dwg]

Weak argument from U.S. servicemember. I don't think one should blame urban militias/insurgents for injuries due to crossfire (in which innocents are maimed or killed). If there was no occupying force to shoot at, or hide from - there would be no reason for the crossfire and strays.
It's extremely difficult to buy the U.S. military perspective that we should blame an urban insurgent force that has no planes, tanks, helicopters to counter massive U.S. military presence.
They need to get real.

[Susan - NC]

"If we are being fired upon, we must fire back. We have a right and an obligation to protect ourselves and our troops."

Now, just imagine that coming out of the mouths of Russian troops that were sitting all over the USA.

And the Winter Soldier hearings held last month pretty much prove that indiscriminate fire happens a lot. I agree with other posters - shame on the US media for not covering that event! SHAME!

[Susan - NC]

"If we are being fired upon, we must fire back. We have a right and an obligation to protect ourselves and our troops."

Now, just imagine that coming out of the mouths of Russian troops that were sitting all over the USA.

And the Winter Soldier hearings held last month pretty much prove that indiscriminate fire happens a lot. I agree with other posters - shame on the US media for not covering that event! SHAME!

[Susan - NC]

Invading a country that did not attack or threaten the invaders is a war of aggression. This was true for the Nazis going into Poland, France, other countries. It was true of the US going into Iraq. That makes this invasion of Iraq, and everything that happened afterwards, a WAR CRIME.

And the lies that we are doing it to 'free' the Iraqi people make as much sense as Hitler's claim to 'free' the people of Austria or Saddam's claim to 'free' the people of Kuwait.

This war was started to control the resources (oil) and Hitler's war against Poland was started to control the resources (land) too.

To any Americans reading this - you need to stop participating in, and funding, a WAR CRIME.

[frank bonas jr]

Some of the Winter Soldier testimony was covered by democracynow.org with Amy Goodman.

[frank bonas jr]

I love the "we have a right to protect ourselves" line. As one of the vets said, we would carry AK-47's, shovels, etc. just in case we killed an innocent civilian. We could then plant it on him and say he was an insurgent. Or the one where we were told to shell a building that supposedly housed insurgents. So we fired mortor rounds into the town and weren't sure what we hit, or who we killed.

If you don't know who you're shooting at, or have a clean shot, you don't take it. You pull back until you're sure.

[Bob Gaines]

Ms. Fadel - I have really appreciated your clear-sighted reporting, which brings home the human costs of war. I hope you will continue to present what you learn about both the Iraqi civilians and the US soldiers.

Your last two posts help make clear that, however well-intentioned, our soldiers are occupiers in a foreign land, with all the tragic results that entails.

[Proud Wife of an American Soldier]

For four long months, my Husband, an American Army Soldier has been stationed in Iraq. Communications with him suggest to me that he was a part of these so called "attacks" that took place in the region of Sadr City last week. As the wife and mother of his children, I have been on the edge of my seat waiting to hear news of the safe return of him, and his fellow soldiers. Upon returning to his camp, he was able to slip in a quick phone call, to let his loved ones here know that all soldiers were safe and accounted for, a response that I pray to hear each and every day he is gone. I know that there will be casualties, and that does not make the death toll right or fair, but to say that innocents are gunned down in the streets by American Sniper fire is wrong and misleading. My husband, a Christian, and a good man, a loyal husband, and wonderful father, the love of my life, is in Iraq to help people. He has sacrificed his freedom, his family, and his time to help others. This American soldier was so happy to be able to tell me that many of the former residents of Sadr City have returned to their homes, and neighborhoods. "They (the iraqi people) are so happy that we are here to rid their neighborhoods of the "gangs" that have taken over. They are returning home," he commented to me over the phone. I am proud of him, I love him, and I know that whatever he is doing it is good.

[dwg]

Torquemada was a Christian too.

[dwg]

For the uninitiated on Torquemada's guide on how to do good as a Christian - with special regard to our crypto-Muslim "enemies":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom%C3%A1s_de_Torquemada

I believe we've been down this path before.

[Susan]

I know that if there were heavily armed men in my neighborhood, I would tell them whatever I think they want to hear...... which would likely not be the truth.

The US forces certainly did not get rid of the "gangs" in Iraq, if by that you are talking about Sadr and the Mahdi army. They are going nowhere because they are Iraq.

There may be US soldiers who think they are in Iraq to "help" but the reality is ==== they have destroyed the place.

[James Mason]

What is the objective of this war? Israel wanted American boots on the ground and they got them. Now what they want is never-ending, constant combat between Americans and the Arabs. Big dumb America is being cynically used by "our best friends in the middle-east." If we'd invaded Israel instead of Iraq, this war would be over.

[SqueakyRat]

The fact is that if you fire on a building full of civilians, even you are being fired at yourself, you are firing indiscriminately.

