05-18-2004, 02:19 AM
Asa non-muslim American, I am not surprised by the Iraqi abuse scandal. I forsaw this sort of inhumanity from the beginning, when U.S. forces invaded Iraq on St. Patrick's Day of 2003. The actions of American soldiers (rather, American psy-ops acting vicariously through soldiers) is completely unacceptable. What's more disturbing, is that now both sides will surely suffer more casualites, with the Iraqis calling for revenge, and American forces on hyper-sensitive patrols. In the midst of all this violence, India has recently elected a member of the Gahndi family back to top office. It's a shame we all can't be as enlightened as India these days.
I can't say to my muslim friends that most Americans are disgusted by these acts. Most likely condone them. But keep in perspective, hardly a majority of Iraqis would decry an American unit that was tortured. This war is no longer America vs. Iraq, it is violence vs. peace.