SUNDAY REFLECTIONS 8/31/03
The End of Summer
I love August and the end of summer
I love sleeping with my sliding bedroom doors open
being lulled to sleep by the crickets
and awakened by the sun and songbirds .
I love wearing sandals and shorts to work
and bare feet at home .
I love watching the days slowly get shorter
as the sun drops deeper in the afternoon sky .
I love the first hint of fall as the nights
become cooler and the morning fog lingers longer.
I love my lovely home where I vacationed
this month nestled to its comforting bosom ~
letting the magic of its gardens and hearth restore
my restless soul.
---------------------------------------------- POLITICS
September is almost apon us and the great California
Recall is only 37 days away.
Schwarzenegger has self destructed by narcissistically
downplaying his Oui interview and fully revealing himself
as a joke.
Arianna 's progressive voice will ring clear during the
debates but she will not be taken seriously by the
majority of voters.
The recall will win big time because Davis has alienated
everyone and he has no visible and enthusiastic
foundation of support.
Bustamante will win because the latino vote will
unite along with a majority of Democrats and carry him
to victory.
------------------------------------------------ IRAQ
Polls
Posted: August 28, 2003
1:00 a.m. Eastern
© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com
A new survey shows more Americans now believe the war in Iraq will make the U.S. less, not more, safe from terrorism, representing a reversal of public opinion in recent weeks.
The survey, conducted by pollster Scott Rasmussen for Rasmussen Reports, found 41 percent of Americans now believe the U.S. is a more dangerous place since the war in Iraq. Just 39 percent, meanwhile, think that the war will make the U.S. safer in the long run.
"Those numbers represent a significant decline from earlier in the year," said the survey. "In April, while Operation Iraqi Freedom was in progress, 50 percent of Americans believed the war would make the U.S. safer, while 32 percent said it would make our country a more dangerous place to live."
The tide is turning and credibility still remains the
achilles heel of the Bush administration.
----------------------------------------------- NOTES FROM IRAQ
--Public Opinion (Chambersburg, Pennsylvania)
August 25, 2003
http://www.publicopiniononline.com/news/stories/20030825/localnews/127885.html
Public Opinion reporter Jaime North of
Chambersburg is a specialist in the U.S. Army Reserves,
serving with the 443rd Military Police. He contributes
occasional dispatches about his experiences in Iraq.
--
Contrary to reports made by senior ranking officials in the national media, morale among the troops is fast approaching an abysmal state. So much so that our unit recently went through a screening by military personnel who specialize in analyzing low morale.
Our leaders have done an admirable job in tackling this unsolvable dilemma. We have a functioning Morale Welfare Recreation (MWR) room with tables, board games, television, a DVD player and much-needed air conditioning. Our unit also set up four-day R&R trips to Doha, Qatar, for selected soldiers in dire need of rest and relaxation.
Most recently, our leaders have allowed us the opportunity to go into downtown Baghdad to enjoy the Olympic Aquatic Center Saddam Hussein built in hopes of attracting the Olympic Summer Games to Iraq in the future. Although Hussein's dream is ended, the coalition forces are thankful to catch relief from the constant 115-degree temperatures by dipping in the Olympic-sized pool and diving off the three platform dives..
Each time a group came back, I heard nothing but good things about the experience. Every time, a buddy of mine would say, "North, you have to go next time."
Anytime I hear about an opportunity to go along on a convoy, escort mission or trip away from our location, I hesitate, knowing full well of the many dangers lurking outside our guarded walls. I've already ventured numerous times in and about Baghdad, and each time my heart was in my throat. To each request, I would answer that it wasn't my cup of tea.
But after working three consecutive 12-hour shifts during what the locals have called the hottest part of summer, I reluctantly said that I would join the next group to the Aquatic Center. I just wanted one simple taste of summer pleasure. I could smell the chlorine. Today was the day I was supposed to go, but something tragic happened only hours before.
A sister company that we work with at the prison compound had a group come under attack while they were on their way to the center. Rumors say they went off to shop around town; nevertheless, they were in and about the area where I was supposed to be today.
The word I received from the group's fellow soldiers was that their humvee received small arms fire. As we're taught, they drove the humvee out of the kill zone. Unbeknownst to them, a land mine was in their exit route. One soldier was seriously wounded. He lost both his legs.
It's a horrific story I've gotten used to hearing. This time it really hit close to home. Not only did they attack a group of people I see occasionally, but it happened in an area where I was planning to be a few hours later. If that group hadn't gone, we may have been the targeted humvee. I have to say, I'm completely beside myself.
I know the excitement of war has worn off back home, with only a story or two about our actions appearing on TV and in newspapers every other day. Unfortunately, many times when reports mention casualties, the victims are depersonalized by the use of numbers. Many Americans may think that since
the combat portion of the war is complete, our soldiers are out of harm's way. So what if one or two soldiers get hurt or die, at least it's not hundreds. These are only isolated incidents.
But how many isolated incidents will it take for the American public to see a trend developing. I don't care about all the protests and editorials. All I know is that I'm here, and so are 100,000 other servicemen and
servicewomen.
Just like the constant fear I faced on the convoy from Kuwait, it only takes one incident for this situation to come to a tragic ending for me or my brothers and sisters.
After hearing the horrific news of the attack and that our trip was obviously canceled, I sat on my bed and stared at my wall filled with pictures. Pictures of me, my girlfriend, friends, family and favorite sports figures. I drifted in and out of consciousness, thinking of what I should be doing on a hot, humid August afternoon. I really can't wait for this punishment to end. In fact, I've never wanted anything more in my life.
I really don't think our morale is such a great concern. The only way to solve the problem is to go home. There's obvious work that still needs to be done, so our reunion with our loved ones will have to wait. Our time will come.
-------------------------------------- Personal comments
Latest wounded count 1400 +
Prediction : Bush will ride this illegal enduring war against
terrorism right into the election ~ regardless of the growing
body count and hundreds of maimed and wounded ~ while
at the same time accusing the dissenters of being traitors
or unpatriotic.
Remember, this war is still and has always been
about oil.
As witness ~Executive Order No 13303 , signed by
George W Bush in late May.
This states with respect to " all Iraqi petroleum and petroleum products, and interests therein", that "any attachment, judgment, decree, lien, execution, garnishment, or other judicial process is prohibited, and shall be deemed null and void".
In other words, according to Jim Vallette of the Institute of Policy Studies in Washington, " Bush has in effect unilaterally declared Iraqi oil to be the unassailable province of US oil corporations."
-----------------------------------------------
Allen L Roland
