This picture broke my heart. American soldiers' hearts broken even before

[LittleApple81]

they leave for Iraq.

[Hubert Flottz]

1. Two breaking hearts there!

It is sad! It always is!

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[mopaul]

3. the army announced it's extending duty on thousands of men

until there are so few that they are ineffective. reserves and guardsmen are being sent too. i fear no matter who is in the white house, the draft is coming next year. nazi don't give a damn about such photos, they don't feel tugs at their evil cold hearts.

but they'd take a photo like this for recruiting or propagand purposes, twisting it's meaning into more jingoism and bloodlust.

but, as a human, the photo gets to me too, and as a father.

[LittleApple81]

4. Do you remember than picture (posted in DU recently) with the Iraqi

prisoner with his head covered by a black hood embracing his child (behind barbed wire)? THAT WAS ALSO HEART WRENCHING!!!! This war is full of tears and suffering.

[mopaul]

8. you weren't supposed to see that photo

i wouldn't be surprised if the photojournalist who took it didn't get shot and killed. over 50 journalsists so far have been iced over there.

[JP Belgium]

5. Hope he gets a photo-op like this

(Spanish troops returning home)

[Spentastic]

6. This picture

Should be given to every "volunteer" who is joining up to "receive a college education"

I feel for thos already in the grinder but it is imperative that the poverty draft is ended. Poor kids shouldn't be dying for rich folks oil.

[muchacho]

7. Shame

I can't keep from welling up when they show the dead at the end of the News Hour.

What a waste...and I defy anyone to explain to me in factual terms exactly why these people are dying for a greater cause.

Democracy? Please! Any 8 year old with an inquisitive mind knows the US is an enemy to our financial and strategics interest. Believing Iraq is going to move toward Democracy with Bush's is a study in self-delusion and phenomenal neglect of the facts

[LeftHander]

9. Report on radio of High School student at Graduation...

missing his father who is in Iraq....made me cry in my car.

I thought our military was supposed to be mostly young men from 18-25...

Seems there are a lot of 30+ men and women being sent with established familes...

[LagaLover]

10. We do have a lot of career

military people. Not all are "one term and out."

[Disturbed]

11. Veteran

I do feel bad for some of these people, especially the ones with families and young children. It will really be sad if Iraq turns into a Muslim Theocracy, unfriendly to the USA. After the US treatment of Iraqis I won't be surprised if that is the outcome.

There was more than "abuse" going on there. Torture, rapes, murders and robberies by US Troops and a system wide policy of ignoring the Genenva Conventions. War Crimes!

[LagaLover]

12. Unfortunately

the transgressions of a few troops have ramifications far beyond anything we could have imagined. I fear you are right, and many there will hate us for generations.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

13. all wars are criminal and destroy humanity on so many levels...jesus wept

[LagaLover]

14. I don't consider

defending yourself against aggression criminal...there have been instances of this in history.

[LittleApple81]

15. Iraqi father's hopelessness and humiliation...this war is terrible for all

concerned.

I am also adding this one. An Iraqi's father heart and hope broken too. This war is destroying so much...

[ConcernedCanuk]

16. Just for balance . . .

.
.
.The "Liberated"











"The Liberators"