Is there hope that Iraq vets will release pictures that they've taken?

[CoffeeCat]

Many of our soldiers in Iraq have cameras, and many of them have taken pictures that tell the true story of Iraq. I wonder, as these soldiers return--if they will have the courage to share these pictures with the rest of the world?

Last night, our family went to a local carnival. I stopped by one of the tables and struck up a conversation with a volunteer. Her name was Mona. Her grandson just returned from Iraq--she told me. She said he was doing fine, but he was having a difficult time getting the war out of his head. She told me that he shared pictures with the family--that he took in Iraq.

The devastation on her face was so sad. It was as if her grandson had opened her eyes to a world that she didn't want to admit existed.

I asked her about the pictures and of his perceptions of the war, "Is it worse than what the media shows?" She shook her head and said, "We see nothing. You should see these pictures." She had tears in her eyes. I asked her what was in the pictures and she said, "The children. They don't show the children. There are so many of them and they're wandering around with such pain in their eyes. So many Iraqi children are hurt and killed in this war and we never see this."

I asked Mona if her son thought that our country should be in Iraq. "No. Absolutely not," she said.
"And anyone who sees these pictures, could never agree with us being there. It's just awful."

I gave her a hug and tried to enjoy the rest of the evening with my family. It was difficult.

Somewhere--in our soldier's cameras--are the images that will reveal the truth and help America realize that this war needs to end now.

I hope the world sees them soon.

[DS1]

1. I've seen pictures taken by guys who are in Iraq right now

and they're all typically "dudes in front of a tank" pictures.

No violence.