War is Hell

(2)

The news which struck me recently led to the following notes. Since I recently discovered Blogger's 'numbered list' (along with their 'bulleted list') I will use that feature:

1. Latest US Diplomatic Offensive.
2. Lessons from Saddam.
3. Haditha.

The first refers of course to the most recent State Department missive to Iran suggesting that if Iran does the right thing (stops the process of creating weapons-grade Uranium) the US would be willing to join European Nations in some sort of discussion concerning Iran's future in the International Community. Did I get that right? It was billed as a major US diplomatic concession to Iran. Sheeit. Forgive me, but it seemed more like a rapist saying to his victim something like, 'Pull your pants down and bend over. Then we'll discuss.'

The second refers to the current Iraqi prime minister (Malaki?) who promises to use an 'iron fist' against insurgents. When I saw that video for the first time I thought, 'Hey! This guy could use a little instruction concerning how to pacify a country like Iraq. Saddam would be the perfect instructor! Maybe Malaki should secretly consult Saddam on this matter. After all, Saddam ran that bizarre 'nation' for many years quite successfully.' Did he not?

Finally, the tragedy of Haditha is just now making an impression in the international news and is being compared to the My Lai Massacre of Viet Nam, if not in numbers, then in effect. Will Haditha be our collective undoing? The situation brought to mind the Stanley Kubrick movie, Full Metal Jacket, wherein a gunner on a helicopter was asked the question, 'How can you shoot women, children?' The gunner replied, smiling, 'Ya just don't lead 'em so much.'