Thank you, Jim, from an ex-VPer. For a related Australian
perspective, here's Peter FitzSimons writing in the Sydney
Sun-Herald on Feb 26th:
WHAT now for Iraq? As most of us watch appalled as that
tragic country sinks further into the total catastrophe that so
many have feared, I ask again of those who were so loud in
championing the war - where are you now, you bastards? At least
have the honour to hang your heads and note the bleeding obvious -
this war, launched on false premises, fought on false promises, has
been a catastrophe from first to last, and grows worse. The death
toll of the troops of occupation rises by the day, Sunnis and the
Shiites kill each other in record numbers and blow up each other's
mosques, the death toll of civilians is incalculable. Somewhere, no
doubt, Osama Bin Laden can scarcely believe just how
extraordinarily well the whole thing has gone for him, with America
and its allies demonised in the Middle East as never before. You
who were so loud in trumpeting success because a third-rate, Third
World army had been defeated, where are you now? All of us who
marched and protested against the war wished for nothing more than
to be proved totally wrong, as democracy flowered in the Middle
East and Iraq stood out as a beacon of moderation. Tragically, no
such thing has occurred. Has this stopped some of the same people
now calling for a strike on Iran? It beggars belief, but no. Our
only hope can be that those who listened to you last time, will not
listen to you this time.
FitzSimons is a rugby player turned journalist. You (JM) might like
his book on the battles of the Kokoda Track in WWII - terrific
description, medical details. Anyway, thank you.
Comment statistics for Julianne on the Making Light blog
The most recent 20 comments posted to Making Light by Julianne:
Show all comments by Julianne.