There are two aspects to every war. There are the self-serving, sit-at-home political leaders and the brave youths who are sent to fight. Wilfred Owen had put it well long ago:
What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?
–Only the monstrous anger of the guns.
Only the stuttering rifles’ rapid rattle
Can patter out their hasty orisons.
No mockeries for them from prayers or bells,
Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,-
The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;
And bugles calling for them from sad shires.
Anthem for a Doomed Youth
The mainstream media is now complaining about the ‘cattle’ trying to protect itself. Fox News is of the opinion that the US marines in Iraq are too sensitive to death. The Marine Corps’ office in Fallujah has a sign on its door, saying
Have a Plan to Kill Everyone You Meet.
Fox News thinks this to be taking things too far. Why on earth would anyone have such a message hanging on their doors? Has the US military turned into butchers? This is faulty reporting. Every military contingent in the world has emotionally charged messages inspiring them. This is done to keep the soldiers alert. Sure enough, the military high command, it has pointed out the need for extreme alertness in Iraq.
The Fox reporter was reluctantly forced to wear metallic amour! In naive bravado, he writes about the redundancy of such heavy protection. The ‘cattle’ are also foolish to wear protective body gear. In every war, everybody but the soldiers win.
The third aspect of war, often missed and glossed over, is the hungry media. Journalists want to bend events to suit their purposes; as long as they have a paying story. Everything reduces to stories for them. The invasion of Iraq is just another story for them. Rather the focus should be on how complacency is slowly creeping in the Marine ranks in Iraq which is crawling towards peace.
Last year has been one of the most peaceful years in Iraq and the US army is starting to think how good the going is getting. This will give the enemies opportunity to attack suddenly with a hitherto unforeseen violence.
Image: Boston.com
Via: Fox News
