The reality of war

A shocking video that shows real images of war. It's no surprise to many of us who were never convinced that the US army and friends were in Iraq or Afghanistan to help the people. For many years now the only thing I heard on the news were stories of Iraqi suicide bombers or the sad news about the heroic death of an  American or British solider at the hands of the evil Taliban.

George Orwell's 1984 is quoted more than ever before as today's society comes closer to the nightmare depicted in the 1940's fiction. The idea of changing the definition of words does not have to be done by editing any dictionaries as the majority of the worlds large media corporations sing to the same tune. In Orwell's nightmare, freedom=slavery. In our 21st century reality the word "Freedom" is used time and time again to justify actions which destroy the most basic freedoms. Aerial bombing of entire villages would never be shown on the BBC or CNN but is a reality of warfare. Not only in the 21st century either. During the Vietnam war the american soldiers thought it would be a good idea to drop a load of bombs over Laos. Not because Laos posed any threat but simply because the country was seen as an a convenient area to dispose of excess bombs. Injuries and deaths still occur due to many undiscovered landmines across the region. The point is that when people lose their loved ones, limbs, schools, hospitals, homes, access to food, drinking water and the security to leave their homes without risking their lives; they have no freedom. This the reality of war, what ever name you want to give it.

The founder of Wikileaks Julian Assange won the Walkley award for journalism in November 2011, despite his fallout with the New York Times. Whose editor complains of Assange thinking of himself as a journalist. Whereas Assange complains that the newspapers are publishing very little information. The speculation continues, not only over the fate of Julian but also of the less famous whistle-blower; Bradley Manning, who is currently on trial at a US military court. He may be given life in prison or could even face the death penalty. The irony of the so called US "Justice" system is that if he was found guilty of torturing civilians he would not have been given such a harsh punishment. The fact that he exposed the truth about torture in the US army made him a criminal for doing what was moral and just.

Here is a video about Manning, his forgotten story. There are 3 parts. Part 3 is the most interesting