Comments on: Back in Baghdad, the differences abound http://blogs.reuters.com/reuters-editors/2008/02/14/back-in-baghdad-the-differences-abound/ Our editors & readers talk Wed, 9 Jul 2008 09:39:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Looter http://blogs.reuters.com/reuters-editors/2008/02/14/back-in-baghdad-the-differences-abound/#comment-333687 Looter Mon, 07 Apr 2008 08:08:07 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/reuters-editors/2008/02/14/back-in-baghdad-the-differences-abound/#comment-333687 Wow, great article, I don't think the ceasefire will hold for long. Those guys are rearming now. They were waiting out for the cold winter in the north to end. These insurgents are trained to fight in the desert and in cold times Iraqis don't fight much. They also needed time and money to rearm and we gave them exactly that. I can bet that there will be more attacks on US forces in the coming months and we better be prepared to face that. Baghdad once was a great city, like the old saying goes "All good things must come to and end" Baghdad is doomed. It is better for anyone who is there who love life to get the hell out of that place. Wow, great article, I don’t think the ceasefire will hold for long. Those guys are rearming now. They were waiting out for the cold winter in the north to end. These insurgents are trained to fight in the desert and in cold times Iraqis don’t fight much. They also needed time and money to rearm and we gave them exactly that. I can bet that there will be more attacks on US forces in the coming months and we better be prepared to face that. Baghdad once was a great city, like the old saying goes “All good things must come to and end” Baghdad is doomed. It is better for anyone who is there who love life to get the hell out of that place.

]]> By: Drew http://blogs.reuters.com/reuters-editors/2008/02/14/back-in-baghdad-the-differences-abound/#comment-333672 Drew Thu, 27 Mar 2008 23:23:15 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/reuters-editors/2008/02/14/back-in-baghdad-the-differences-abound/#comment-333672 Thank you for this report. I sift through the media information looking for the real current story of Iraq. One does not see much through the media and one wonders if it is the truth or not. Americans have a right to know what is happening there and I feel you have presented an honest account. Again, thank you. Drew G. Thank you for this report. I sift through the media information looking for the real current story of Iraq. One does not see much through the media and one wonders if it is the truth or not. Americans have a right to know what is happening there and I feel you have presented an honest account.

Again, thank you.

Drew G.

]]> By: Gene http://blogs.reuters.com/reuters-editors/2008/02/14/back-in-baghdad-the-differences-abound/#comment-333667 Gene Sat, 22 Mar 2008 13:55:27 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/reuters-editors/2008/02/14/back-in-baghdad-the-differences-abound/#comment-333667 Since Reuters and others will no doubt spend great effort announcing the 4,000 US soldier death in Iraq (you are already warming up), please give the accurate account of those lost for the sake of accuracy, if nothing else. You repeatedly use the term 'killed' to describe all deaths, when, in fact, over 10 percent of those deaths are due to causes other than hostile action. I wouldn't want anyone to think you had an agenda other than reporting the facts. You might also find time to compare the death rates in the US military with the death rates of other military who aren't even involved in conflict, as well as that of the US military in peace time under the 'enlightened command' of the Noble Prize winning James Earl Carter. The sacrifices should be honored, not manipulated in an effort to portray it as futile or misguided. At least stick to the facts, for once. Since Reuters and others will no doubt spend great effort announcing the 4,000 US soldier death in Iraq (you are already warming up), please give the accurate account of those lost for the sake of accuracy, if nothing else. You repeatedly use the term ‘killed’ to describe all deaths, when, in fact, over 10 percent of those deaths are due to causes other than hostile action. I wouldn’t want anyone to think you had an agenda other than reporting the facts. You might also find time to compare the death rates in the US military with the death rates of other military who aren’t even involved in conflict, as well as that of the US military in peace time under the ‘enlightened command’ of the Noble Prize winning James Earl Carter. The sacrifices should be honored, not manipulated in an effort to portray it as futile or misguided. At least stick to the facts, for once.

