Or, Into the Valley of Death Rode the 504
A sad milestone has been reached in the cradle of civilization. It has been confirmed that 700 American soldiers have died in Iraq,* 504 of them in combat. Don’t like CNN? Here’s Reuters and here’s the Associated Press.
However, there is some question about the priorities of the American press in reporting what is really happening in Iraq. Apparently, CNN actually questioned whether Al Jazeera wasn’t missing the point by reporting Iraqi deaths. Well, let’s be realistic. Their audience is more interested in knowing whether friends and relatives in Fallujah might be under attack than whether some guy from Ohio has been killed — no offense or disrespect intended. Being an Arab language publication, they feel that “there is no bigger story in Fallujah than the deaths of civilians.”
Even the British press is reporting that the situation in Fallujah is really more of a massacre than anything else. Once you get past the American press, it is clear that things are awful. Ambulances are being shot at, their drivers specifically targeted by snipers. Empty or full of wounded people, it does not matter. People are even getting shot by Marine snipers for trying to use the outhouse. How dare they not pee in their pants; don’t they know there’s a battle on?
It seems clear to me that The Tiger Force mentality has not been thoroughly rooted out of our military.
Support our troops: pray for peace.
* Those of you who didn’t know that modern day Iraq is the same ancient land in which writing was invented, used to write down the first written epic and the first written code of law, in which were built one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World (the Hanging Gardens of Babylon), in which Daniel survived the Lion’s Den [Dan. 6], I urge you to read a little history.