This news from earlier this week makes me sick and heartsick: A U.S. soldier faces up to 100 years in prison for the gang rape and murder of an Iraqi girl and the killing of her family last year. Sgt…….

Do you still stand proud every time you see the American flag? Have you ever? These are questions that are easy to ask yourself, but may not be so easy for some to answer honestly….

I think that is what was meant by that comment.

Thanks to all that took the time to go over there and report. I appreciate it.

Even though it could be argued that Iraqi’s economic collapse is an after effect of the ouster of Saddam and the subsequent collapse of basic law and order, the slum dwellers we talked to were pretty happy to see the Americans pull up. To many Iraqis, the Americans are the one group that actually picks up the phone and at least tries to do something about their problems.

It seems that the Americans’ patching things up for muslims at the Americans’ own expense does demographic damage twice over: It takes away men and wealth that the Americans could otherwise direct toward the increase and betterment of their own families, and it builds nurseries for people whose prophet, scriptures, and priests teach them to revile Americans as infidels, and American ways as damnable in the eyes of their god. American pity is beautiful until one sees that it’s cruel pity.

You went way above and beyond – thanks again and I am glad you are back safe.

… its great to get a very human, first-person account of life in Iraq.
taznar on January 19, 2007 at 2:35 PM

Very Human indeed. Well done. Very well done!

Thanks!!

The Palace of the Romanian Parliament, a “giant” built during the “golden age” of the dictatorial regime and born in the mind of a man for whom the notion of “reasonable size” did not exist.

Today, the monumental building stands for the most precious symbol of democracy in Romania, that is the Parliament, serving the high and noble aim we have all aspired for: equal and complete representation of the Romanian people.

Here’s hoping for a more glorious and free future for Iraq too.

I’m not one to get all gushy and mushy about kids; I’m usually in agreement with W.C. Fields on that subject.

But looking at a couple of the photos, and a lot of the words you posted gives me a little hope for the future of Iraq (and the rest of the world by extension)after all.

Too bad that they have so many people trying to turn them into just the opposite of what they are and what they could and should be when they grow up.

Sometimes you have to let the Tomba be the Tomba.

Seriously though, its great to get a very human, first-person account of life in Iraq.

I handled these as three separate posts on Bill’s Bites but I’ll save space here and just say Go read ‘em. Iraqis Speak To America Baghdad Report: Tomba kids Report from Baghdad: Iraqi voices Go read ‘em….

Baghdad Report: Tomba kids Bryan Preston Our second patrol from FOB Justice took us to see the after effects of war and economic ruin. Iraq’s economy is booming, but unemployment remains a major problem, and a major wedge for the…

I first saw the pic of a young girl who was so dirty (she had a sweatshirt with english words printed on it) but she was filthy and yet smiling broadly. Another group of kids was right near her, all very dirty. Broke my heart.
But you wrote here:

They’re beautiful kids. To look at them away from Skut if you could, you might not even think that they’re dirt poor. They look healthy, they’re perfectly groomed and they have that boundless energy that all kids have and all adults wish they had.

SO- Which kids were perfectly groomed? Did I miss something?

And is you story here, and your trip with Michelle and all you brought back being published or shown anywhere else…other than HA & MM.com?

Thx for this, everyone should digg this and link it and whatever else you can do.

…the likes of which you won’t hear anywhere else, as it fails to fit the blood for oil, American occupation, Bush-the-terrorist-baby-killer, or civil war script….