Racism and War: The Dehumanization of the Enemy (& of Ourselves)

Our real enem(ies) are not the ones living in a distant land whose names or policies we don't understand: the real enemy is a system that wages war when it's profitable, the CEO's who lay us off our jobs when it's profitable, the Insurance Companies who deny us Health care when it's profitable, the Banks who take away our homes when it's profitable. Our enemies are not several hundred thousands away. They are right here in front of us. - Mike Prysner

Racism and War: The Dehumanization of the Enemy (Some editing was added - Ed.)

Mike Prysner describes a mission he took part in (in) which his unit forced Iraqis out of half a dozen homes, with no compensation, so the US military could use them. “One family in particular, a woman with two small girls, very elderly man, and two middle-aged men — we dragged them from their houses and threw them onto the street, and arrested the men because they refused to leave.” Since he left, he has been plagued by guilt “anytime I see a mother with her children, like the one who cried hysterically and screamed that we were worse than Saddam as we forced her from her home . . . anytime I see a young girl like the one I grabbed by the arm and dragged into the street.”

Prysner also describes the physical abuse of a wounded prisoner, with a sandbag over his head and his hands tied behind his back. “We were told we were fighting terrorists; the real terrorist was me, and the real terrorism is this occupation.”

The children we have sent to do our dirty work have returned to cut out our hearts. You won't be surprised at who has the link. Are we at the level of Rome yet? See for yourself. Suzan _______________________