The Taking of Baghdad Airport

[Attalus]

Look here for a great photo essay of the taking of the airport. So eerie to see the seats designed for waiting passengers and the immaculate flower beds.

They just HAD to put that dead Iraqi soldier in the last photo didn't they? (geez)

I really enjoy photo essays, thanks for the link, Attalus. [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

Did you happen to catch Dan Rather reporting from the airport on ABC news last night? "...your Iraqi Air flight has been permanently grounded." (maybe it was "cancelled" not grounded? Either way, it was weird hearing dan Rather say it) [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Skunk]

This to me is the real 'war pornography' - how we sell war as a 'cold beauty' - something romantic and something to be admired.

[Bardan the Slayer]

Didn't someone tell you? The Iraqis have expelled the american forces from the airport, inflicting heavy casualties on the infidels, including the destruction of 5 tanks.

The photographs are obviously fake. The Iraqi Information Minister says all this, so it must be true

[/sarcasm]

One thing I must confess is that the deeper we penetrate into Baghdad, the greater the chances that Saddam will unleash any WoMD that he *does* have on his own city. he doesn't care about civilian lives, and his back is up against the wall. What has he got to lose?

Of course, the best case scenario would be that he *tries* to use WoMD (thus giving extra ustification to the war, in the eyes of the naysayers), but fails to inflict any casualties, and then we kill him. I just hope it happens like that.

Originally posted by Skunk: This to me is the real 'war pornography' - how we sell war as a 'cold beauty' - something romantic and something to be admired.

They can leave out the blood and gore as far as I am concerned.

There is something poignant in catching the human element on film (imo) and it doesn't have to be done using war as a backdrop.

[ 04-06-2003, 09:57 AM: Message edited by: Lil Lil ]

[Skunk]

There is something poignant in catching the human element on film

But since those pictures are only about our 'brave boys at the front', does that imply that the brave civilians at the front are 'sub-human'?

Have a look at my brave countryman, here seen getting a picture taken for his family photo-album. And here is the perverseness of this war and the effect of dehumanising the population. The soldier smiles as he poses - and the civilians is literally praying that he will not die.

Here is the human element - without blood and gore:


[ 04-06-2003, 11:46 AM: Message edited by: Skunk ]

[Timber Loftis]

Originally posted by Skunk: This to me is the real 'war pornography' - how we sell war as a 'cold beauty' - something romantic and something to be admired.

Yeah, that's why it's so cool. Me, I like pornography.

And it is coldly romantic. Which I also like. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Be the beast, lest you will become the beast. Do not deny your animal nature. Admit it, accept it, and move on past it, I say. Just MHO. I'm entitled.

[Animal]

Originally posted by Lil Lil: Quote: Originally posted by Skunk: This to me is the real 'war pornography' - how we sell war as a 'cold beauty' - something romantic and something to be admired.

They can leave out the blood and gore as far as I am concerned.

There is something poignant in catching the human element on film (imo) and it doesn't have to be done using war as a backdrop.[/QUOTE]By using the war as a backdrop, you are in fact catching the true human element on film. Skunk's picture says it all.

This soldier is actually smiling while holding the muzzle of an assault rifle to the back of another human being. This is human nature at it's finest.

[Timber Loftis]

No, Animal, it is NOT human nature at its finest. This is:

However, both pictures show real sides of human nature and of war, and I for one want to see the whole truth. All sides. All realities. All points-of-view.

And I not only enjoy exploring the darker side of human existence, I also think it is essential to coming to grips with the human reality. The forest ain't all furry bunnies. Never has been.

[Animal]

I do understand that Skunk's picture only represents a minor portion of the forces that are over there, and am glad that you posted that so that we could see both sides of the equation.

What upsets me the most about this war, is the seemingly one sidedness of the reporting. I've read articles and posts detailing the graphic and inhumane actions by the Iraqis, yet very few regarding the same treatment of Iraqis perpetrated by the coalition.

I'm sure that most coalition troops are respectful, but you and I both know that there will be some who abuse their position and power. I think we need to hear about this side of the war as well.