Another reason Iraq was wrong

Wiki leaks has been at it again. From the BBC::

The documents also suggest "hundreds" of civilians were killed at US military checkpoints after the invasion in 2003.
And the files show the US kept records of civilian deaths, despite previously denying it. The death toll was put at 109,000, of whom 66,081 were civilians.

Another Hiroshima in terms of innocent deaths.

Also mentioned was detailed information on tourcher which US authorities knew about and did nothing::

 US army field logs published by Wikileaks describe the apparent torture of Iraqi detainees by the Iraqi authorities, sometimes using electrocution, electric drills and in some cases even executing detainees, says the BBC's Adam Brookes, who has examined some of the files.

The US military knew of the abuses, the documents suggest, but reports were sent up the chain of command marked "no further investigation"

Horrific.

I wouldn't be able to sleep if I was George Bush or Tony Blair on such a flimsy excuse of going to war.

Related articles

• US forces 'ignored Iraq torture' (bbc.co.uk)
• WikiLeaks papers detail Iraq torture, U.S. killings (nationalpost.com)

Get the Afghanistan out...

I think we should get our troops out. Enough is enough this war is primarily George Bushes' when he decided on the vengeance option after the twin towers of 9/11.
As a Christian I don't think the 'just war' theory adds up. Maybe in defence but not for offence.
Australia is just tagging along with what George Bush started.
If you look at the military deaths in Iraq they are 4744, in Afghanistan they are 2166. The casualties for the 9/11 are 2977. Something is not adding up here!
For me I'm convinced there would have been a better way. Vengeance has not worked.

Thus for me I'm disappointed that both major parties in Australia are for keeping the troops in Afghanistan. I'm also saddened that there are not so few Christian voices speaking up about pacifism as an option.
Not surprising the Greens are walking the line that Jesus would have taken...

Related articles

• Security strategy: The age of uncertainty | Editorial (guardian.co.uk)

One Minute to Midnight

One Minute to Midnight, by Michael Dobbs.

This book was gripping more so becasue it was real, the world nearly did blow up in a nuclear armagedon. It is based on the Cuban misile crisis, which I'd watched a few movies on yet never read anything. The Soviets slipped in a nuclear missiles into Cuba, a stones throw to the US main land. Dobb's did a pretty good job pulling out a fair few things which have just come to light.

Now just a few reflections::

::It was close, but it wasn't the leaders that where the hot heads it was every one else with their fingers on the triggers.
For example the Soviet Subs had nuclear tipped torpedoes. The conditions in the subs where atrocious, the fumes, lack of space, been shadowed constantly by the US. One Captain who hadn't heard from Moscow assumed the worse when US started throwing dummy explosive depth charges and ordered the nuclear torpedo into action. He was eventually talked out of it!

:: Kennedy was trying constantly to think of alternatives other than the 'fist strike' at Cuban missile sites which his generals where all wanting him to do.

::The Russians had a lot of gear on Cuba, not just Nuclear weapons that would hit the US mainland. Tactile nuclear weapons which would have sunk any invasion force.

:: Communication was poor. Once official document to Moscow or vice versa could take over 24hrs. Often an official news was quicker! This was often the way the super powers communicated.

:: Thank God, George W Bush wasn't in power back then. Non of us would be around!

:: I've come to the conclusion that the opportunity to be a great leader dosn't come around often. It only happens in crisis. For John Kennedy, this was his moment, when his wisdon in the minority shone through retrospectively. The same could be said for Khrushchev the Soviet counterpart.
This could be contrasted to George Bushes response to 9/11!