Support Our Troops' Atrocities?

Long, Hot Summmer of Despair

The mounting number of known atrocities committed by American troops in the Iraq occupation is yet another reason we should end the occupation.

The military recently announced five soldiers and one former soldier have been charged in the rape and killing of a young Iraqi woman. Three members of the woman’s family were also apparently killed. The woman’s body was burnt in an apparent effort to destroy any evidence about the rape, according to news reports.

This investigation follows the investigation into the Haditha, Iraq incident. The military announced it was investigating the killing of about 24 Iraqis in that town by American soldiers in November 19, 2005.

The issue here is clear. There is absolutely no excuse for these war atrocities. None. Some argue all wars bring their own set of atrocities, but this is not a war to save our country. This is an occupation to ensure we have enough gasoline to fill up those single driver GMC Suburbans you see on the highway.

Is it wise to train our young soldiers to become killing machines and ruthless, barbaric animals? One argument has it that we need ruthless killers in our military for the country’s overall security. Another argument has it that modern warfare takes more intelligence than physical skills. This second argument make more sense, of course, but the killing-machine rubric is rooted deeply in military culture.

But this much is for sure: It is absolutely against our country’s interests to make trained killers assume the role of occupiers, and it is absolutely against the country’s interests to have a bravado American president speak the redneck language of “bring it on.” Such barroom posturing sends a clear message to America’s trained killers. It says you can rape and kill whoever you want whenever you want in the name of American "democracy." You will never promote democracy through murder and rape. You do not even have a democracy if the government sanction these acts at any level.

All we can do this long, hot summer of despair is watch from the sidelines as our military consistently disgraces our country in the world's eyes. Each atrocity—those we know about and those we do not know about and there will be more—fuels Iraq’s growing civil war.

All this can stop by simply bringing the troops home.

Taborgate

The Alliance For Oklahoma's Future released its statement on the closing arguments over the TABOR (aka, RIPBOR, the Rich Persons' Bill of Rights) initiative petition issue before an Oklahoma Supreme Court referee.

Here is a part of its statement:

"The legal counsel made parallels between the tactics employed by Oklahomans in Action [Tabor supporters] to perpetrate a fraud against the people of Oklahoma to those used by the perpetrators of the Watergate Scandal. Both have evidence of criminal conduct, political motivation, knowing violations of the law, stonewalling, cover-ups, and a belief that the ends justify the means. The closing arguments included an appeal to the State Supreme Court to protect the rights of Oklahomans by striking down SQ 726."

Let us hope the court does not allow the TABOR question on the November ballot. Outside money paid for this crazy initiative, which, if passed, would limit state government spending to a point that will harm the state for years and years to come.

Who will want live in a place without schools, fire departments and road repairs?