]]> By: Charles Mazzarella http://blogs.reuters.com/reuters-editors/2008/02/14/back-in-baghdad-the-differences-abound/#comment-333505 Charles Mazzarella Sun, 17 Feb 2008 22:58:39 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/reuters-editors/2008/02/14/back-in-baghdad-the-differences-abound/#comment-333505 I liked your story and views. As you know, it is a horrible place. Yes, there has been significant improvement. But, it is an unpredictable and uncertain place. I guess I ask: why do we have to do this clean up "job" virtually by ourselves; w/ the obvious help of the coalition members. Perhaps more countries should be involved. Yes, some countries are involved in their own way, but in what seems like a detached, peripheral way. This should probably be a UN mission. This is my opinion., I wanted to submit this reminder however. It is important that we remember: those that were there and those that are there. May a peaceful end arrive soon, so we can build up America in the many ways our country requires help. Thanks for reading and your time. Enjoy A Soldier’s Request to Remember We have seen things both great and horrific. Some we well understand, others are beyond our comprehension. By the grace of God, Faith, our diligent skills, and persistent attitude, we return home to America alive to tell our heroic tale. We were led by heroism and by example and called to focus on our duty and get the job done. Our deeds and sacrifices are now a part of History. Now is a time to heal, but not forget; a time to enjoy the company of family and friends and the familiarity of our surroundings. This is also a time to pause and remember, recalling those who no longer can share all of this with us. They are with us still, as their memory becomes part of ours. Stories are told and fondnesses recalled. For them, we must grieve, but also, we must live. Let us not disregard what we learned while we were deployed as we keep in mind the ones who take our place. Their struggle begins, and in a way, so does ours. Be proud of who you are and what you did over there. Of course, we walk in the footsteps of other great women and men as new soldiers ready themselves to someday leave their footprints in foreign soil. Display your American flags with pride and wrap a yellow ribbon around some near by tree. Do not yet take down those yellow ribbons ‘until it’s over, over there.’ Take pride in the role you played. Someday, people will remember the differences we made. No matter where Life takes you from here, know what you did was important and, always remember that you were there. SPC Charles A. Mazzarella US Army loamazzwriter@yahoo.com www.lulu.com/chuckmazzarella I liked your story and views. As you know, it is a horrible place. Yes, there has been significant improvement. But, it is an unpredictable and uncertain place. I guess I ask: why do we have to do this clean up “job” virtually by ourselves; w/ the obvious help of the coalition members. Perhaps more countries should be involved. Yes, some countries are involved in their own way, but in what seems like a detached, peripheral way.

This should probably be a UN mission.

This is my opinion., I wanted to submit this reminder however. It is important that we remember: those that were there and those that are there. May a peaceful end arrive soon, so we can build up America in the many ways our country requires help. Thanks for reading and your time. Enjoy

A Soldier’s Request to Remember

We have seen things both great and horrific. Some we well understand, others are beyond our comprehension. By the grace of God, Faith, our diligent skills, and persistent attitude, we return home to America alive to tell our heroic tale. We were led by heroism and by example and called to focus on our duty and get the job done. Our deeds and sacrifices are now a part of History. Now is a time to heal, but not forget; a time to enjoy the company of family and friends and the familiarity of our surroundings.

This is also a time to pause and remember, recalling those who no longer can share all of this with us. They are with us still, as their memory becomes part of ours. Stories are told and fondnesses recalled. For them, we must grieve, but also, we must live.

Let us not disregard what we learned while we were deployed as we keep in mind the ones who take our place. Their struggle begins, and in a way, so does ours. Be proud of who you are and what you did over there. Of course, we walk in the footsteps of other great women and men as new soldiers ready themselves to someday leave their footprints in foreign soil.

Display your American flags with pride and wrap a yellow ribbon around some near by tree. Do not yet take down those yellow ribbons ‘until it’s over, over there.’

Take pride in the role you played. Someday, people will remember the differences we made. No matter where Life takes you from here, know what you did was important and, always remember that you were there.

