Since the war against Iraq began, each day presents moredisturbing and frightening images.
In only a few days, we have suffered casualties. I have seenU.S. prisoners of war as they marched with their hands over-head. Ihave been jolted by the sight of journalists bringing us mediacoverage while donning gas masks. Soldiers are missing.
Iraq has five prisoners of war, including a woman, and Husseinhas boasted proudly that these prisoners will not be treated well.We have lost a well-respected and talented British journalist. Andas President Bush said in a speech this past weekend, "We areonly a few days into this war."
That is a scary thought.
This is just the beginning. The death toll will continue toclimb. Though we enter war knowing the death of soldiers is anabrasive reality, we are not numb to the emotion and feeling thataccompanies learning of a casualty. We also enter war with theassumption that soldiers will protect not only their country, butalso one another.
So how do we judge Asan Akbar?
Akbar killed a fellow soldier and wounded 13 others with thegrenade he threw into their camp. Reports now tell us that Akbarchanged his name from Mark Kools about four years ago.Additionally, he does not agree with the war. Perhaps Akbar thoughthis gesture would end the war. Perhaps he just wanted to expresshis feelings. Whatever the reason, he is at fault for the death ofa person that he should have felt loyalty to. Akbar waged a waragainst his fellow soldiers. How courageous. How brave. Howtreasonous. How sad.
We expect heinous war crimes from the leader and soldiers of thecountry we are engaged to deliver to freedom. We have heard of thehorrific images broadcast on Iraqi and Al-Jazeera television.Images of our executed soldiers were broadcast. Body parts of oursoldiers were broadcast. As paralyzing as these horrendous actsare, we are not surprised. We are at war and these are the resultsof war.
Our communities are deeply divided about the U.S. initiation ofthis war. Many feel that this war is not justified. Some have saidthe U.S. is not a true democracy and we have no right to impose theidea of democracy on another country when we cannot get it rightwithin our own borders. Whatever the viewpoint, no one is justifiedin killing someone who happens to disagree.
Akbar is not a soldier. He is not brave. He is not courageous.He is a coward. He has brought shame and dishonor to our country. Ihope this soldier is punished to the fullest extent of the law.
