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09/17/2003 Archived Entry: "Bring 'em Home"
This from Jay Leno, The Tonight Show August 5, "The United States is putting together a Constitution now for Iraq. Why don't we just give them ours? It's served us well for 200 years, and we don't appear to be using it anymore, so what the hell?" In the cartoon department: David Horsey's "How We Got Into This Mess," which reflects my view of Cheney's role in recent events; Clay Bennett's "Rebuilding Iraq"; and, my favorite, PatriotStein by Steve Sack.
USA Today reports, "The chief of the U.S. Army Reserve is taking the unusual step of warning all 205,000 soldiers under his command that the Army Reserve is 'on a war footing' and will need to take tough measures to meet commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan."
The "warning" -- and that's a good word for it -- comes on the heels of the Pentagon's announcement that thousands of reservists already in Iraq will have to extend their tours abroad to 12 months.With typical delicacy, the Army alerted the media before informing reservists' families so that parents, spouses, and children found out about the extension through news broadcasts. When packaged together with necessary preparation and demobilization afterward -- time which doesn't seem to be counted as part of the "tour" -- the extension means that some "part-time" soldiers will be away from home for 15 months...or more. The distinction between reservists and active-duty troops is collapsing. No wonder military and reservist families are now taking a prominent role in protesting the "Bring 'em on!" armchair-crowd who are dictating/rewriting the rules by which their loved ones live and, perhaps, die. BRING THEM HOME NOW! is typical of this backlash. It "is a campaign of military families, veterans, active duty personnel, reservists and others opposed to the ongoing war in Iraq and galvanized to action by George W. Bush's inane and reckless challenge to armed Iraqis resisting occupation to 'Bring 'em on.' [Stan Goff's response to that remark is still my favorite.] Our mission is to mobilize military families, veterans, and GIs themselves to demand: an end to the occupation of Iraq and other misguided military adventures; and an immediate return of all US troops..." In constant contact with the occupying troops -- who are, after all, sons and daughters and spouses who write/email home frequently -- BringThemHomeNow.org is one of the few voices crying out about the conditions to which the troops are subjected, including their likely exposure to depleted uranium. Another good source of info on conditions is David H. Hackworth.
BTW...I am asked why I do not write about the conditions and suffering of the Iraqis...which is a fair question. The answer: on a personal level, I find it too disheartening and depressing -- somewhile ago I found myself emotionally unable to look at the photo of one more maimed child; intellectually, there are too many confusing accounts and my background in Islamic/regional politics is not deep enough for me to understand all the schisms, shifts, and subtleties; on a practical basis, I see no prospect of changing anything for the better EXCEPT by getting the troops out, by "bringing 'em home"...not only for the sake of Americans but also for the Iraqis. Nevertheless, I may be addressing specific Iraqi concerns now that Al-Jazeera has officially http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/story709.html launched its English-version site. Al-Jazeera is the most popular Arabic news broadcaster and the English-language website has been in development since early 2002. I don't intend to endorse any of the Al-Jazeera stories, any more than I endorse those from the New York Times, but it will be interesting to report its slant on major events and sort through how its accounts differ from those presented in the US media.
Readers in California should take note: Customers who bought certain Microsoft products for use in California may be eligible for part of a class action settlement. A web site has been set up by Lindows.com, an aspiring Microsoft competitor, (and GOOD LUCK to 'em, say I!) to automate the process of applying for the settlement. (I presume they take a percentage for processing your claim for you.) The first 10,000 eligible claimants will receive a free Webstation PC. Info from the MSfreePC application: The $1.1 billion dollar settlement Microsoft may pay is based on the best estimate of the millions of copies of Microsoft operating systems and software products licensed for use in California for the six year period between February 18, 1995 to December 15, 2001. To be eligible you must have purchased a software license to Microsoft products for use in California during this period. Spread the word! The more MicroSoft pays for its ill-deeds, the happier this Linux household becomes.
Best to all,
mac