Alive in Baghdad

[lucybean975]

Please remember: prior to the occupation, Al-Qaeda and other extremist groups were pretty much non-existent in Iraq. Also, whether someone was Sunni or Shi'a was not such an issue.

Occupiers tend to draw violent groups. The U.S. presence in Iraq became a poster child for Al-Qaeda recruitment. Occupiers also tend to engage in divide and conquer. Arguably, this is the genesis for the civil war.

No disrespect to the soldiers: most risked lives in belief this was for freedom.

[PatO7667]

THANK YOU. Al-Qaeda was a group set up by the US government to create fear and create some sort of backing for the war, along with Osama. The US wants control of the worlds oil supply because they see it as a way to control the population of the world. The war in Iraq and Afghanistan is simply to put the masons in control of the worlds energy source. What will result is that they will continue to supress alternative energy and use oil to control the world: New World Order. Don't let it happen

[Haaqi]

We invaded Iraq to get Saddam who had threatenedd H.W. Bushie (Revenge motive). It was a 'red herring' to distract dummy Americans from Osama, who was 'in bed,' with the Bushie family.

Now, over 4,000 Americans have died because they were manipulated.

Wake up, Americans!

[t4ac3y1]

Well done.

[Mrmoc7]

When liberators begin to be viewed as occupiers, it's time they leave. I know America wants to make sure that their blood, sweat and tears won't go for nothing, but you really have to leave. Your sons have died for this war, but all you'll get is a thank you. Not that you were asking for anything more, right?

[tubester4567]

Sooo, Iraqis were happy the US removed Suddam but things went downhill. It went downhill because of crazy Islamists planting bombs in the street and blowing people up. How come no one there ever mentions the extremists?? No guts? Scared to stand up to these barbaric scum?? I guess its easier to blame the US at least they wont cut off your head.

To all the anti US people, be careful what you wish for.

[PatO7667]

It went downhill because we went over there in the first place

[ak47523]

@PatO7667 No it wen't well until May 2003. Mainly because Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz were more concerned with the invasion and had no good plan for a counter insurgency. In fact I ask you to look at 2003. It was very interesting as many countries in the Middle East began making more moves towards democratic societies for fear of the U.S. Of course Bush messed it up, but had they done the invasion right it may have worked to bring democracy to that region. Even though I still would not think it was

[ak47523]

worth the cost in lives.

[Johnlocke29]

TIMES HUNDREDS MEN.......18 beers...sorry you did not understand my thoughts... i am dam proud to be an american...i have been to other places in this world and again i am proud and lucky to be an american citizen....... john locke...i served in the army in korea..an time in the hospital now south korea is a much better place to live.....try an spend a vacation in north korea.....with all their freedoms......hey try get a pen pal there..?? ya ya just e mail someone there.....

[Gertrudis67]

Fuck off sand buggy.

[ikshields]

There are no sand buggies in this video.

Though if you feel that badly about sand buggies, nobody's making you buy one.

They are inefficient for street driving, I'll admit, though not as bad as a Cadillac Escalade.

Perhaps we should go in order, and invite the Cadillac Escalade to fuck off, followed by some other large and ridiculous vehicles we can name, followed in their turn by sand buggies.

Ultimately, we may arrive at a good, orderly list of problem vehicles, ...

all neatly fucked-off.

[Kellers357]

Heres the problem with getting out of Iraq, mass genocide-like after we pulled out of Vietnam.

Also, we're fighting an ideaoligy, the war will never actually end, but the militants can be suppressed.

As for freedoms? Are you allowed to speed past an ambulance? Drive past a schoolbus while children debark? NO.

Besides, poverty isn't new to war-look at WW2.

Entire cities were burned to the ground.

[ikshields]

Some good points here, though the tone of them seems to add up to an apologia for war ("All's fair in war, so don't blame us").

Reference to "fighting an ideology" also begs for a delicious retort. ("Hey guys, let's go fight an ideology! Grab your ... um ... GUNS!")

