Iraq is the war that everyone wants to forget. Unfortunately, it is too important for the United States to do so. Because of Iraq's location amid the Persian Gulf oil fields, its long-term stability remains a vital interest of the U. Moreover, everything else that the United States must accomplish in the Middle East requires stability in Iraq. If Iraq collapses back into civil war—unfortunately still a very real possibility—it will undermine every other American policy initiative in the region and could exacerbate the global economic crisis by sparking another oil shock. The "surge" of U. However, problems still abound, although their nature has changed. You may change your billing preferences at any time in the Customer Center or call Customer Service. You will be notified in advance of any changes in rate or terms.
'Combat Barbie' has British Army backing
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Staff Sgt. David Bellavia was bleary eyed. He had been awake nearly 48 hours, denied sleep by a cacophony of sporadic gunfire aimed at him and his platoon as they made their way through the streets of Fallujah, Iraq. He had already seen his sergeant major, company commander and executive officer cut down by enemy fire, forcing him to assume command of A Company, Task Force , 1st Infantry Division. Now he was feet away from the front door of a house along an abandoned block in the city of , His Soldiers had searched nine houses along the street looking for six to eight insurgents that intelligence reports suggested were in the area. It was Nov.
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Jessica Lynch became an icon of the war. An all-American heroine, the story of her capture by the Iraqis and her rescue by US special forces became one of the great patriotic moments of the conflict. It couldn't have happened at a more crucial moment, when the talk was of coalition forces bogged down, of a victory too slow in coming. Her rescue will go down as one of the most stunning pieces of news management yet conceived. It provides a remarkable insight into the real influence of Hollywood producers on the Pentagon's media managers, and has produced a template from which America hopes to present its future wars. But the American media tactics, culminating in the Lynch episode, infuriated the British, who were supposed to be working alongside them in Doha, Qatar. This Sunday, the BBC's Correspondent programme reveals the inside story of the rescue that may not have been as heroic as portrayed, and of divisions at the heart of the allies' media operation.
I'm sorry this comment is over a year later than your blog post, but I only saw it today, and I couldn't leave the page without replying. Your post really spoke to me. I live near a military base in England, and this is something I've struggled with since moving here. I was appalled when waiting in a queue one day, and two young women started talking about a man who had just left the shop, saying it would be just terrible if anything were to happen to him at war "because he is so attractive". I was completely lost for words. I can't fathom how some people think this way. Is our value as human beings reliant only on our physical appearance? Is it somehow less of a tragedy if a physically unappealing person dies at war?
