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May 21, 2005
Saddam's Skivvies
Every once in a while, just to shake you up, I'm going to reveal a side of me that doesn't follow the expected lefty line. And this post is one of those moments.
The big hullaballoo right now is that a British tabloid is running photos apparently taken by the US military, showing Saddam Hussein in his underwear. The Pentagon is launching an investigation into who took the photos, and saying they may be in violation of the Geneva Convention.
You know, I oppose W's war in Iraq. There were no weapons of mass destruction, Bush lied about it deliberately to go to war, and I don't believe that the United States is any safer today because Saddam Hussein is out of power. But I have no problem whatsoever with these photographs being released.
Because of my outspoken and deeply held disgust for W and his henchmen, I suppose it may be easy to forget or overlook the fact that I am a veteran. I proudly served my country in the US Naval Reserve from 1991-1995. I never got closer to Kuwait than DisneyWorld, but nonetheless I was on active duty while we had troops in Kuwait and Iraq. The sailors were my shipmates; the Marines and troops were my fellow members of the military brotherhood. And I watched what Saddam Hussein did to my brothers and sisters.
You think photos of Saddam in his skivvies is a violation of privacy? How about getting the hell beaten out of you by an enemy, then put on television with all your wounds for the world to see, and being forced to read propaganda against the nation you serve?
I remember these photos. I remember what Saddam Hussein did. And to claim that a man who so callously disdained the Geneva Convention fourteen years ago is now entitled to the protections afforded by it... well, my response is simply this:
Tough luck, Saddam. Nice tighty whities, ya little bitch. Hope we get pictures of your cavity search next, you bastard. And I hope the instruments they use on you are nice and sharp. By the way, Jeffrey Zaun and Melissa Rathbun say hi.
