Reading The Pictures: Before I Could Explain

Compared to almost any image and accompanying description I've seen these past five years, this says everything one needs to know about Cheney/Bush's Iraq war.

It was included in FirstPerson, a feature of the MSNBC website where readers can post their own pictures.  The specific section, titled "FirstPerson from the frontlines," is dedicated to images from U.S. soldiers in Iraq.  The picture was posted by "Anonymous," and the description reads as follows:

Picture of me and some Iraqi kids home alone in Ta'meem Ramadi in 2006.
They had a wall rug with a picture of the signing of the United States
Declaration of Independence in their living room.
I asked them if their parents told them what it meant and they did not have a clue.
Their parents purchased the rug in a market.  I also have a second picture of the entire wall rug.

We had to leave before I could explain what the picture meant.

Every time I think about this, I just want to cry.

For more leading -- and misleading -- political pictures, visit BAGnewsNotes.com.

FirstPerson from the frontlines (MSNBC)

Comments

[hoodrat]

There are some misguided peeps here. These kids, for right or wrong reasons - not of their choosing deserve your prayers. Most didn't join for GOD and Country - but for the opportunity to better their station in life, or to see different flora/fauna. If only you all were as vociferous to the leaders that put them there. Those Iraqi kids are hoodrats, as is their parents - and know all the tricks to survive. Meanwhile the child with the weapon gets a "Russian Roulette" style of police action(How many times in harms way). They are also there so you don't have to - and for your right to protest. They would protest, except they want to help their brothers/sisters on their flanks and back - stay safe. Protest the message - not the messenger.

[nyboomer]

In some ways this reminds me of GIs after WWII teaching children to say Fuck You instead of Thank You. The kids did not understand what they were being taught. I'm sure when they learned English well enough they were puzzled abnout the whole matter. The GIs just thought it was a hoot.

[LRM216]

My Dad was in WWII and he nor any of his buddies ever taught children anywhere to say "fuck you. " So I'd greatly appreciate it if you limited your usage of the word "GIs" to only the perverted few you must have known.

[thatvisionthing]

See that's the trouble, they're not teaching civics on TV anymore. Where's Captain Kirk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gutY7NnNuyA and Barney Fife http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBuPQgV8yBM&feature=related when we need them? We have seen the future and it is us.

[Counterglow]

And right after the guy with the big gun left, the rug went right back where rugs go...on the floor.

[Jonahson]

That's a good one. Using it as a passport during those unwelcome house visits.

[Jonahson]

One thing will never change - the heartless Americans. The war was brought right into the living rooms of the Iraqis. Not only did their hopes, freedom,and country are being destroyed hundreds of thousands have died. All the posts and blogs I came across only show concern for the US soldiers dying there, none mentioned that US should leave because of the ongoing Iraqi deaths; because of the war they caused. Let them fight for their freedom, US are attracting Al Qaeda with their presence once they leave then there is no reason for Al Qaeda to exist in Iraq. The Sunnis and Shiites are fierce fighters and they show they can fight them when they took control of security in their province recently. Let them solve their own problems. At the rate they are dying now how many Iraqis will remain after ten years as Bush and Cheney like to stay the course and 'win' this war.

[Pandu]

I keep hearing that there have been 4000 deaths in Iraq. Apparently only Americans count.

[Gilda]

So that's what happened to our constitutional rights! I was wondering where they went.

[2008WakingFromaNightmare]

Good ol W had Laura design a rug with them written on if for his office and he's walking all over them right now.

[Marnie1]

Considering the context of what American military personnel’s presence means to Iraqi's in terms of death, destruction, suffering and loss of freedom, it is probably just as well he didn't try to explain. It is unlikely that these young people would have believed a word.

[theboondocksaint]

Marnie-- Regardless of the implications of the picture, the fact that you think the Iraqis had MORE freedom and no suffering under Saddam shows how ignorant you are. Do you ever read anything other than Op-Eds? I'm depressed that you have the same political power as I do.

[John]

Marnie never said that Iraqis had no suffering under Saddam. Only that their situation is worse now than it was before. So pull your head out of your @ss and trying thinking before you write.

[melonman]

I'll bet you are depressed. You seem like the strong-armed type who can't win over folks with logic so wishes for power you fortunately don't have.

[GrandmaSue]

I wonder how many or any of them in the picture are still alive.