Would love to hear your explanation of these statements, on the level of the overall logic and philosophy that created them. Does it work? Is it for the good, or something else (tactical advantage, rationalization, etc)?

[Johnlocke29]

well my friends an we all want the same thing.....WE americans are only a few hundred years old an NOW our life is very wonderful..you have had many hunderds of years of horibble tines,,,an NOTHING HAS CHANGED......AMERICA WAS NOT EVEN BORN....an your history .PLEASE DO BLAME US i love the freedom that america gave me...mem an WOMEN to speak their thoughts an excirse their god given rights.....

[ikshields]

Whew, John! It's clear from your profile page that you're no mud fence mentally (really nice selection of great films and an obvious interest in complex ideas).

So, what's up with the strange punctuation and grammar?

Is your keyboard on the blink, or did you type this in a hurry on your cell-phone?

Yikes! It's almost unreadable! ("horribble tines" is hilarious to contemplate, though...)

:-0

[scuddycares]

is this the latest daily kos propaganda...?

kurds consider american blood sacred.

sunnis want american protection from shia.

and al sadr is the only chump and political party in iraq that wants americans to leave immediately.

iraq is no longer a threat to its neighbors.

iraq is no longer getting saddams propaganda.

and of course, the free world political left HATES democratic elections and they as usual LIE and call it a 'puppet govt.'

the left is just doing al sadrs biddin in youtube

[Uncerwood]

scuddycares: This is the far left trying to scare people to get out of Iraque. Notice the person posting is an O supporter? can tell it is mostly pessimistic and has O's picture for an icon. I don't fall for this crap.

[ikshields]

C'mon, listen! Before you start making stupid remarks about "the left", pay attention to your own good sense.

The Iraqi citizens in this vid aren't ranting against the US -- they're giving an honest reaction to conditions in their city that's completely understandable. They seem, in fact, to be considerably more tolerant and realistic about a foreign army's tanks rolling through their city than any of us would be!

So please, drop the silly political blather, and try a little empathy instead.

[scuddycares]

ohhh empathy. no mention of them having some mpathy when it was iraqi tanks in kuwait city and iran. or scud missles in israel and saudi arabia.

if they had empathy, then they(and you) would understand why forieng tanks are cruising their city.

[ikshields]

"Them", in your mind, is who exactly?

The Iraqi folks in the street from this video, about whom we are talking and for whom I am suggesting empathy?

Point me to "their" tanks and Scud missiles please.

Do single out the callous monsters here, these housewives and grandpas and falafel shop waiters, who were responsible for the Kuwait invasion, and I'll happily reconsider my empathy with them.

In the meantime, your grudges are as vague as fog, and as phony as any other excuse for inhumanity.

[roguechedder23]

Good stuff

keep up the good work

[GarrettDoyle]

why aren't you out in the field Lindsay??

[adrocksonice]

o my god.

thats....sad.

[cinderskenney]

Ahhh, policy. And how can they get real policy with a puppet government? The people are being oppressed everywhere. Ron Paul 2008!

[ls1z28chris]

This provides a very important perspective to the American people. Great job.

[TokyoPlumber]

Great report. Despite massive media coverage of the war in Iraq we almost never hear the thoughts, feeling and concerns of regular Iraqi citizens ... thanks for showing this!

[cursedsilly]

Massive?

An average of two minutes of Iraq coverage, per network, per week is 'massive'?

[TokyoPlumber]

Although media coverage of the war is not as intense as it was early on in the fighting there are still regular reports on this issue. In five years of fighting media outlets around the world have looked at this conflict from every possible angle ... in total there are probably tens of thousands of hours of news reports on the Iraq war (seems massive to me). My point was simply that given all the media coverage of the war we rarely ever hear from normal Iraqis (and I find this disturbing).

[cursedsilly]

I don't recall anyone strapping suicide bombs on before we invaded.

The admin just wanted to make a quick buck off the reconstruction of Iraq.