Capt. Pprune,
I am NOT rabidly anti-American. I am, however, a critical and independent thinker. Like some Americans are.
I have no love for the Iraqi dictatorship. I do feel that this war was inevitable. I am not sure about the timing, but then, when is a good time to go to war. Also, I am well aware of the human cost of war.
While I support the troops in theatre, I do not have to agree with the politics that brought them there. Especially the "if you're not for us, you're against us" rethoric is not very becoming for a state that claims to be a true democracy. What ever happened to freedom of speech, then let the majority decide? Why all these knee-jerk reactions to other viewpoints?
What I am saying, is that with this Iraqi dictatorial regime still in power, I feel it is not in the interest of the Iraqi POWs, nor in the interest of their families behind enemy lines, to be shown recognisable in the media. If this war is meant to be a liberation of the people of Iraq, and by God, they deserve it, why jeopardise these families unnecessarily? Just so we at home can endulge in a few moments of feelings of superiority? What's the point and who benefits from it?
Remember, the war is just the start of the process. After the war is over, Iraq needs to be rebuilt. WW1 sowed the seeds for WW2 and we should not repeat that mistake, it has cost the world dearly.
I don't intend to enter a p1ssing contest about who is the best soldier and therefore has the right to post here and what is banned because of not conforming with the view of the governments involved or the moderators. But if there is no more room for critical thoughts, then that's the end of democracy, no matter how you call it.
And if this post gets me banned, so be it.