The man who helped capture Saddam
Another "war hero's" story. One of those involved in the capture of Saddam Hussain, feted on his return to New York, is haunted by what he saw of war. Instead of revelling in his acclaimed actions he is forgotten and alone to carry his despair. The Washington Post (17/6/2007) has published yet another portrait of an unsuspected casualty of war.
Just who is benefiting from the mayhem. Just those who have shares in the big corporations dining on the fat commissions from government contracts. The cost of their good fortune cannot just be measured in dollars or pounds but in the grief and suffering of countless others whether America and allies or Iraqi.
The Observer (17/6/2007) reports on a Channel 4 documentary about Blair agreeing to send troops in spite of very deep reservations about the absence of a plan for the aftermath. Even his good friends like Peter Mandelson are joining in the revelations. Amid all this ghosts are coming out to haunt us as Margaret Thatcher and others gloat on another episode of death and destruction in the Falklands. Wasn't this Blair's inspiration?
But we've been here before many times. An Indian friend showed me a picture of the so-called "rebels" of 1857's First War of Independence being tied to cannons. I have heard about this barbaric occurrence in British history but seeing the scene before the executions had a shocking effect. 2007 marks the 150th anniversary very much unforgotten particularly by members of the community that suffered brutality first hand.
Posted by John Tyrrell at June 17, 2007 11:49 AM
Comments
I just wanted to write that it may benefit active duty & veteran family’s / friends of veterans to read a recently released book titled, “Still the Monkey: What Happens to Warriors After War?” "Author Alivia C. Tagliaferri became inspired to write Still the Monkey: What Happens to Warriors After War after she visited the Walter Reed Medical Center in the summer of 2003, and saw first hand the casualties of the War on Terror. Her later interview with a former Marine and Vietnam Veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder helped cement her determination to express the devastating toll of war. Still the Monkey is a historical fiction novel about a Vietnam veteran plagued with pain and sickness, and his fateful meeting with an Iraq veteran who lost both his legs. For ten days inside the walls of Walter Reed's Monologue House, the two of them begin a painful yet ultimately cathartic progression toward healing and learning to live again, one day at a time. A poignant and powerful novel, written out of the deepest respect and admiration for the men and women who put their lives on the line for the sake of their nation.” - Midwest Book Review.
At http://www.ironcuttermedia.com/ you can learn more about this book, which is reality-based work of historical fiction that depicts the problems caused by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among returning veterans. I hope this post helps educate people out there that need assistance. Take care and God bless.
Blogged by anonymous at June 20, 2007 10:40 PM