BuzzFlash Reader Contribution

A Soldier Comes Home

A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION

The nephew of an acquaintance came home last month after participating in hostile action in Iraq. He volunteered last year just after the "end of major hostilities" to participate in what he was told was a noble cause: protecting America and bringing freedom to a nation of slaves.

He believed the administration's lies and expected to be welcomed with kisses and bouquets of flowers. Instead, he found himself involved in the occupation of a sovereign nation with an understandably inhospitable population.

President Bush has adopted the neocon policy of perpetual war resulting in the deaths of over 1,000 American soldiers and America's infamous distinction as the most hated and feared nation on earth - even by the populations of nations that once were dependable allies. The Bush administration's propaganda machine cranks out an endless stream of lies to obscure the regime's failures, both domestically and abroad.

In April 1946, while awaiting trial in Nuremberg for war crimes, Hermann Goering said, "Why of course the people don't want war. Why should some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece? Naturally the common people don't want war, neither in Russia nor in England or for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country."

Oh, and what of my acquaintance's nephew? The kisses he got were on his cold forehead and the flowers were a funeral spray.

Robert R. Regl,
Hattiesburg, MS

A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION