Of Words

[Gunslinger]

Of Words

Michael Yon has a new dispatch out.  This one is a great read detailing many of his thoughts leading to his previous statments back in Feb 2005 that Iraq IS in a current civil war and many of the factors that go into this.

It's a long read but a VERY good one.  If you have time I highly encourage reading it start to finish.  If you've never heard of him, he is a freelance writer for the most part who paid his own way into Iraq to spend time with the troops out in the field and see for his own eyes what really happens in Iraq.  He "gives the truth, both the good, bad and ugly"

“Nobody knows what the future will bring for Iraq. In my opinion, it’s already in a civil war, though many people seem afraid to say it. Actually, the reluctance is more likely ordinal in nature—no one wants to be the first to say what many know to be true. Many now-stable democracies have suffered civil wars. Democracy, despite its inherent nobility, is seldom easy or pretty. At its best, democracy is a reflection of the “people,” and we all know what “they” are like.”

(Image removed from quote.)
When we send our troops to war, we have an obligation that includes at the very least paying attention to their sacrifices. American soldiers should never have to wonder if we care about their well-being.

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One of my favorite quotes of his:

Calling homicide bombers martyrs is a language offense; words are every bit as powerful as bombs, often more so. Calling murderers “martyrs” is like calling a man “customer” because he stood in line before gunning down a store clerk. There’s no need to whisper. I hear the bombs every single day. Not some days, but every day. We’re talking about criminals who actually volunteer and plan to deliberately murder and maim innocent people. What reservoir of feelings or sensibilities do we fear to assault by simply calling it so? When murderers describe themselves as “martyrs” it should sound to sensible ears like a rapist saying, “She was asking for it.” In other words, like the empty rationalizations of a depraved criminal.

The word martyr is derived from the word “to witness.” It is used to describe a person who is killed because of a belief or principle. Given the choice to recant, martyrs chose instead to face their murderers and stand in witness to their beliefs. True martyrs do not kill themselves, but stand their ground and fight in the face of death to demonstrate the power of their convictions, sometimes dying as a result, but preferably surviving.

The only martyrs I know about in Iraq are the fathers and brothers who see a better future coming, and so they act on their beliefs and assemble outside police stations whenever recruitment notices are posted. They line up in ever increasing numbers, knowing that insurgents can also read these notices. The men stand in longer and longer lines, making ever bigger targets of themselves. Some volunteer to earn a living. This, too, is honorable. But others take these risks because they believe that a better future is possible only if Iraqi men of principle stand up for their own values, for their country, for their families. These are the true martyrs, the true heroes of Iraq and of Islam. I meet these martyrs frequently. They are brave men, worthy of respect.

[culero]

That's a good read, thanks for pointing it out.

He says something here that IMO is very true, mirrors what I've thought from the start, yet I hear few people saying:

"There are no absolute answers to the question of whether we should have invaded Iraq. History will more clearly answer that, and it will judge based largely on the outcome, and that outcome is not clear today even as the fact of the civil war becomes a more accepted premise in our national debate."

Most folks address this issue from either the "America **** Yeah" or "****ing America" POV. I tend to see Iraq more as a tough decision made over a tough issue, that mostly represents a huge gamble. We could in the end discover we've done the world a huge favor, or discover we're guilty of arrogant blunder. Our fate in this regard depends largely on the people of Iraq, and our hope that they will be able to benefit from democracy as we have.

I'm hoping that history reflects kindly on us here. My heart says it will.

culero

[midnight Target]

The only martyrs I know about in Iraq are the fathers and brothers who see a better future coming, and so they act on their beliefs and assemble outside police stations whenever recruitment notices are posted. They line up in ever increasing numbers, knowing that insurgents can also read these notices. The men stand in longer and longer lines, making ever bigger targets of themselves. Some volunteer to earn a living. This, too, is honorable. But others take these risks because they believe that a better future is possible only if Iraqi men of principle stand up for their own values, for their country, for their families. These are the true martyrs, the true heroes of Iraq and of Islam. I meet these martyrs frequently. They are brave men, worthy of respect.

Amen to that... no matter how you feel about this war...amen to that.

[Gunslinger]

Originally posted by midnight Target
Amen to that... no matter how you feel about this war...amen to that.

Yup,

This guy is an amazing writer with a very candid view on the war....mainly because he was embeded for almost a year.  It seems some of the "right of center" news shows and radio pseudo-black balled him for him saying the words civil and war.  Kinda interesting.

Anyone else if you ever find yourself with time read his posts on his blog from start to finish.  It is an amazing story.