catapult magazine

Much of the Iraq war commentary lately has centered on the ?unsportsmanlike? way that the Iraqis are running their side of the conflict. The locals are not in uniform; they ambush the American and British troops; they make sneak attacks, and then they run away. They conscript other local people to fight on their side. They even take their anger out on their neighbors who do not want to resist the Coalition forces.
This sounds a lot like the rebels in the American Revolution. The British were incensed that the American rabble dressed like farmers; shot from behind trees, rather than standing up in rows to fight ?like civilized men;? made sneak attacks, and ambushed the stodgy British when they least expected an attack. The rebels did not allow their fellow citizens to be loyal to the British. Those who tried were forced to fight with the rebels because the alternative was to have your neighbors burn your house, seize your property, tar and feather you, and occasionally shoot or hang you.
So, why is it all right for American patriots to ignore all the ?rules of war? when defending their country (which, by the way, wasn?t ?their? country; they were lawless rebels), but those evil doers in Iraq can?t defend their country from invaders in the same fashion? And, by the way, isn?t it pretty hypocritical to have any ?rules for war?? Presumably this is not just some game.

Here’s something to chew on regarding one Canadian’s thoughts on the war, etc.:

http://www.suntimes.com/output/letters/cst-edt-vox04a.html

And just so I don’t get my arse kicked or make dan think I hate him (you know I love you), I simply read this letter over lunch and thought it was interesting. I neither support nor reproach what he has to say, I’m sure his letter could be torn apart and crapped on by many people (e.i. Canadians) who completely disagree with his generalizations that millions of Canadians are embarrassed by Chretien.

Uh, any other disclaimers I need here? Consider them implied. I’m not good at this heated conversation stuff.

love you too tricia. here’s an interesting perspective from New Zealand, another member of the coalition of the unwilling. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3350894&thesection=news&thesubsection=world

Dan and others who may have been offended,

I apologize for the snotty remark earlier in the thread. There’s no excuse for it.

I’m not in the Middle East nor will I be (at least for a few months) in case some of you were wondering. I most certainly appreciate your prayers for the training I have been doing, though. I just finished a 10-day training rotation and should be back home (Tacoma) soon.

God Bless *cino

good to hear you’re still here Jason. Continue to keep us posted on how/where you are, and what, specifically, we can pray for.
Blessings,
Norb

Hi Jason. No offense taken. mrsanniep makes snooty coments to me all the time but I still like her :)

Oh, shut up, Dan. :)