[Proud Wife of an American Soldier]

First I would like to acknowledge all the anti-American responses my comment received, thank you, your support of the American lives that are in Iraq is greatly appreciated. I'm so glad that you aren't over there defending your beautiful, free country, or trying to help make another place, which was so great to begin with, better. I love how you sit in your beautiful American homes, drive your big American SUVs, spend your "hard" earned American cash, and still find the time to be anti-American. That's what you call freedom. I'm sure that anyone who openly opposes the militia of Al-Sadr, is listened to with open arms and not shot down immediately. Oh, and anyone killed by the sadrists' lack of precision gunmanship, well I guess that wouldn't be categorized as "indiscriminant." No, let's just blame the trained American snipers, that's right, they were taught to do these things. They don't have families at home, or feelings for that matter. Love the history lesson too, here and now, in 2008, we are referenced to someone who did something in 1498? Oh, they weren't crazy back then, no they just burned and decapitated people. Wow, maybe I should let my husband know that they are going about this the wrong way. "Off with his head!" The other problem with this reference is the "crypto-muslim enemy" part. No one ever said that the Muslim people are our enemies. They are people, too. There is one other issue to address. My husband is a commander. He has never, never issued a command to his soldiers to "shoot anything that moves." Anyone who could possible believe this trash, is no better than the rumor itself. Having to sit with a grieving widow for twenty-four hours has opened my eyes to the kind of malicious lies found on the internet. But I'm sure you think her husband, and his beautiful American family deserves what they are dealing with now.

[Matt]

It is not the Mahadi Army's fault that they do not have tanks or helicopters, but it is also not the American soldiers' fault that they must fight in this city so far from their homeland. The forces and decisions which brought this state about are much bigger; the individual can only try and play his or her role well and morally.

Sadly, clashes and civilian deaths in Thoura district are nothing new, and the causes bringing them about are systemic.

[Susan - NC]

I fail to see how wanting our troops to fight, kill and die in an illegal war of aggression and occupation is somehow PRO-American. And wanting them to come home and stop fighting, killing and dying for a war of aggression and occupation is somehow ANTI-American. I think of it as "morality combined with common sense" myself.

Interesting that it is not the American troops fault that they are fighting in a city so far from home. I thought they volunteered to be in the US military. I thought the Nuremberg Principles and the US Constitution gave them the obligation to refuse illegal orders.

Oh, and Proud Wife, there are videos on the internet of US commanders telling US troops when they were going into Fallujah that it was a free-fire zone, and everyone there was a combatant. But then, you probably think the family with six kids and no car and no money should have left when they were told, even if they had no where to go. Entire soccer fields and playgrounds have been turned into mass graves in Iraq, and many of those graves are very tiny.

[Susan - NC]

I fail to see how wanting our troops to fight, kill and die in an illegal war of aggression and occupation is somehow PRO-American. And wanting them to come home and stop fighting, killing and dying for a war of aggression and occupation is somehow ANTI-American. I think of it as "morality combined with common sense" myself.

Interesting that it is not the American troops fault that they are fighting in a city so far from home. I thought they volunteered to be in the US military. I thought the Nuremberg Principles and the US Constitution gave them the obligation to refuse illegal orders.

Oh, and Proud Wife, there are videos on the internet of US commanders telling US troops when they were going into Fallujah that it was a free-fire zone, and everyone there was a combatant. But then, you probably think the family with six kids and no car and no money should have left when they were told, even if they had no where to go. Entire soccer fields and playgrounds have been turned into mass graves in Iraq, and many of those graves are very tiny.

[dwg]

Proud Wife, I am sure there are many honorable men and women serving in Iraq. But I agree with Susan in NC that it is a VOLUNTEER army and that soldiers are under obligation under international law to refuse illegal orders AND not to conduct torture. These are laws that the U.S. helped establish during the Nuremburg Trials.

SOME troops have been LESS than honorable and worse, they have been commanded by less than honorable commanders - including the entire chain of CIVILIAN leaders at the Pentagon and in the Whitehouse. Let's forget about honor... lets talk about CRIMINAL behavior. I refer you to this month's issue of Vanity Fair and the article titled "Green Light."

I might ask, how do YOU know what kind of orders are being given in the heat of a combat zone?

Do you think the wives of German officers in Occupied Poland during WWII KNEW their husbands were ordering civilians to line up beside their graves?

Probably not.

As to using the lessons of history -- do you think that human nature has changed so very much since 1438? Why then do so many Christians follow the teachings of Christ from oh say.... 30 BC?

