Star Tribune---"What They Died For"

[bvar22]

Powerful Article on the "Opinion Page" of the Minneapolis Star Tribune Aug. 27th

'What they died for' in Iraq is a mystery
Ken Lessley
August 27, 2005

<snip>
"What they died for" is a complete mystery. As one grieving mother of a son killed in Iraq said, Bush is asserting that "more people should die because these have died," which makes no sense.

Maybe they died so Iraq can draft a constitution in line with radical Islam, which would suppress women and ultimately destroy Israel.

Maybe they died so Mobil / Halliburton / McDonald's can have free rein and profits galore in the Mideast.

Maybe they died so U.S. Army Inc. can have a permanent base and continue imposing our will by force on another region of the Earth.

Maybe they died so Bush wouldn't have to answer bothersome questions about Karl Rove.

Maybe they died so Iraq can have the same rigged and untraceable elections we do, putting inept but connected people in office to start wars unnecessarily.

If these brave men and women died for something worthwhile, why are their returning coffins kept off the news? Why has Bush yet to attend one funeral of such a brave and noble "sacrifice"?

The other thing I keep getting confused on is: When we defend our country, we're "patriots," but when Iraqis defend their country, they're called "terrorists." So, our patriots kill their terrorists, and this makes it a noble cause worth dying for?"
<end snip>


Read the Rest Here:
http://www.startribune.com/stories/1519/5581635.html

If you would like to write to the Star Tribune to commend them for their courage and leadership, you can contact them here:
http://www.startribune.com/stories/1519/2003227.html

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[Dudley_DUright]

1. Holy crap!

Now that is a great editorial. I need to get out of Bush occupied FL and move back to the twin cities.

[bvar22]

2. We have saved a spot for you.

You can stay in touch by reading the Opinion Page here:
http://www.startribune.com/opinion/

[TahitiNut]

5. Caution. That's not an 'editorial'; it's a "guest opinion" piece.

An 'editorial,' by definition, is written by a member or members of the editorial staff of a media outlet. This wasn't.

It's good.

[indepat]

3. They seemingly died for a combination of those reasons

[NoFederales]

4. Wonderful editorial; thanks for posting it.

NoFederales

[TahitiNut]

6. NOT an 'editorial'! (please read above)

[bvar22]

9. TahitiNut is correct!

This is NOT a piece by the Editorial Staff of the Star Tribune,
and the Editorial Staff DOES NOT endorse this piece as the OPINION of the Paper.

It is a "Guest Opinion".
Conservative opinions (like Rush Limbaugh) are sometimes run in this spot.
The Star Tribune is only saying that this opinion merits study and consideration.


It is nice to see this opinion in print, and few Mainstream Papers in the States will run Guest Opinions THIS STRONG.
The Strib DOES need to be commended for the courage it takes to run even "Guest Opinions" like this in today's Media climate.

[kenny blankenship]

7. They died to create a Shia dominated Islamic Republic Allied with IRAN

...and they should be glad to be dead and to have died for this!
...and MORE Americans should now go over to die for the cause of establishing an Islamic Republic allied with Iran!

If you people were good American patriots you wouldn't need this explained to you. You would simply support our President and his enablers in both parties in the glorious cause of establishing an Islamic Republic in league with Iran with Sharia law for all.

What could POSSIBLY be objectionable about your child dying to establish an Islamic Republic in league with Iran? Cindy Sheehan take a flying leap!

They must have died for the cause of establishing an Islamic Republic modelled on Iran, because it's now clear that the odds of ANYTHING ELSE coming out of post-invasion Iraq are incalculably small. And since George W. Bush keeps claiming that we are achieving our goals in Iraq, an Islamic Republic with Sharia law in league with Iran MUST have been his goal all along. Well played Mr. President! That's keepin' your cards close to your vest! Senator Joe Biden shares this goal and thinks EVEN more American kids should get a chance to die for so worthy a cause. Wesley Clark thinks it's imperative to see this thing through or words to that effect. He's no quitter! He's certainly not going to call it a day until enough Americans have died to establish an Islamic Republic allied with Iran forever. When we set out to establish the NEXT Islamic Republic allied with Iran, everyone in the world will KNOW we mean business!

All over the partisan divide there are people popping up to celebrate the brutal deaths of American kids sacrificed to establish an Islamic Republic allied with Iran. What a triumph! And who knew the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary movement had SO MANY supporters among both US Republicans and Democrats??? You can just color me surprised as hell.

[splat@14]

8. Great story. Thanks for posting. I will write them. Voted! n/t