The Least Immoral Choice

[MountainLaurel]

I am an Army brat. I have seen the effects of war firsthand. My father fought in World War II and in the Korean War. I lived on Army posts and saw or heard about the human devastation of war each day.

During the Korean War my father served on the front lines, leaving us behind in Tokyo. Every day I read in the newspaper Stars and Stripes about soldiers being killed. I fell ill because of the emotional stress of having him at war, and at age 10 I ended up in Tokyo General Hospital.

snip

Finally, after nearly nine months, I was transferred to Brooke General Hospital in San Antonio. My mother, younger brother, younger sister and I were placed on an Army hospital plane with the most seriously wounded soldiers, who were to fly back with us. There were no seats on the plane, only three rows of litters, five high, all filled with badly wounded and dying soldiers, most of them still kids themselves. I was strapped to my litter, as they were, but my mother, brother and sister were ambulatory.

snip

The soldiers in the litters above and below me both died, blood dripping from their wounds. Many other soldiers died while we were in the air. We had to stop in Hawaii overnight to refuel and to leave the bodies.

I hope that when President Bush discusses sending more troops to Iraq, knowing that we will have to pull out sooner rather than later, that the conversation comes around to the human suffering. Does anyone at the table ask about the personal anguish, the long-term effects, emotional, psychological and financial, on the families of those killed, wounded or permanently disabled?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/08/AR2007010801417.html

[atreides1]

1. "that the conversation comes around to the human suffering."

In order for this kind of conversation to have any meaning, those discussing it would have to care about human suffering, I'm afraid the writer of this piece is giving this administration more credit
then it deserves.

[MountainLaurel]

3. Alas, I think you're right

Sociopaths of the worst sort.

[Solly Mack]

2. Recommended

A friend and I were taking new bedding and a few extras items to a wounded soldier who had spent months at Walter Reed recovering from his massive - and I do mean massive - injuries. He was finally well enough to return to his post where his rehabilitation continued for several more months.

My friends little boy was with us and he asked who the "stuff" was for and his mother explained.

He was silent for a minute and then said "Mommy, if Daddy is hurt, will some nice women get things for him if we can't be with him?"


No words.