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create_destinyThe following is an excerpt from a letter I received from a friend in Iraq:
...I am doing as O.K. as I can here. About the treatment of the POWs, everybody does it, even some of [us]. Americans are so cowboy. They tell us that we are being too nice when we treat POWs while they kick them and slap them around.
One captain sweep kicked a prisoner's feet out from under him while his hands were cuffed behind him and he was blind folded and he fell flat on his face. People are taking pictures of themselves while pointing guns at the prisoner's heads.
If you don't have any rank you're afraid to say anything and if you do have rank they don't want to challenge anyone.
A lot of the guard members are cops on the outside and they are the worst. Power corrupts and most every one here is acting like crooked cops. I hate to be a part of it but I have to be here. I've only seen a little mistreatment and have heard about the rest.
Our [superior] say if he hears about us ...being involved in any of it or not reporting it, he'll see we get charges brought against us. One of the [GIs] here is being "counseled" for kicking a prisoner, he went and bought handcuffs the next day. So you see what I have to go through everyday here.
There are a lot of criminals here because there is no infrastructure and the Iraqi police are being restructured. We cut deals with the locals but it's usually for something criminal in return, "you wash my back I'll wash yours." They got a regular racket going on here like organized crime and the Americans are just as much a part of it. We are the same where ever we go; we are the world police and crooked as hell.
I just pray a lot and try to mind my own business but I'm afraid I might get implicated in something just for being here. I've probably said more than I should but I don't care, this is so typical of American GIs. Our public image is so much different than reality, I'm glad those pictures got out.
I remember you to be pretty political, so you can say any of this to anyone, just don't use my name! I must not be in God's favor right now because it is hell over here. I just can't wait to come home.... I don't mean to be so negative, but that's what's really going on here! God bless you, and may he forgive me for my part in all this.
...I am doing as O.K. as I can here. About the treatment of the POWs, everybody does it, even some of [us]. Americans are so cowboy. They tell us that we are being too nice when we treat POWs while they kick them and slap them around.
One captain sweep kicked a prisoner's feet out from under him while his hands were cuffed behind him and he was blind folded and he fell flat on his face. People are taking pictures of themselves while pointing guns at the prisoner's heads.
If you don't have any rank you're afraid to say anything and if you do have rank they don't want to challenge anyone.
A lot of the guard members are cops on the outside and they are the worst. Power corrupts and most every one here is acting like crooked cops. I hate to be a part of it but I have to be here. I've only seen a little mistreatment and have heard about the rest.
Our [superior] say if he hears about us ...being involved in any of it or not reporting it, he'll see we get charges brought against us. One of the [GIs] here is being "counseled" for kicking a prisoner, he went and bought handcuffs the next day. So you see what I have to go through everyday here.
There are a lot of criminals here because there is no infrastructure and the Iraqi police are being restructured. We cut deals with the locals but it's usually for something criminal in return, "you wash my back I'll wash yours." They got a regular racket going on here like organized crime and the Americans are just as much a part of it. We are the same where ever we go; we are the world police and crooked as hell.
I just pray a lot and try to mind my own business but I'm afraid I might get implicated in something just for being here. I've probably said more than I should but I don't care, this is so typical of American GIs. Our public image is so much different than reality, I'm glad those pictures got out.
I remember you to be pretty political, so you can say any of this to anyone, just don't use my name! I must not be in God's favor right now because it is hell over here. I just can't wait to come home.... I don't mean to be so negative, but that's what's really going on here! God bless you, and may he forgive me for my part in all this.
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no subject
Date: 2004-05-10 02:47 pm (UTC)I believe Sadam was an evil dictator who committed mass-murder but I don't know if the U.S. being there is making it any better, for them or us.
This all makes me sad.
no subject
Date: 2004-05-10 02:50 pm (UTC)primary source..
Date: 2004-05-10 08:14 pm (UTC)it's all terrible. i haven't said much about it because i'm so speechless.. =/
ah, nice to meet you, by the way. ^^
no subject
Date: 2004-05-10 09:27 pm (UTC)We need no more Lynndie Englands.
And may God reward your letter writer tenfold on Earth as it is in Heaven for his part in all this.
no subject
Date: 2004-05-11 07:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-11 01:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-12 03:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-13 04:15 am (UTC)You are not responsible for the American atrocities prepatratred by the Bush administration. Be proud of being a dissenting American, go to the polls in November and get rid of the bastards.
Thanks for the book on Ginsberg, I remain orientated, much to your mothers dismay (joking).
I understand that some small Texas village has lost its idiot.
Larry