"We don't do body counts," General Tommy Franks, U.S. Central Command.
Saddam Hussein was executed earlier today. I will probably find myself standing quite alone among most Americans when I say what I am going to say, but I have never stood silent and I refuse to do so now.
I am not condoning the atrocities that Saddam Hussein committed against the people of Iraq. However, I stand by my own convictions that killing people to show that killing people is not the answer. And if we, as the American people, are going to uphold this form of eye for an eye righteousness, than I think we all need to take a very hard look in the mirror.
There are a lot more than 148 innocent Iraqi bodies on our own hands. Our administration is currently responsible for over 57,000 dead Iraqi's. Dead. Our occupation of their country, our insistence on bringing democracy and liberation and freedom to their land, has resulted in the death of over 57,000 men, women and children.
Yes, we are nearing 3,000 dead in the American tally of service men and women. I don't think that is right, either. We, the American people, don't belong in Iraq. Period.
If Saddam's death is considered justice, than I can only ask when justice will be served for the blood on the hands of George W. Bush, as well?
Think about it.
You are not alone. I agree. It solves nothing. Melissa, in particular, with her comments about "them" and "these people" misses the entirety of the tragedy. WE are "them" now. We have created so much more hideous bad feeling since 9/11, in so many more places. Iraq really wasn't full of "these people" until WE invaded. Iraq is an entity created by partition by the British. It had 3 ethnicities which were held in check by a vicious regime. WE funded that regime throughout the 80's. We backed Iran...and their "dictator" in the 70's and then Iraq and it's dictator in the 80's.
We backed Osama and the Taliban in Afghanistan against the "evil" Communists. All subtlety is LOST when we speak in terms of "these people", who don't understand anything but "strength".
How can anyone define these things in absolutes when they know nothing of the human suffering in this region. I do not downplay 9/11, nor do I "side with terrorists" But someone has got to think in terms that are more subtle than caveman ethics.
Posted by: yekdeli | 31 December 2006 at 07:41 PM
I am thankful for your honesty and bravery in speaking up.
I agree with you a thousandfold and am so saddened by it and have been trying not to think about it b/c it hurts.
Thank You Jen
Posted by: Deb | 31 December 2006 at 04:51 PM
I agree with you. We shouldn't have gone into Iraq.
As for casualties, in a historical perspective, they are extremely low. The figures that you mention were happening on a daily basis during ww2. Korea and Vietnam casualties also dwarfed these figures.
If we had gone into Iraq with the political and military mindset of the ww2 generation, the war would have been over pretty quickly. Civilian casualties would have been horrendous though.
Posted by: liberum | 31 December 2006 at 01:13 PM
Its sad that none of you understand these people who only recognize strength, its the only thing that keeps them in check. When they read your comments they understand how weak you are and they will use this against us. I just hope for your sake that you never have to come face to face with them when they want to show who is the stronger.
Posted by: SilverStar | 31 December 2006 at 08:23 AM
THANK YOU.
Thankyouthankyouthankyou.
It's so good to know I'm not the only who thinks it, and probably not the only who finds herself saddened by this death and the ugly side of humanity that it reared.
Posted by: messylissa | 31 December 2006 at 01:06 AM
i'm right there with you. i don't understand how killing sadaam makes anything better at all, and it grieves me to see people dancing in the streets over a murder--even the murder of a dangerous man. thanks for saying it, jen.
Posted by: jenlemen | 30 December 2006 at 10:33 PM
You are so right - thank you for your eloquent thoughts on the matter.
Posted by: teresatice | 30 December 2006 at 09:05 PM
Word. I totally agree.
Posted by: Yvonne | 30 December 2006 at 08:00 PM
Yes. Just yes.
Posted by: colz85 | 30 December 2006 at 05:10 PM
I've been lurking here and enjoying your blog for a long time, but finally decided to step out of the shadows for this one.
All I can say is you typed exactly what I was thinking.
Posted by: Melissa | 30 December 2006 at 04:43 PM