[dwg]

Oh and as to references to "crypto-islamic enemies"

Try this on for size (from the LA Times):

General Casts War in Religious Terms
The top soldier assigned to track down Bin Laden and Hussein is an evangelical Christian who speaks publicly of 'the army of God.'

by Richard T. Cooper

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon has assigned the task of tracking down and eliminating Osama bin Laden, Saddam Hussein and other high-profile targets to an Army general who sees the war on terrorism as a clash between Judeo-Christian values and Satan.

Lt. Gen. William G. "Jerry" Boykin, the new deputy undersecretary of Defense for intelligence, is a much-decorated and twice-wounded veteran of covert military operations. From the bloody 1993 clash with Muslim warlords in Somalia chronicled in "Black Hawk Down" and the hunt for Colombian drug czar Pablo Escobar to the ill-fated attempt to rescue American hostages in Iran in 1980, Boykin was in the thick of things.

William G. "Jerry" Boykin

I knew my God was bigger than his. I knew that my God was a real God and his was an idol.

Lt. Gen. William G. ‘Jerry’ Boykin, speaking about battle with a Muslim warlord

Yet the former commander and 13-year veteran of the Army's top-secret Delta Force is also an outspoken evangelical Christian who appeared in dress uniform and polished jump boots before a religious group in Oregon in June to declare that radical Islamists hated the United States "because we're a Christian nation, because our foundation and our roots are Judeo-Christian ... and the enemy is a guy named Satan."

Discussing the battle against a Muslim warlord in Somalia, Boykin told another audience, "I knew my God was bigger than his. I knew that my God was a real God and his was an idol."

"We in the army of God, in the house of God, kingdom of God have been raised for such a time as this," Boykin said last year.
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Oh and uh... Proud Wife: I use public transportation, rent my home and thank you VERY much I do work very hard for the good life I have. A "beautiful America" is something I'd like to share with all those who have given up their freedom and rights to due process in Guantanamo; to the undocumented immigrants locked up across this country in county detention centers with no representation, who are summarily deported with no access to Constitutional protections. I'd like to share my beautiful American life with any of the other individuals who, in the past 6 years, have lost the most fundamental right - the right to petition the government for a Writ of of Habeas Corpus.
It's not exactly the "beautiful America" that *I* once knew and loved anymore. REAL America lovers would like to put us back on the path of liberty, justice the pursuit of happiness - for ALL human beings.

[Proud Wife of an American Soldier]

All I would like to say is, if America is not a place that you are proud to live in, you are free to leave. At any time. So, pack your bags. I know you can get a one way flight to Iraq anytime, oh, and when you get there, make sure you look for my husband, because I'll let him know that you believe they are practicing "shoot to kill."

[Proud Wife of an American Soldier]

Thank you for comparing all Christian soldiers in Iraq to one man. That is not stereotypical, and I know everyone is exactly the same. Oh, in that case, I'm sure you are no different or individual than any other American, and if the war on terror ever crosses onto American soil, I sure hope the occupying army treats you like every body else.

[Proud Wife of an American Soldier]

One last thing, would you like to know how I know what kind of orders my husband gives, even in the heat of combat? I'll tell you, because my husband is a better man than anyone you have ever associated yourself with. And I know this because I am married to him, I have loved him, and I have seen into his soul. Oh yeah, and because I felt his heartbreak from 7,203 miles away when he lost his fellow soldier, one of his brothers. And I'm sure you will have an equally hateful retort for me, but I am happy to say that I couldn't give a shit. I know that my heart is right, I pray everyday that there are no more deaths in Iraq on both sides.

[dancewater]

"All I would like to say is, if America is not a place that you are proud to live in, you are free to leave."

Actually, that's not true anymore. Some Code Pink women went to Canada, just to visit, and were not allowed in - because the FBI had put them on a "terrorist" list or something. These women had gotten arrested before - for non-violent civil disobedience against this illegal war and occupation. Seems like those would be the kind of people that you pro-war folks would want to leave - but your pro-war federal government won't let them.

There is a lot that is no longer true about America.

Hey, you did figure out that they would not find any WMDs in Iraq back in 2002, didn't you, PROUD WIFE? If now, why didn't you figure that out. I did.

[dancewater]

"Thank you for comparing all Christian soldiers in Iraq to one man."

That one man was a Lt. General. And there was another General who said basically the same thing before sending troops into Fallujah to destroy the city. They painted (so-called) "Christian" messages on their tanks.

As to an occupying army coming to the US, I don't see that happening. I can tell you that, in my town, an Iraq war veteran busted down the front door and went into someone's home because he was angry. No search warrant, no permission to enter the home, and several witnessing neighbors. He was angry because they were flying a US flag upside down.

Of course, in Iraq, they do that kind of thing in the middle of the night and they don't get to sue. But I don't see where we will have an occypying army - we are going to have a PTSD US army come home and act like they did in Iraq. And if you live on a military base, your chances of encountering this are increased.