I totally agree with you on this Melissa.

That blog was amazing, Kaysar.

Peace and happiness

JaimeRae

Brava Kaysar, you said it.  Too bad nobody will listen that is in charge. Hopefully a statement of the American People in November will make some people take notice, I wouldnt hold my breath on that, but all it takes is one voice and maybe many more voices will arise without violence.

Peace

Gay Lynn

Kaysar, you speak for so many people.  Thank you for expressing our opinion so much better than most of us can.  You are an inspiration to me.  I love your kindness.

Vikki

Kaysar,

I respect your opinion, especially because Iraq is your homeland, but I disagree with you. You say that "We have ruined an entire society as we attempt to spread freedom." Many Iraqi people are glad that we helped rid the country of a tyrannical dictator and are helping to establish democracy. I wish that war did not have to happen, but peace does not always come without a price.

Respectfully yours,

Tammie

I want to see democracy in Iraq and peace in the Middle East and American soldiers home with their families.  But how do we achieve this??   We (America) can't leave Iraq until a stable government exist.  Yet the two Islamic groups(sunni and shite) keep fighting each other and other outside groups (al queda or some other group) keep incouraging them to fight each other.  Even this week Prime Min. Malikai (sp?) instead of  supporting the arrest of an alleged murderer....said to let him go.   If the government insist on taking sides against it's own people, and not supporting tolerance.....what do we do??  Leave and let civil war break out??  I don't believe anyone wants us to do that. 

If we caused this situation by taking Saddam out of power, then we have to stand up and fix it,  but we will need the help of the Iraqi people to do that. 

well said...

Your blog has ignited some healthy discussion and I hope these things continue to get discussed so that it's not so easy for us to stay so far removed from what is actually happening in the world.  It is very sad that in today's day and age people are still going to war and all of that stuff is still happening.  It is very easy for most of us to forget about it or push it to the back of our minds and continue on with our daily lives.  Not everyone has that luxury.  Some of the things in your blog really hit home with me and you've given me a lot to think about.

Thank-you,

Lori 

Hey Kaysar...

If there is one thing I know thats 100% for certain to happen, its the USA going and slaughtering people around the world.

This country was NOT founded on killing, we were founded by people who were being killed themselves, and wanted to provide ourselves with a better life.

So, when I see that every 10 years the USA goes into a country, slaughters, murders, rapes, and brutally humiliates that countries people, I cant help but think how we are NOT the govermnent, the people, or the democracy we were founded to be. How can we turn into the government and country we ourselves escaped from? How can anyone from a foreign country, such as Iraq, WANT to come to the country of the people who slaughtered their brothers and sisters? Its like the Jews moving BACK to Germany... FOR WHAT REASON!!?? How can we, our own people, who were born and raised here, allow this to happen, not just to our own soldiers, but to people who are fleeing this in their own countries? How is this just, correct, and accepted? So much for being a melting pot and having freedom to be and love and do what you wish.

I am sorry for everything that happens around the world. We are NOT a superpower, we are a superbully! We are not United we are now Divided! We are NOT peaceful, we are violent! We dont want freedom, we want oil! WHEN, WHERE, AND HOW WILL THIS STOP!!

Thank you for putting in your insight and letting us see where you stand. We learn a lot from people who have seen and been on both sides of the illogical barrier of truth, dignity and passion. A person from both sides, who knows the difference between right and wrong. Yes, peace on earth is PRICELESS, but so are the peoples lives that create the peace, and Im tired of losing more priceless lives, to create something priceless. IT DOES NOT TAKE LIVES TO SAVE LIVES!!