SPC Charles A. Mazzarella
US Army

loamazzwriter@yahoo.com

http://www.lulu.com/chuckmazzarella

]]> By: TIM SULLIVAN http://blogs.reuters.com/reuters-editors/2008/02/14/back-in-baghdad-the-differences-abound/#comment-333488 TIM SULLIVAN Fri, 15 Feb 2008 10:45:25 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/reuters-editors/2008/02/14/back-in-baghdad-the-differences-abound/#comment-333488 "Petty differences"? For several centuries 100s of thousands died in Europe in wars fought over whether or not "life everlasting" could be bought and sold. Wars were fought over who's side God was on. Heritics that recanted and swore allegiance to the one true church were summarily hanged. This was considered giving them a break. They were insured of inheriting life everlasting by dying while still believing in the God of their tormentors. Those not recanting of course were burned alive. This heritage gives America the high moral ground. The 3 distinct ethnic groups in the made up country of Iraq do not have petty differences just a different time line for emerging from the 17th century. The War has bankrupted the United States. Will 60 million boomers give up their Medicare and SS and flush it down the drain in Iraq? The US dollar is collapsing, down more than 30% since the start of the war, oil prices have more than doubled. $100 dollars worth of pre'82 pennies contain over $150 worth of copper. We have created 4 million refugees in Iraq. Half have fled the country for their lives. We are creating 4 million home foreclosures in America. As usual the poorest least well off of our society have paid and are paying the bill in blood and economic hardship for the misdeeds of the arrogant fool who created the whole mess. His henchmen Ben the Dollar Slayer and the Treasury Secretary Paulson were embarrassing themselves before Congress again this week. The financial markets promptly sold off on their bad news and bad news testimony. The worst is yet to come as we have to cope with over 100,000 collaborators when we leave Iraq. They may be good to bring to the US for asylum. It is their children that we will be dealing with in another 20 years, exercising their 2nd amendment rights jumping out of the azaela bushes where some prominent citizens are teeing off, Screaming ALI North, Akbar and unloading his magazine. “Petty differences”? For several centuries 100s of thousands died in Europe in wars fought over whether or not “life everlasting” could be bought and sold. Wars were fought over who’s side God was on. Heritics that recanted and swore allegiance to the one true church were summarily hanged. This was considered giving them a break. They were insured of inheriting life everlasting by dying while still believing in the God of their tormentors. Those not recanting of course were burned alive. This heritage gives America the high moral ground. The 3 distinct ethnic groups in the made up country of Iraq do not have petty differences just a different time line for emerging from the 17th century. The War has bankrupted the United States. Will 60 million boomers give up their Medicare and SS and flush it down the drain in Iraq? The US dollar is collapsing, down more than 30% since the start of the war, oil prices have more than doubled. $100 dollars worth of pre’82 pennies contain over $150 worth of copper. We have created 4 million refugees in Iraq. Half have fled the country for their lives. We are creating 4 million home foreclosures in America. As usual the poorest least well off of our society have paid and are paying the bill in blood and economic hardship for the misdeeds of the arrogant fool who created the whole mess. His henchmen Ben the Dollar Slayer and the Treasury Secretary Paulson were embarrassing themselves before Congress again this week. The financial markets promptly sold off on their bad news and bad news testimony. The worst is yet to come as we have to cope with over 100,000 collaborators when we leave Iraq. They may be good to bring to the US for asylum. It is their children that we will be dealing with in another 20 years, exercising their 2nd amendment rights jumping out of the azaela bushes where some prominent citizens are teeing off, Screaming ALI North, Akbar and unloading his magazine.

]]> By: rocky james http://blogs.reuters.com/reuters-editors/2008/02/14/back-in-baghdad-the-differences-abound/#comment-333487 rocky james Fri, 15 Feb 2008 06:23:21 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/reuters-editors/2008/02/14/back-in-baghdad-the-differences-abound/#comment-333487 you are sean. iraq is still a dangerous place. i have been there recently and gosh. looks like a war zone. you are sean. iraq is still a dangerous place. i have been there recently and gosh. looks like a war zone.

]]> By: James S http://blogs.reuters.com/reuters-editors/2008/02/14/back-in-baghdad-the-differences-abound/#comment-333484 James S Thu, 14 Feb 2008 23:21:15 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/reuters-editors/2008/02/14/back-in-baghdad-the-differences-abound/#comment-333484 Its dangerous for everyone! Sadly, these people cannot look past thier own petty differences. Sometimes it is really tough on morale. Its dangerous for everyone! Sadly, these people cannot look past thier own petty differences. Sometimes it is really tough on morale.

]]> By: PFC Andy T http://blogs.reuters.com/reuters-editors/2008/02/14/back-in-baghdad-the-differences-abound/#comment-333483 PFC Andy T Thu, 14 Feb 2008 23:18:22 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/reuters-editors/2008/02/14/back-in-baghdad-the-differences-abound/#comment-333483 What do you expect, Mr. Reporter? We cannot be everywhere at once. However it is safe to say that you are right. There is alot of improvement and there is a chance for Baghdad, and all of Iraq. All we need is for the Iraqis to learn to take care of themselves as a nation, not individually. Maybe I am wrong, but from being here 15 months, that is what I have concluded. What do you expect, Mr. Reporter? We cannot be everywhere at once. However it is safe to say that you are right. There is alot of improvement and there is a chance for Baghdad, and all of Iraq. All we need is for the Iraqis to learn to take care of themselves as a nation, not individually. Maybe I am wrong, but from being here 15 months, that is what I have concluded.

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