I have more than a little sympathy for the families of those killed in the Iraq War. While I am not a parent, I still could not imagine losing a child in combat, and to know that the circumstances surrounding their death should have never happened in the first place would only make it worse. Having said that, things like this have got to stop:
“The 507th Maintenance Company was placed in a terrible predicament by the wanton desire of its command structure to race to Baghdad,” said the Rev. Tandy Sloan, father of Pvt. Brandon Sloan, 19, of Cleveland, Ohio.
I’m not blaming Mr. Sloan or any of the other parents who have called for an investigation into the ambush of the 507th. They are grieving parents looking for answers. I do, however, blame the media for making this into a major news story.
Let’s face it: people die in combat. When your son or daughter is part of a maintenance unit you don’t expect them to die, but it happens. War is chaotic, and the result of Clauswitzian “friction” is death. The convoy’s commander misunderstood and order, the convoy got separated from the rest of the column, and they came under fire. Some of them died.
I don’t mean to sound cold, but that’s just the way it is. People die in combat. The worst thing that could possibly happen is to have a commander afraid to commit his troops to combat because of potential media backlash over causalities. Death is simply part of war, and if we as a nation want to avoid death, then maybe we should do a better job of avoiding war.
-Death is simply part of war, and if we as a nation want to avoid death, then maybe we should do a better job of avoiding war.-
But in a sense, that’s what makes this a story. A growing number of Americans have doubts about whether we shoud have started the war in Iraq in the first place, and that makes each of these deaths all the more poignant — and all the more noteworthy.
[Even so, I acknowledge your point about the need to quit prodding every dead soldier's kin to cast blame elsewhere. That's just needless sensationalism, and it turns a serious story into something more like what you would expect to see on a cheap local newscast.]
Left by Greg Greene on July 11th, 2003
Too many news outlets too little news. That almost forces ‘journalistic creativity’ here and there.
Left by David M on July 11th, 2003
I think that line sums it up well. And I’m still not decided one way or the other on the necessity of the war, yet. The most unfortunate part is that our government is not doing a very good job worrying about convincing the population of the necessisty of it.
I’m willing to have a little faith. I’m willing to trust that the administration has better information than I do, and is a better decision making unit than I am. I’m willing… to a point. My willingness and faith are being stretched though, and I think there are many others in the same situation.
Left by Jordan on July 11th, 2003
I’d just like some indication that spending American blood and treasure in Iraq is accomplishing something.
Left by John on July 11th, 2003
All I am going to say is that it is sad that Americans have as little patience as they do attention span.
Left by Adam on July 12th, 2003
I don’t know Adam, I think my attention span far outstretches my patience. I’ve been paying attention for months, and my patience is pretty well dissolved.
Left by John on July 12th, 2003
I agree with John here; as far as the war has been concerned, the White House has been the least patient group of all.
Left by Dave on July 12th, 2003
>>I think my attention span far outstretches my patience
My point exactly.
Left by Adam on July 12th, 2003
It is accomplishing something. Bush takes control of a vital oil resource. Who cares about human lives or archeological treasures when oil is at stake.
Left by Eric on July 15th, 2003