In case we all forgot, Americans are still dying in Iraq - Jimmy Breslin

[DoYouEverWonder]

Since Breslin has retired we don't get to hear much from him anymore. Here's a new one and as usual Breslin gets it.

August 6, 2006

By the way, there are many American soldiers fighting in the Middle East.

In case you haven't noticed, they get killed. A lot of them get killed.

I was watching the endless television coverage of Israel and Hezbollah/Lebanon killing women and children and then picking up the papers to read almost exclusively of the same thing. I found no picture on television and almost no mention in newspapers of Americans dying.

The dead babies of Lebanon and those dismembered by rockets in Israel are considered to be glorious distractions that allow our government to stroll the hallways that appear to have no blood on the floors.

I made a call to the Defense Department: "How are our soldiers doing lately?"

"We've had a bad month," the man responded.

"How bad?"

"Stay there and you'll see."

There now came faxes detailing American soldiers who died in Iraq since July 1. There have been 50 who died since then.

We list below who they are and where they are from, and the statistic that causes all to retch: the age.

more....

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/ny-nybres064842623aug06,0,6447945.column?coll=ny-nynews-print

[Philosoraptor]

1. I haven't forgotten.

My niece is going there in 6 months.

[Skittles]

3. oh no

I am so sick of this - how anguished you must be

[MissWaverly]

5. Something is up in Iraq

My neighbor was supposed to ship out for Iraq on Saturday, they took him Thursday instead, they
are rushing troops over there while Rumsfailed dithers.

[anniebelle]

2. It's my first thought when I wake up

and the last thought before I sleep, which is rare these days. My 20 year old grandson is there as we speak and I just vomit every time I watch Jim Lehrer and see our bravest and finest roll in front of my eyes and I know the majority of Americans are not touched by this, but they will be, mark my words, folks. We have got to get the WORD out before November and not only get these murderers and thieves out of our country. I really hope they will all be tried and hung. They are just gleeful about all this mayhem going on int he ME right now. Sick puppies, the whole lot of them.

[Skittles]

4. I think of them every day

I send a lot of care packages, postcards and emails

[ninkasi]

6. This is a tragedy

I think of them, it's hard not to, because I have grandchildren in their twenties. I know the enormous grief that families feel, to lose a loved one. I also grieve for those whose lives will never be the same due to the severe injuries they sustain in this needless war. For some, the injuries will not be obvious, but they will be there just the same, the pain of stress that will not go away.

We need to leave Iraq now, no more waiting. The situation gets worse by the day, and it's insanity to keep sending men and women back over and over. If Bush and Cheney and the rest want this war to continue, then let them convince their own family members to fight, and leave the rest of us alone.

[Tin Man]

7. I gotta agree w/ Jimmy - Israel is a lot like Natalie Holloway

Why has Israel displaced Iraq, a far more important issue to our national interest, from the US news? I think, like Natalie Holloway, Israel is an example of how the cultural zeitgeist, and consequently political policy, is often the result of the latent emotional associations to a person or place.

But I don't know how you can fix that.

[pasto76]

8. I think about it every day

I was there for a year. In the past 3 years Ive always had friends over there, and will for at least the enxt year. I hurts to see reports of more soldiers killed. I pisses me off that it doesnt hurt the son of a bitch whore republicans like that. It pisses me off that it isnt headline, top of the hour news every single day. But oh....people get TIRED of bad news from Iraq. These are the men and women who if there really was a threat to you and your neighborhood, would gladly go _yet again_ into harms way to shield everyone from that. They deserve at the minimalist least - daily news coverage.
SGT PASTO

[DoYouEverWonder]

9. Welcome to DU Sargent

:hi:

:hug:

Glad you made it back and can be with us.

[me b zola]

13. We haven't forgotten, Sgt Pasto

...and we do our best to make sure that others don't forget either. Glad you are back state-side, or at least out of Iraq. You should feel comfortable at DU cause there are a lot of vets here, although most have served before you.

Welcome to DU, Pasto :hi:








eek. better to proof read before hitting send :D

[leftchick]

10. the forgotten in a second forgotten war

will they be forgotten in the Iran war?.....




An Army honor guard team carries the cremated remains of Army Master Sgt. Tulsa Tuliau during a burial ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery Friday, Aug. 4, 2006, in Arlington, Va. Tuliau died in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries sustained near Ar Rustimayah on Sept. 26, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his humvee during combat operations. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

[Solly Mack]

11. It's not likely to escape my notice

just saying...

[The Wizard]

12. Send Jeff Gannon to Iraq

And Bush will end it quick, if you get my drift.
The entire neocon cartel needs summary execution. They have left a trail of dead and injured in their wake. How many deaths can one Administration cause before they're made accountable. Wolfowitz left to head the World Bank. Bremmer left with untold billions and the Medal of Freedom. Pearle is raking in bucks as a defense consultant. Cheney increases his bankroll with Halliburton stock options. The Bush Family's holdings have increased exponentially with their Carlyle interests. George Tenant fell on his sword and got the cartel off the hook for a Medal of Freedom and a lifetime income. The worse the crime the greater the reward. Hey, at least they didn't leave a cum stained a blue dress.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

14. When shaking the shiny keys doesn't work...

They shake the bloody ones.

:grr:

[RagAss]

15. Breslin always got it....back in 2003 he was hearing shit....

from everyone for comparing the Iraq invasion to Hitler's invasion of Poland....he was right on.

[redaestcyr]

16. GET THE NOOSE READY PEOPLE

Thank you for brining this issue to the for front. I have instructed the NY Times to not send me anymore headlines unless they are discussing Iraq tragedies.

I do feel bad for all of the war's going on in every country, but my first thoughts are always with our young people in Iraq. We cannot help in other places when we are so bogged down with the horror of Iraq.

George Bush should not get away with this mess people. We have got to be bigger then our elected officials and demand this man be hung for these crimes.

This is just far to much death and destruction in this country, and to think it is all based on a got dame lie

Reda StCyr

[Moderator]

17. Breslin's a freakin' stud.

One of the best sociopolitical commentators on the planet. Nuff said.

[The Count]

18. Yup. let's worry about our own wars (Afghanistan too), before we

get high and mighty about other people's.
This is the war that we have a duty to stop (much as I want all of them to end)