Take a look at this picture from the Jordan Times--heartrending....

[Gloria]

An Iraqi boy collects real bullets while playing at bullet casings garbage dump in Baghdad's suburb of Al Talibeaa on Saturday (photo by Ceerwan Aziz/Reuters)

[DUreader]

1. ok I gotta get offline now

maybe get some sleep

[TexasMexican]

2. ???

Whats so heartrending about it?

The boy doesnt look particularily uncomfortable, althought I would probably wouldnt say that he was "playing."

Lots of people in 3rd world countries make livings by recycling the things that are thrown away.

As for these bullets, so what? Is he going to give them to some terrorists to kill people? Is he going to give them to his family so they can have some ammunition for thier own rifles for self defense? Is he going to sell them for some money so that his family can feed themselves.

Without this kind of information there isnt much of a story to go with this picture.

[lumpy]

3. Iraq wasn't exactly a 'third world country'

until the US dumped on them and is now managing to render it a 'third world country'. It is sad to see a boy sitting in the midst of war toys. I find it hard to be cynical about this.

[TexasMexican]

4. Iraq wasnt a 3rd world country?

Are you claiming that Iraq wasnt a 3rd world country before the first Gulf War?

As for the kid playing amongst "war toys."

I'm sorry I dont find the picture that distrubring. I dont look down on people who go through dumps looking for something of value that most other people overlook. One person's trash is another person's treasure.

Now if the kid was playing with a cluster bomb or some other live explosive (yes, I'm sure that has happened from time to time), then that would be sad.

[Sick of Bullshit]

5. Before the GW 1, Iraq had the highest literacy rate in the Arab world,

more freedom for women and certain religious minorities than its Arab neighbors, and a fairly well-developed infrastructure, among other things. Perhaps it wasn't on the same level as Western Europe or Japan, but apparently it was much higher than most of the countries that are collectively called "Third World".

[lumpy]

7. Well, it's a small point, but people can die from unspent shells .

I suggest you do a little research on pre-Bush War Iraq. There are people who still believe that Saudi Arabia is a third world country since they appear to believe that foreign speaking countries are considered third world. It might surprise you to find out that many Arabic, Russian, African, Oriental countries have a good grasp of the English language, history etc. Why ? Because they have had the benefit and desire for education sadly lacking with too damn many Americans.

[Robin Hood]

6. Look at the live ammo in his hand, he's not playing.

He's gathering live ammo for later use. Either way, it sucks.