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The Truth?

Reader comment on item: Iraq: What's Next?

Submitted by David Umbarger (United States), Apr 1, 2003 at 01:48

Someone explain to me what exactly the "truth" is. What is it exactly we need to know about the conflict with Iraq? What are people looking for? Saddam admiited publicly he has aided, supported, and encouraged terrorist acts against Israel. The "truth" came straight from the mouth of the man himself. His actions also speak volumes. Saddam has given away millions of dollars to the families of Islamic militants. Of course the only thing this money costs families is the life of one of their sons. They then become the proud family of a martyr and hero of the Arab people.

I pose this question: If you were the son of a poor family with a bleak and miserable future and had little opportunity to provide anything better for them, would it bother you? We always say people around the globe are more alike than we would like to admit, so how can we believe this young man would not do everything in his power and range of capabilities to provide a better existence for his family. Still some will say we are trying to inflict our way of life on those who are perfectly happy with what they have now. Well, I for one can not believe a family in the desert with barely enough food or water to survive, little to no medical treatment, and many of life's other essentials would mind one bit American's, or any other country for that matter, providing them with modern availabilities in an effort to help them live a more comfortable existence. So, the son faced with the inevitability his little brother or mother might die of starvation, or some other equally as horrible condition and as easily preventable, hears a man from Baghdad is giving away thousands of dollars to young men's families he immediately becomes interested. He later realizes all he has to do is blow himself up on a bus, on a plane, in a building, church, school, or anyplace where a large group of people have gathered. This all in the name of Allah, or the more worshiped deity in America, the almighty dollar.

The people of Arab nations are no different than those of America; they will do anything to ensure the survival of their families. They will kill you, me, or anyone we love. I submit many of us would too if subjected to the same conditions these people are day after week after month after year as they are. We have no idea what it is like in these countries, and if you think for one minute that our military can do more damage to that country in a few weeks or months than what it has been experiencing since the dawn if time, you are the one who needs to seek the "truth". A few news stories covering the relatively small number of innocent people killed during a war is not the "truth".

A self-proclaimed "newsman", publicly scrutinizing the military and leadership of the very country he has claimed citizenship of for 25 years, is not the "truth". Peter Arnett is a traitor to the American people. His comments, aka the "truth", on Iraqi TV served only to further damage the perception of America in the Middle East, and possibly extend the suffering of the already abused and tortured people of Iraq. The "truth" is that on Iraqi TV there is no mention of the food and water brought by the coalition, the medical treatment given to the very people who have killed and are killing American and British soldiers, and the extremely dangerous and often foolish attempt of the ALLIES to avoid any loss of life by anyone in the conflict. After all, Saddam was given every opportunity to leave, his military was informed of the force it was up against, and they were given and still are given the opportunity to stop fighting now in order to spend their remaining lives in peace and friendship with the US and the rest of the world. The "truth" is not what you want it to be sir. In direct response to your advice to Americans to learn for themselves the realities of the war, I suggest you heed it yourself, because you are only regurgitating the very propaganda you have been force fed by anti-Americans, or should I say anti-everything but Arabs.

Do you really believe our life will be spared by these suicidal Muslims, because you thought and believed they were being wronged? My advice to you sir is to read the list of names of the INNOCENT victims of 9/11. If you do, you will find several Arab names right alongside those of us "EVIL AMERICAN DEVILS". God bless America, and all those who have, are, and will fight to the death for her. That's right, the "truth" is Americans are fanatical about something too, but because we want to be, not because we are told to be.
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Reader comments (34) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
treason? [185 words]ken yetzerApr 3, 2003 03:037985
Iraqi Peter [64 words]Love My SoldiersApr 2, 2003 06:037928
Professional issue, not a political one [79 words]Molly A. Badgett, APRApr 1, 2003 22:267914
Against war [29 words]Mohammad Ali KhalidApr 1, 2003 21:447911
Too Many Are Missing the Point [127 words]Jason McMahonApr 1, 2003 21:287910
Arnett [25 words]Edgardo GascaApr 1, 2003 21:117908
Arnett should seek another country [43 words]AnnetteApr 1, 2003 18:047894
Bravo arnet..la libertad de expresion no debe morir [60 words]dessin georgesApr 1, 2003 15:447877
Peter Arnett's freedom to speak [48 words]lucy koteenApr 1, 2003 09:397843
Pulitzer Prize for Deception [33 words]NickApr 1, 2003 09:237841
The Truth? [826 words]David UmbargerApr 1, 2003 01:487835
Arnett is entitled to his opinion but... [46 words]Sgt. William R. SayersMar 31, 2003 21:307829
Disgusted with Arnett [81 words]Dr. Larry LippincottMar 31, 2003 21:277828
Peter Arnett's Freedom of Speech [217 words]William Lucas JonesMar 31, 2003 19:567826
May he rot [106 words]DeeDee MoxieMar 31, 2003 18:577823
Arnett's firing is absurd [133 words]wpcMar 31, 2003 18:057822
Arnett the Traitor [13 words]John DanielsMar 31, 2003 17:297820
Peter Arnett [10 words]Rose Marie GruttadauriaMar 31, 2003 17:097818
Pulitzer Prize Winner - Mr. Arnett [66 words]Robert W. WylieMar 31, 2003 12:507812
Bravo Peter Arnett, bravo! [50 words]Laurie ManisMar 31, 2003 12:077810
Another Jane Fonda wannabe [154 words]Robert HuffordMar 31, 2003 10:397807
Peter Arnett fired [35 words]susana bonilla matthewsMar 31, 2003 09:347805
Re: Peter Arnett [199 words]Barbara MireauMar 31, 2003 07:377804
Peter Arnett [89 words]HowieMar 31, 2003 01:527801
Slimy Arnett [49 words]MYWhiteMar 31, 2003 00:097799
Peter Arnett [31 words]Les StierwaltMar 30, 2003 20:287792
Peter Arnett has hurt the war [34 words]John SchlagMar 30, 2003 19:237790
Arnett has gone too far" [100 words]Geraldine M SepulvedaMar 30, 2003 18:487789
another jane fonda [39 words]chester bartkoMar 30, 2003 18:177788
Heck, no he hasn't mellowed! [16 words]M. McAlexanderMar 30, 2003 18:117787
Drain the Swamp [109 words]Glenn KlotzAug 19, 2002 06:431987
Pearls Before Swine [181 words]D.R.Aug 17, 2002 00:531962
Has Peter Arnett mellowed? [35 words]Paul M. NevilleAug 16, 2002 17:341957
Matthews was unfair to Pipes and Hackworth [56 words]Alan MencheerAug 16, 2002 07:501949

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