Because I like seeing people get what they deserve, and as I argued with Kev last night, I see things for myself so I can have my own opinion on them. NO HEARSAY HERE

argue??? That was arguing?? I agree with you...I would have like to have hanged the SOB myself..

Of course you can have your own opinion... shiat, I have mine. :p He obviously deserves to rot in hell for what he did, but I just don't care to see stuff like that. Like it or not, he was still a human being. He'll be judged just as all the rest of us. ;)

He is FAR from a human being, he shouldn't even be categorized as an animal....

Scav,
I don't like looking at it. Frankly, I'm getting a bit numb.
If you like looking at this kind of stuff, have at it.

http://alternet.org/waroniraq/37572/

ps...I like you as a fellow horse racing enthusiast.

[quote=Downthestretch55]I don't like looking at it. Frankly, I'm getting a bit numb.
If you like looking at this kind of stuff, have at it.QUOTE]

I am an ex-highway patrol officer and I've seen some pretty bad accident scenes, but war photos, like the one's posted on that web site, are 100 times worse - anyone that condones and authorizes that type of killing and distruction of human life is merciless. I am having a very hard time believing that what we are doing in the middle east is going to save as many American lives as it is taking of Iraqi lives... why are "we" more valuable than "them"? 9-11 killed 3,000+ of us, and although I realize it damaged the lives of countless others through the loss of loved ones, is all of this really worth it? Was going to war in Iraq worth ALL of the lost lives? Even if Islamic extremists did even a few more 9-11 type attacks, is it still ok to create a situation like we've done it Iraq? I don't think so...

I want to believe that we went to war so that Haliburton and the oil companies could make a profit (good for the American economy - in the short term), as opposed to the thought that Bush, Cheney, Wulfowitz and Rumsfeld (fellow Americans and leaders of our country) are as power hungry and ruthless as all the other world leaders/dictators that have caused this type of misery... which is the lesser of two evils?

Just my thoughts... :(

Not saying I 'like' looking at it, I watch it so I can form an opinion on it, that my own eyes have registered.

Honestly, I watched when that guy got beheaded, because all these people were talking about it and this and that, and not one had seen it. How can you talk intelligently about something that you haven't even seen?

That's a legitimate statement... more people should be aware of exactly what's happening "out there" as opposed to sticking to what the pundits or political/religious leaders tell them to believe... I think more people would be outraged if they knew the "big picture" instead of just hearing "body counts" and seeing watered down images on American TV.

The world is a scary place and there are truly evil people in it... too bad more people aren't willing to realize that.

On that note, I'm going to go out and party now... Good night!

Derby Cat,
This article is too good not to share.
Let me know how you feel. And thanks for taking the time to read it.
http://www.ncrcafe.org/node/799
Hope you had a good party.

I'm with Cajun on this one....I want no parts of that video, not even the pictures. I'm not defending what he or his entourage did throughout his regime, but I gotta tell you, this really bothered me. I know that it wasn't the U.S. that carried out the punishment, but for some reason and I can't explain it, I feel like we stooped to a new low with this. I'm not trying to make this a debate over capital punishment at all, I just think it all comes down to two wrongs don't make a right. I think a lot of it boils down to the fact that it has been a useless war since day one and one that won't be over anytime soon and all this execution did was further ignite an already out of control fire. It's a mess....

Samarta,
Very well said. I agree.
Did you read the article? One post up.
DTS

Just did. thanks. I don't know what it was about this, but it really bothered me. Hard to explain. I was in the military after college, served 8 years, 4 overseas in a 3rd world country, saw some things that not matter how hard you try to explain, you can't do it justice, but nothing that I saw can compare with this. I think because we are supposed to be better than that and we weren't.

Samarta,
Somerfrost and I agreed on page one of this thread that this would pour gasoline on the fire.
Here's how an ally, Egyptian President Mubrak sees it. He speaks as an intermediary for many in the Arab world.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6233951.stm

I agree 100% with what he says. The biggest problem I have with the whole thing is how Washington is pretending that since he was turned over to Iraqi custody, they had nothing to do with it. You know it's almost like someone said, '"well how much worse can it get?"

In my opinion, if you think that the US is the big evil, get the hell out of America and go live in the middle east.

Not to be a jerk -- but that's a really bad attitude to have. Nobody, at least as far as i can tell, is trying to insinuate that the U.S. is the "big evil" here. They're just saying that the whole Saddam spectacle did nobody any good. Not a single person benefits from the disgusting way he was "executed" (if you can even use such a dignified term, when it was more accurately lynching or retaliatory joy killing).

I really hate the "if you don't like it, leave" argument -- because it cuts directly past the core of our country...that we're blessed with the right to not only dislike it, but absolutely HATE it at times....and it's still ours and we're still allowed to be a part of it. It's sort of counterintuitive to use that argument because it denies the very core of American values.

that's like saying since i don't like it when my husband farts in bed i should divorce him and move in with a loser.

Antitrust,
I'm sure you're kidding. If you really mean this, I've heard it before, a disgraced vice president that was named Spiro Agnew said exactly the same thing.
For you limited take...I live in the US because it is a great nation. I was born here. I have rights to free speech.
The United States is great, our leaders aren't, and neither are you.

You make some valid points about the core of out country, but I think that people should have some patriotism. I mean, terrorists have claimed war against the US, and all some people do over here while they live comfortably and without the fear of being bombed at the super-market, is bash the government and military actions.

While, using hindsight, invading Iraq has been a big problem for our country and was probably not the right move to do (especially that WMD crap), I will always back my government and military for trying to protect us US citizens. And I honestly believe that they (as in the govnt) made the decision to invade Iraq to protect us. I really dont give all the conspiricy theorist's a minute of my time.

There has not been a terrorist attack on US soil since 9/11, and that is not from lack of trying by the terrorists. It is because of the actions of our government and military.

I really feel upset when people bash our military and it's leaders when they are trying to end terrorism, maybe not in the correct way, but the terrorists are so very dangerous action needed to be taken and it was.

Believe me, I dont like Bush... being a gay woman who works in the gambling industry, I think Bush has a very closed minded views on social issues and it upsets me. But I am all for being and feeling safe where I live, even if I cant get married!

But hey, this is my opinion and everyone is entitled to one, I just feel uneasy when people dont support the war on terror.

First off, I am sorry that I support the people who protect me and the country I live in, and second, I am sorry I was happy to see the SOB saddam go.

You have all the free speech rights you want... doesnt mean I have to agree with the words that are typed off your fingers... not even a little bit.