[oafishcad]

Maybe it's best that the picture was not explained by someone who volunteered to fight in the immoral, illegal Iraq war.

[WorkinJoe]

That's a lousy assumption. Most of the military was in before 9-11, and many who joined after 9-11 did so immediately, long before the decision and actual invasion. Save your outrage for the war's architects, not for the workin' joes in uniform.

[thatvisionthing]

But think of the tragic irony that the soldiers who understand their oath to the Constitution -- and I'm thinking Lt. Watada -- are exactly the soldiers who refused to go fight an illegal war. And the diplomats -- like John Brady Kiesling -- who resigned before the war in protest. Kiesling wrote a great and famous resignation letter to Colin Powell. See http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-brady-kiesling/why-we-said-no-three-dip_b_92488.html, there's a link in there to the letter. Who was left was Condoleezza Rice, and what a bangup job she does.

[klmebane]

thank you! i joined the marine corps in march of 2001.... i was in the delayed entry program so i could finish high school and was scheduled to go to boot camp in january of 2002. i joined in peace time, for college money, a chance to see the world, and to learn a trade. i did NOT sign on to bomb the shit out of a country that had nothing to do with 9/11. but once you sign on that dotted line the government essentially owns you.

[Sidewhispers]

The picture speaks to me of innocence and ignorance and is profoundly saddening. The rug might have been nothing more than a pretty rug to the missing parents, or its meaning might have been held in great esteem by this family. The children are innocent ...as children have a habit of being, period, and most especially in times of unjust wars. Their meekness speaks of no threat to Great USA, just as their country was no threat to us. The soldier thinks its a cool thing to see "Our Great Signing" on the walls of the defeated bad guys. His innocence, though, borders on ignorance. He is ignorant of just what a bully he seems, armed to the teeth beside these children who have had everything taken from them except their humanity.
This heartwrenching scene is a little depiction of the big injustice we have done and are still doing to these people.

[Jonahson]

Don't get too emotional over the rug. The family put it there just to show the US soldiers they are on their side. They will remove it once the soldiers are gone. Probably they also have insignias of the different miltias fighting there.
If they hang the rug permanenty there the family would have been wiped out by the militias get it?
It's a matter of working out their survival.

[Metacortex]

"We had to leave before I could explain what the picture meant."

Wrong!! He never had anything more important to do than to explain that...assuming he even knew.

[austinfreethinker]

First of all, our soldiers are not in Iraq on a diplomacy mission. It would be great if they were all armed with the talking points and spare time needed to talk about how great the history of the USA is, but that just isn't how it is. Let's be happy if they can stay alive and make it back home, shall we?

[thatvisionthing]

One of the points made in the Esquire article on Admiral Fallon (that got him fired) was that the military ARE the effective diplomatic corps now, more so than the state department. Comes with empire, comes with the military industrial complex.

[Marnie1]

No, they are there on a freedom and democracy mission.

[Metacortex]

"First of all, our soldiers are not in Iraq on a diplomacy mission."

[chillmonster]

?????

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Yup.

And when I was in college, I had a wall tapestry of the highest quality, featuring bulldogs smoking cigars and playing poker. I'm sure you know the masterwork.

When people asked me why of all things, that particular work graced my dorm room wall, I said, "Someday WE'll be the bulldogs to the next generation of college kids."

Life without meaning 101.

[johnpherson]

Well most 'mericans couldn't tell what it means either.

[twotrees]

I wonder how many of our citizens who still support this war and government know anything about that rug mosiac on the wall(i.e the declaration of independence). That Haiti story by booksnomoreforyou is a metaphor for the experience of the american populace I think.

[thatvisionthing]

Cry about this photo:

http://www.michaelmoore.com/_images/splash/050505-M-3044M-002-1.jpg

Marine tank named "New Testament" (painted on its muzzle) at Haditha in May 2005:
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/index.php?id=2750

Washington Times story http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/mikeinthenews/index.php?id=2799 has interesting fact, before Bush's War was named Operation Enduring Freedom, it was originally called Operation Infinite Justice. Be careful what you wish for...

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Hot lead has been replaced by cold iron(y).

[research]

I thought it was:

Operation Iraqi Liberation.

OIL

[thatvisionthing]

From the article:

[MikeDu]

Look at that boy in the middle of the picture. In another year or two he'll be shot down like a dog and labeled an 'Al Qaid terrorist' in the Pentagon presss briefing - if his death is goes noticed at all.