his voice cracked with emotion that only one who has seen war can comprehend

[NNN0LHI]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/364360_firstperson26.html

Sad is a good description of Iraq war

By DAVID KANNAS
GUEST COLUMNIST

"It's just sad."

Those poignant words were from the mouth of an elderly man, a World War II veteran, as he spoke with a reporter at the Seattle Federal Building on a recent Tuesday.

The elderly man was one of many who gather every Tuesday in a peaceful vigil in opposition to the invasion and occupation of Iraq. This man explained to the young reporter that he saw our war in Vietnam as a folly, but that Iraq could be explained only as sad. As the man spoke, his eyes became misty, his voice cracked with emotion that only one who has seen war can comprehend. Others can empathize, but not truly comprehend. snip

This is what we experience, we who are part of vigils against the invasion and occupation of Iraq. We're not hyper-dramatic, we're not self-righteous and we're not unpatriotic. What we are is just plain sad. Sad with what we've seen done to our democracy in the name of national security. Sad to see what the world's view of us has become. Sad in the knowledge that so much more could have been done with the money that has been used to kill and destroy.

But mostly, we're sad about the loss of life, both American and Iraqi, and the destruction of a people in the name of national security. Whose nation and whose security? I know that I don't feel any more secure as a result of the invasion of Iraq, and I know that my nation has been diminished by it.

[saigon68]

1. Nice Post Don

[UTUSN]

2. Thanks and *relief*. It sounded like some sychophant was going to say "Shrub"!1 n/t

[Bob Dobbs]

3. National security is code for fascist corporate profiteering.

America has never fought a war that had anything to do with national security.

WWII would never have happened had American fascist corporatists not profiteered by re-arming Germany and Hitler.
That's why we were non-interventionist for so long, the American power elite didn't want to go against their guy in the fight, Adolph.

[stevedeshazer]

4. Thanks, Don

I'm sad, too.

I think America is sad.

We can learn much from veterans like you.

My dad was a WWII vet. He told me that war is wrong.

[Canuckistanian]

5. War is a fucking ABDICATION of civilization

To be avoided at all costs.


Thanks for this. A powerful statement.

[CountAllVotes]

6. thanks for sharing this with us Don

absolutley speechless really ... frozen for commentary!

:kick: & recommend!!

[bdamomma]

7. Sad very sad.

we have gotten to this point. We need to cleanse ourselves of this cancer on this country.