The Face of War

A shooting after nightfall "...children started emerging, crying, their faces mottled with blood in long streaks."

This is the face of war: a 5 year old girl's face splattered with the blood of her parents as she cries out in terror.

I do not blame the soldiers. They are put into an impossible situation, trying to secure their security in an increasingly hostile and unstable environment. I blame those in power who put those soldiers, and that family, and that 5 year old girl, in that situation.

This is why millions marched against the war when the Bush administration started making noise about invading Iraq, and why the majority of the American population now no longer thinks the war is worth the cost.

I do not doubt that there are good things going on in Iraq that are not being publicized. But one incident such as this -- even if it was an accident -- undoes any goodwill towards the US that may have been built up.

Take a look at the little boy watching his sister cry. Let me tell you: I think there's more of a chance that he'll join the jihadists than become a peaceful supporter of the US as this incident becomes seared into his young memory.

Having abandoned the search for WMD in Iraq because -- surprise! -- there are none, Bush now hangs his Iraq policy hat on "bringing democracy, freedom, and liberty to the people of Iraq." All of you war supporters out there, I ask you: If, during the hunt for Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan, Bush came out and said that the US was going pull troops out of Afghanistan to invade and bring democracy to Iraq, what would your response have been?

Yes, I know that bringing democracy to the Middle East is a cornerstone to this country's effort of stopping terrorism against the US. But look at the picture of the young girl. Do you think we're succeeding in capturing hearts and minds?