ROGER ALFORD

Sigh...I could quote so many stats...go on about all the reasons why this war should or shouldn't have happened. Either side would have so many valid reasons... Personally, this war is the first conflict in my life time that I as an adult have not supported. But I'd like to throw one more aspect in here. WHEN do we as HUMANS start policing ourselves and not allow the outside forces that are truely at the root ( I believe) of this particular conflict. I have to agree with Tammi to some point. There are in fact many Iraq's that are glad Saddam is no longer in power and I believe that the soliders there or the reasons they were sent there are not to blame here. But the countless insergents that have ALSO invaded  the country due only to THEIR hatered of Americans or Christians (take your pick) it's not pretty, but it's there and it's not just towards Christians I might add. It's anyone that happens to not see things as they do.  It's a vicious vicious circle. Round and Round and Round we go and debate. In George H. Bushs' book that he wrote about his time as president, he talked about the reasons HE did not go all the way to Baghdad during the desert storm conflict as many thought he should have. Even Norman Swartskoff ( had he had his way at the time) has said he not only wanted to but would have gone all the way to baghdad.  Bush Seniors reason was that there was NO VIABLE EXIT due to the level of  hostility towards Americans in the region. I might add that not one but two sitting presidents had Saddam in a snippers cross hairs and gave the order NOT to take the shot at the last minute. So...Where does that leave us? Like you, I don't have any answers here either. And your right, in any war...it will always be the inocent that suffer the most. having been alive (although a child) I can so clearly remember the effects that Vietnam had on this country. It seems the only lesson we learned from THAT particular war is that we as a nation will NEVER again treat our troops the way the Vietnam vets were treated. That was the lesson the American people learned. It took 30 years before the government officials in charge at that time to publicly admit that they were in fact wrong to have escalated time and time again in a war that we could not possibly win...I hope that what I've said here will be taken in the spirit it was intended... I also have another reason to not aggree with this war. My son is 17 now...he graduates from highschool next year...he wants to go I nto the Marines and there's nothing wrong with that in its self...This war started when he was in the 7TH grade. Before he was even born if you go back to Desert Storm...need I say more? I pray for all of us to find a way out of this...and  for all to realize that we all live in the same world breath the same air , need food to eat , and even want pretty much the same things for our families. for them to be safe and able to live a peacefull life and prosper. Whatever that is to the individual... Again I hope what I'm trying to say has come across correctly...I men no harm towards any...

Jeanne  

Thanks Kaysar. One of the things I admire most about you is that you are not afraid to talk about the important issues. My brother was in Iraq with the Marines for almost a year, and I'm sure I would feel differently had anything bad happened to him while he was over there. Because of his experience, I see both sides of this issue. I am thankful that we have the freedom of speech to discuss our ideas and opinions like this. Thank you for talking with me and all of us online. I agree that we can all benefit from having healthy discussions like this.

Sincerely,

Tammie

Oh, Kaysar...This is so sad.How many people must we kill or how many have to die in the name of peace? Why can't we all just respect each other? I was at a Santana Concert 3 weeks ago and Carlos Santana tearfully begged us all to get along and show respect for each other and our differences. I would so love to see peace on earth in my lifetime.If we do not, our future generations will have no future. God bless you, your family and friends both here and in Iraq. You are a special person.

Peace,

Dawn Scott

Its amazing how we can just go on living our lives day after day knowing there is a war going on over seas and we will occasionally listen to the news and they throw out a number like its nothing, but its amazing how fast that number has grown. I can't believe how emotionless we have become to these numbers. To me every single number counts. Every life lost was a person. Its so sad to see it hit me in the face, like Wow, its really gone this far.

Thanks for showing the prospective Kaysar. Peace can't be too far, can it? Its in our hearts, I wish it were in those that really need it.

KAYSAR, I JUST FINISHED READING THE WHOLE BLOG AND I WAS MOVED TO TEARS. THANK YOU FOR PUTTING IN WRITING AND GETTING PEOPLE TO THINK. I'M FORWARDING IT TO MY BROTHER AT OHIO STATE AND HE IS POSTING IT IN HIS DORM. PLEASE, PLEASE KEEP WRITING AND MAYBE ONE DAY EVERYBODY WILL SEE PEACE IS THE ANSWER

Thank you... You have such an amazing heart- I still can't believe how quickly this world is falling to pieces. When Bush was (s)elected the first time, I thought to myself, "Well, how much damage can he possibly do in 4 years?" Then four years later I found out. Less than that actually... So he gets another four years and two years in I shudder to think how much more he can destroy in his remaining time in office- especially when EVERY brach of government is stacked in his favor right now. So much for checks and balances.

You cannot force your will on people. It's been proven time and time again. Bush is going to "stay the course". What course? Armageddon? I have heard the fundamentalist Christians say that we should nuke the entire Middle East. No wonder why Ghandi said, "I love your Christ, but your Christians are so unchrist like". If you are killing for Christ, you missed the point.

Ahhh...anyway...thanks again Kaysar for continuing to care and for using this forum to educate.

