The Coffeespy

While I am definitely a supporter of what we are doing in Iraq, and would have been even without the arguments of WMD and terrorist links, it’s important for those defending the actions over there to remember the human cost.  We pay lip service to it all the time.  But I think it’s our personal responsibility to have personal knowledge of the price we have paid and are still paying by being there, no matter the justification you use for being there.

I’ve been there as a soldier.  I know others have as well.  Some go as journalists.  Some go with charitable organizations.  Some feel the effects because their family members or close friends are there.  But there are those that are unable to go and have no connection to the war other than what they see on TV or overhear on the metro.  For these people, it’s the work of journalists like Damien Cave that give them their glimpse of Iraq.

From an Early Birded piece in the New York Times:

“Don’t freak out on me, Doc,” Sergeant Biletski shouted to the platoon medic, Pfc. Aaron Barnum, who was frantically yanking at Sergeant Leija’s flak jacket to take the weight off his chest. “Don’t freak out.”

Two minutes later, three soldiers rushed to help, dragging the sergeant from the kitchen. A medevac team then rushed in and carried him to a Stryker armored vehicle outside, around 9:20. He moaned as they carried him down the stairs on a stretcher.

Read the whole thing, please.  It’s as worthy a story as you’ll ever find in a newspaper in my estimation.  If I could shake Mr. Cave’s hand, I would.

• From the Left - The Common Ills calls Cave’s story “rah rah” reporting and largely condemns the account, implying that the story was probably edited or at least reviewed by the government.
• From the Right - Villainous Company says the story is meant to take a U.S. victory and show a U.S. defeat.  He blasts the times for ignoring the life and the fallen Staff Sergeant and focusing only on his death.

I’d say with the Right and Left taking polar opposites on their opinions of the piece, it might just fall somewhere in the center, hm?  In my humble opinion, this story shows that there is defeat in victory, heroism in fear, determination in despair, and a cost even when the cause is worthy.

Note: Many thanks to the Moderate Voice for linking to this post.