Monday, March 31, 2003
It's all in the Timing
NB I took these entries for March and April off of Blog*spot because it was taking my blog over seven minutes to load - on dial-up. I thought lightening the load would make it faster, and it did. (here it comes...) BUT in my haste to get these posts archived onto text files, I neglected to add the dates to them. (Doh!) I have been able to reconstruct some dates by looking up the relevant news items and most of them have *poof* gone the way of all electrons. On the others, I have included a notice that the date is approximate. I doubt very much that anyone will wander down these dusty corridors but in case you do, this is your caveat. BEWARE - TIME IS ELASTIC (wooooo ooooooooo ooooooooooo) This was written on 6.10 an placed on 4.31 and 3.31Thursday, March 27, 2003
Got Ideas?
I would like your considered opinion. Do you think it would be better, in the long run, for the Iraqi people if Saddam were killed outright in battle, or captured and made to stand trial for his atrocities within Iraq, as well as the attacks against Iran and Kuwait?
On one hand, said trial could take a great deal of time, perhaps more time than Saddam has left in a natural life span, and drag up a great many ugly things. On the other hand, it seems a way to focus the rage and revenge needs which will, quite understandably, be felt among the Iraqi people.
The removal of the jackboot from the throat of a people, as we have seen throughout history and recently after the breakup of the USSR, engenders many emotions. Predominant among them, and least discussed, is shame. This is the one feeling for which there cannot be much spare time or attention while a regime is in charge and terrorizing citizens. Fear and concentration on the mechanics of survival seem as though they would be paramount. Yet, after the change, when the dust settles and the water lines are rebuilt; when everyone has some assurance of a steady flow of food and work to do rebuilding, this seems to be when those feelings of shame, anger, and desire for payback finally have room to surface.
Would a trial of members of the Ba’ath party, in particular members of the Hussien family serve to focus those emotions through a rule-of-law method of redressing those crimes committed? Would this be a way for the Iraqi people to regain their power over their own destinies?
Wednesday, March 26, 2003
Eerie Night
Considering the state of the Guard HQ and tape from an embeded reporter on MSNBC TV news (which I cannot find corroborated elsewhere, even on MSNBC online) showing a giant stockpile of ammunition stored in bunkers underground south of Baghdad, I can't help thinking it's quiet... too quiet.Keeping One's Eye on the Prize
It is so easy to find oneself caught up in the drama of the story: coalition forces surrounding Baghdad airport, will they or won’t they use WMD, British forces playing soccer with Iraqi citizens in southern Iraq (the ends of the continuum.) I doubt if many of us in the rest of the world can begin to fathom the task that lies at hand.
It will take all of the ‘Coalition of the Willing,’ all the citizens of Iraq both at home and ex pat, as well as all the help that can be given by ‘men of goodwill’ to even begin. And yet, therein lies the rub.
Too many cooks… Don’t do something for someone that they can do for themselves… How will people so beset for so many years start to clear away the masters of fear and rage, and begin to decide for themselves? And how well will the rest of us be able to keep our mitts off? Not to mention the grabbers for glory and/or the spoils of war. It will be one of the most interesting and engaging exercises of the Human Spirit to take place in our lifetimes.
Not to mention the ‘ripple effect’ . . .Monday, March 24, 2003
First Contacts
As I learn the lingo of this new medium, I will enliven the Links on the right of the page but, as of today, my html is a little rusty... I believe I can include links within this text so I will suffice for today with a list of the blogs which have called me to return day after day:THE COMMAND POST the true manifestation of committment; this group of bloggers updates continually from multiple sources the news of the war. thouough and reliable.
LT SMASH warm and humourous insight into what life is like in "the sandbox" the lt is clearly *one of the good guys*
LIVE FROM KUWAIT an insightful and thoughtful man who is clearly well placed his links give further insight into a way of thinking that has been *foreign* to US for far too long
EJECT! EJECT! EJECT! a true essayist for our times well worth the time and thought-energy required
and the classic enigma: WHERE IS READ? a look through the archives gave me a better mental picture of what life pre-seige might be like. I hope to hear more of this story. Soon.
Intro
I have read blogs from some pretty amazingly places and some pretty thoughtful people over the last several weeks. The push of current events combined with the optimism generated in me by encountering such, well, good folks has inspired a wish to join in the fray.Statistics
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