"Our thoughts form the universe. They always matter." - Citizen G'Kar, Babylon 5

He called himself "G'Kar?" Does that make Bush Londo Mollari or Emperor Catargia? 'Cause he sure as hell ain't John Sheridan.

I've only heard of two American deaths in Iraq recently from press reports, and the report of those had been held back a week. Was he one of them, or are there ongoing U.S. war casualties not being announced?

Thank you Mr. Bush for killing one more wonderful soul. This is so senseless, and makes me so mad.

At least, Andy's soul will continue through the power of his blog.

Fellow blogger
http://lamarguerite.wordpress.com

Andy, I didn't want to read this. You were too real to me. Your wit and wisdom were the reason that I read you; you had above all, class and dignity. Peace, and love to your spirit, and to all of the people who you have touched. Now, to somnehow get through this day without crying anymore.

How did he die?

It is true that we depend, as a nation, upon the courageous men and women ... thousands just like this young man ... who believe as they do and who will count their own lives as forfeit in service of their country.

And yet, I grieve.

I grieve.

I grieve at the thought of other men and women who count not the cost of their own actions, of their own votes in the houses of our government (when they choose to bother to even show up and cast them), of the workings of their own ink-pens. Men and women so craven that they consider their work done when they have ensured that their own sons and daughters are "out of harm's way." Such men and women are not worthy to tread in the dust where these men and women's boots have daily tread. Nor are they worthy to press their oh-so-expensive shoes across the hallways of our government ... the same halls where so many noble men and women have trod, but they are not noble men.

I grieve, in helpless and furious rage, in the hope that "these honored dead shall not have died in vain." I scream, just one voice (and yet I know, not "just one voice") for justice; for the law. Yes, for vengeance for this young man's blood and for the blood of so many thousands like him.

We KNOW this! We SEE it! We have read history and we REMEMBER this! What merit is left to our nation if there can be no justice?

"Forbid it, almighty God!"

I'm sorry that this soldier asked for his death not to be used for any purpose, because each and every death, whether American, British, or Iraqi, should be used to stop this madness that war is, and to promote peace.

Since after all, that's what all that war is about : killings resulting in deaths. Killings of young ones resulting in deaths of your ones.

How absurd !

The warrior is dead.
No single bullet can claim
Responsibility for the death
of bravery....
Acceptance or denial,
Which word will be your answer;
as if the question makes a difference.
When all warriors are dead
where does life go?


D.J. Fahey

This soldier's post reminds me of a song that was hailed at the dawn of the new millenium as the most "important" song of the 20th century - "Strange Fruit" sung by Billy Holiday. After reading his final message describing his "love" of his "job", I began to have great difficulty putting such thoughts into perspective. If his feelings for his wife and the life they shared were in fact true as described, I suspect he never would have volunteered to fight a war of aggression that was thrust upon this nation with purposeful deception. I can only base my observations on my own real life experience. And that experience tells me no love of a job or call to duty could ever make me risk my life with the family I love. The only time I could conceive of putting that life at risk would be if my family's life or well being were put at risk - as such lives were clearly endangered by the agression the world witnessed at the hands of the axis powers in WWII. This man's love of his job is very strange to me - almost alien. His decisions and actions have wrought horrible consequences for himself and his family. Sadly there is no clear and discernable benefit from his sacrifice and the sacrifices of his loved ones. This tree has no fruit to bear - only heartbreak and despair. Strange love indeed.

"The tragedy of life is not so much what men suffer, but rather what they miss."

Carlyle

It will be beyond ironic when the Iraqis have universal health care, free college and a religously based constitution, and at the rate things are going, a stronger currency.

"Freedom Isn't Free"...

"What would you do
If someone told you to fight for freedom?
Cause the only reason that you're here
Is cause folks died for you in the past
So maybe now it's your turn
To die kicking some ass"

Well, the problem is...we AREN'T fighting for "freedom" in IRAQ!...
Just as we WEREN'T fighting for "freedom" in VIETNAM!

"Born On The Fourth Of July"...

"It's all bullshit. I mean, the government sold us a bill of goods and we bought it, and got the shit kicked out of us, and for what, huh? We went to Vietnam to stop communism! We shell women and children! That was the war, communism, the incidious evil! They told us to go. Thou shalt not kill, Mom. Thou shalt not kill women and children! Thou shalt not kill! Remember? Isn't that what you taught us? Isn't that what they taught us?"

"If there is an afterlife, I'm telling anyone who asks that I went down surrounded by hundreds of insurgents defending a village composed solely of innocent women and children. It'll be our little secret, ok?"

And innocent men, women and children went down surrounded by Bush's Blackwater bullies. It'll be Bush's little secret, ok?

"I believe we understate the costs of war; when we make the decision to fight, we make the decision to kill, and that means lives and families destroyed. A decision whether or not to go to war in Iraq had very real consequences for hundreds of thousands of people."

Stay safe, healthy and happy,
Love, Loretta

Thank you.

Another victim of the Chickenhawks. Another victim of incompetent leadership. Another victim of invading the wrong country.

Perhaps if the surge had been in America, instead of Iraq, America would be a better place now. Oh, I forgot, Republicans only believe in spending money overseas, on "defense" programs. Anything else is considered wasteful. Like body armor, helmets that protect, rifles that don't jam when they are needed, and health insurance for children.

Is the economy healthy because Exxon made $40 billion last year? I hope they can sleep at night.