How to Stop the Neocon Ego Trip?

[Taking Ramadi is reminiscent of our taking Italy and Germany during WW2. But there is a big difference -- the Germans and Italians had launched a war against us, not the other way around.

I cannot forget the costs of that war -- some 50 million killed. And on the personal level it more or less devastated two of my favorite uncles who never really recovered from its horrors Both had faced violent death and survived. One was in a tent during the taking of Italy with about 25 of his buddies when a German shell hit it -- he was the sole survivor. Both of these uncles returned -- not to complete the high school educations they had departed to enlist (5 sisters had done college and some professional studies towards various careers). Each had poverty level jobs and drinking problems. These would be what we now recognize as the effects of post traumatic stress.

Needless to say the children of Ramadi, their parents, and our troops are engaged in deadly combat which can do good for none of them. This neocon ego trip must be stopped before it does even more damage to America and those whom we are afflicting. Ed Kent]

.....................

U.S. and Iraq Take Ramadi a Neighborhood at a Time
By DEXTER FILKINS
American commanders have ringed Ramadi with thousands of
American and Iraqi troops and have begun to reclaim the
city neighborhood by neighborhood.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/27/world/middleeast/27ramadi.html?th&emc=th

..................

Some Insurgents Are Asking Iraq for Negotiations
By EDWARD WONG
Several Sunni-led insurgent groups have sought talks after
the prime minister presented a reconciliation plan.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/27/world/middleeast/27iraq.html?th&emc=th

..................

Military Fails Some Widows Over Benefits
By LIZETTE ALVAREZ
While the process of collecting survivor benefits is smooth
for many widows, others experience lost files and delays.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/27/us/27benefits.html?th&emc=th
--
"A war is just if there is no alternative, and the resort to arms is legitimate if they represent your last hope." (Livy cited by Machiavelli)
--
Ed Kent 718-951-5324 (voice mail only) [blind copies]
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PeaceEfforts/
http://BlogByEdKent.blogspot.com/
http://www.bloggernews.net