"A Chance in Hell" by Mad Man | The Pilot: Southern Pines, NC

A Chance in Hell

August 2, 2011

Regardless of where you stand on America's dual wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, particularly if your support has waned somewhat in recent years, it's important to separate the actions of the 19-year olds who make up most of the soldiery there from the people who keep us there now. The average person in the US has little awareness the war because most of us really aren't touched on a day-to-day basis. Each day brings another headline, but what is new?

My nephew, Ross Taylor, is a photojournalist for another, much larger Pilot newspaper, in Norfolk, VA. Early this year he was embedded with a combat unit in Iraq, and in June went to Afghanistan. This most recent work was in a trauma hospital near the front lines, if there is such a thing in Afghanistan. He said he's never seen anything like it, in life or photography. Every day the severely wounded came in - soldier and Afghans, and children. Lots of children. They have published a story about this experience.

Ross' work, and that of his writer companion is both graphic and moving. Extremely moving, but not for the faint of heart. I am sharing a link to this five-day series partly because it is something I'm proud of him for doing. More importantly, it is something you should see- the hidden cost of our wars in the Middle East. As I say it is graphic, something journalists don't get access to on a regular basis. Certainly something the public doesn't see, but should. It's painful. But then, it should be if we are sending our kids there to fight.

I hope you will take time to view this series. I suspect you'll never feel quite the same way again. link text

skylinefirepest 8 months, 3 weeks ago

As a matter of absolute fact, Viper, Wmd's were found...unless you think that over a metric ton of yellowcake is not a problem! We also have intel that shows that a bunch of "stuff" went to other countries before the war started. Iraq had a slew of weapons that you really wouldn't want to get shot at you. And the intelligence corps of several countries agreed beforehand. Were they right? Not totally, I'll give you.

skylinefirepest 8 months, 2 weeks ago

Viper...the existence of the yellowcake was made public some years ago. The weapons caches were photographed and also made public years ago. Because Saddam did not use them doesn't mean he didn't have access to them.

Courseaire 8 months, 2 weeks ago

The Iraq's also had a weapon of mass destruction that targeted only children. It was used specifically to terrorize the curds and whey too dangerous to let go unchecked. The invasion allowed the complete destruction of the nerve agent, Pattycake,