I know someone whom has been sent to iraq a number of times now and had to come back early due to the horrible things being seen and done because of this war, when he told some of the things he's seen happen i cried it is ridiculus the things that have been going on. I myself have spent the last few years trying to understand why this war is still happening, and what exactly is even being fought for now. it's very hard to remember why this is all happening when all you see or hear on the news is more innocent lives being lost, and what is worse is the things that are not on the news, the many children whose lives were lost because of this very inhumaine attempt to accomplish peace. This world will never accomplish peace if we continue to resort to violence in our feeble attempts, claiming freedom as the reason.

Dear Kaysar ... As a man with little words ... When you do have words they are inspiring to many people that come from all walks of life ... I believe there is a god ... And he comes in many forms ... As I try to teach my sons ages 4 & 5 ... To love people for who they are and not where they come from ... As I am a native Hawaiian who resides in Florida ... I grew up with many cultures ... ,many nationalities ... I have told my husband who is Jewish and I catholic that my children will grow up to learn that there is no color between people ... Its not the color of their skin or the different language they speak ... Because we are all human and we should love one another as such ... be it white black yellow brown ... We are Humans and we should respect others as we would like to be respected ... Sad though not many families out there will teach their children the same but hopefully as adults respecting other cultures will set an example to the children who are the future of this world ... Again I thank you for inspiring many with your words and wisdom and kindness ... Take Care!

Aloha,

Starz

Some time has passed. We've been there for over three years. Closer to three and a half. Please, check out both of these websites...

http://www.icasualties.org/oif/default.aspx

http://www.iraqbodycount.org/

How many are reasonable for any war...how many are reasonable for a dictator to have... how many would be reasonable for Hitler or Amin or Nepoleane, MacCarther, Eishenhower, Roosevelt, Musilini, and I'm not being disrespectful here but how many are reasonable for the Lord? Good or bad ...how many are reasonable? When the walls of Jericho came tumbling down...how many were lost?  And how many florished because it came down? When the Berlin wall went UP...how many were lost? And when it came down...how many were saved? How many were lost to stop the extermination camps( that some think never happened) and how many are here today becasue they were stopped?  I do  not agree with why we are there...never have. But we teach our children to clean up their messes don't we? How bout point those fingers at the ones that are preventing us from a quick and speedy exit? The time for arguing as to whether we should be there or not is over. That ship sailed a loooooooooong time ago...

God Bless us everyone...

Salaams to All,

You are correct about this death toll not being an actual account, but instead a statistical extrapolation from a small sample population of 1849 households in Iraq to the entire population.  That is the only possible positive note of this topic - hopefully, the actual toll of human casualities is nowhere near that horrible figure mentioned in the John Hopkins study.  The actual study results are attached for evaluation:

The Human Cost of War in Iraq:

http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2006/images/10/11/human.cost.of.war.pdf

I pray much and often that the situation in Iraq will come to some positive conclusion, and as Kaysar has said so eloquently:  "So what’s the solution? I’m not sure. The fire burning in Iraq may burn itself out eventually, or it may set the world ablaze. But for goodness sake, let us not start any more fires."

Other than by our votes, we have no real control over the big picture save one.  In our day to day lives we treat people with dignity and respect and hope that it will spread.  We can change the world one step at a time, one action at a time and one moment of unselfishness at a time.  This blog is a good start.

If there were more people that thought like you Kaysar, maybe the trivial way some wars are carried out would come to an end.  I pray that someday the American people will wake up and realize that we are all humans and we all deserve respect.  I feel that we do not belong in Iraq, I thought we never did, but how do we as people affect change.  By letting our opinions be heard, I'd say.  Thanks for your insightful message.

April from Alabama

And think about this…

There are countless people who do not question the information they are presented with.  They believe we, as a society, are completely and correctly informed.  They believe that the governments of this world tell us everything we need to know and keep no secrets.  They depend solely on the media and accept what they see, hear, and read as absolute truth.  Far too many who have always lived in a democratic nation take their right to vote for granted. They are, for the most part, young and are the future of this world.  Scared yet?

It may seem as though I am a cynic, but the truth is that I am determined to remain hopeful. 

On Peace.
Current mood: contemplative

We all talk about peace so much. There is so much conflict in the world, and because of the conflict and suffering, we want it to end, we want peace. In my own life, I have tried to live trying to be at total peace - and sometimes I can do it.