SOLDIER LETTERS

From: ___________
To: mike@michaelmoore.com
Sent: Tuesday, December 23, 2003 2:30 PM
Subject: Re: from a british soldier

I haven't been to the US since 9-11. And whatever I write here in no way is meant in detriment to either the people of the US or the UK.

But what price freedom?

Freedom has an awful price; it means that in order to live in free society we will always be open to attacks. We put a fortune into Intelligence agencies to keep harm from our doors. We in Britain have always been used to the terrorist bomb and we have lost thousands of people through them.

I watched the horror unfold on live TV like everyone else and it was truly terrible. But then in the following days the 'lynch mob' mentality set in in the worst possible place - our politicians. Tony Blair could not crawl up Mr. Bush's backside fast enough - here in the UK we were shocked. We all sat around asking 'what's he doing?' Then all of a sudden we're going to war and dying.

The only legal reason in international law that allows a country to attack another is if that country is threatening you. So, that means that the invasion of Afghanistan was illegal and when it came to Iraq - we were told 'they have a 45min Chemical weapon capability' and there lay the so called excuse to go to war.

So, we live in age where political lying is more blatant and they say anything they want to get their way. History will be vicious about this time.

You see, while we all look the same and even speak a similar language - we are culturally totally different in much the same way as you are from the Japanese. As a nation, the British are the most 'warring' in history. But times have changed - we're a small little island with a big mouth now. We certainly don't have a large military anymore and the equipment we use is pretty useless (we win through on sheer Gaul). The quarters that our forces' families get are abysmal and the nearest thing we'll ever get to air-conditioning is someone shouting 'open the bloody window.'

When we go to war in partnership with the US - we don't fear the enemy, we fear the US forces! In both Gulf Wars our greatest casualties were sadly at the hands of the US forces we were serving with. As someone recently said (cynically) 'ah a friendly face, from the country that brought us friendly fire.'

What Price Freedom?

When it comes down to soldiering, we have a long history with it. It's ironic that the lessons learned walking the streets of N. Ireland would one day go to actually save far more lives. With the Balkans etc, I'd estimate that we saved at least 800 lives for every single one lost because of the N. Ireland conflict.

We do things differently; when we walk into battle we carry enough gear for two weeks on our backs, where as US forces carry only 24rs worth. As shown in the Falklands War - we lost our transport - so the army got up and walked 72 miles to battle. We don't sing songs when we march or run and we don't make Neanderthal sounds when we all agree. We work quietly and effectively and we don't have to wait for the McDonald's tent to arrive before we go to work (Panama).

But we can no longer fight a war like the Falklands War. We don't have the manpower, money or equipment to do it now. The reason for this is simple, our government wants to rely on the US more for its security - heck we've just handed our entire early warning headquarters for the whole UK to the US and why? Just so Mr. Bush can put this missile defence into action to protect the US - not the UK.

So, there is bitterness - lots of it.

And then there are the actions of some of the US forces on the ground now. 'Shoot first, ask questions later' is totally wrong - somebody better take note that all actions carried out now come under Iraqi civil law, so don't be surprised that at some point in the future they will want to flex their laws against us.

We don't have a bill of rights- we do have free thought and free speech and when we don't like something - we say it and we didn't want this war. It is terrifying to know that people in the US were seen as 'un-patriotic' if they stood up to say no - that's the one single thing we're supposedly fighting for... freedom.

This war was total B.S.

Why?

Iraq has been the most watched piece of real-estate in the world for more than 10 years. Every inch of than country has been observed in real time 24/7 with satellites, infrared, Thermal imaging and even aircraft and spies. Yet while they all claim to have found these recent mass graves - one of which contains over 10,000 people murdered wholesale around 18 months ago. Why didn't we act then?

When no one would have argued and we didn't need permission to do it.

The governments must have known about it - but they didn't act - why?

And while we've got rid of Saddam, we've created a country ripe for Civil War.

What price Freedom?

Being on the receiving end of a terrorist act isn't a time to get overly patriotic - it's a time to be quiet, grieve and accept help from others.

If wisdom was to be used this is what I would do:

I would attempt to make the 11th of September World Peace Day.

I would turn the area where the twin towers stood it to 'The Peace Gardens' and every year invite every single country of the world to come and stand there side by side and show unity together.

Make it a world-wide national holiday.

On that day, for America to take down its flags and put them away and accept they're not alone in this world and that all the other nations of the world are there with them and not for them or against them, not to sing any national anthems, but to stand shoulder to shoulder in peace with humanity, not national pride.

Then, the world will start to change - why? Because everyone for the first time in the history of the world will be totally believing in the same thing.

If the people of the United States could actually bring themselves to stop their patriotism for one single day - believe me the entire world will want to stand along side them

Simply, it would de-fuse the excuse of the terrorist.

You see, I'm not being harsh or against the US, but see it this way:

The US is the entertainment capital of the world; the air waves are full of satellite TV channels and music. So, let's say for a moment you're a god fearing Arab or African who lives a simple life and works far harder than we'll ever experience just to support his family. And suddenly they get to see a TV channel that's showing pop videos of women half dressed which looks like pure pornography to them or films and TV shows that have loads on the 'God Bless America' stuff in it, a drama that brings up the difference between black and white people or a comedy that has gay people in it. Suddenly all they have ever known has been blown out of the all proportion. Everything they've wished to protect themselves and their families from is coming out of a TV set or a radio and they're thinking 'Hey - this is horrific - we don't want this.' Then someone says 'but America is the land of freedom and opportunity - god bless us'. And then you think 'hold on, wasn't Jesus an Arab?' So why are they cracking jokes about 'rag heads' and attacking Arab countries and when people like J'Lo are singing songs about not caring about the rocks she got, she's from the Bronx - when that reads like someone being really greedy then going up to some poor person in the street - grabbing them and saying 'look at me, I'm better than you because I'm rich'. (not the message she was trying to put across)

Extreme? Maybe, but if you understand what I'm trying to say - then you're half way there. It is this culture difference which starts all the trouble.

To win the hearts of the world - you must first show that you're prepared to love the world as it is irrespective of race, creed or colour and put reason before patriotism. Why? Because we're all intelligent people, that's why and who ever said our way is the right way?

I'm not saying for one minute that it's wrong to be patriotic, on the contrary it's good (and why we'll all always be better than the French) - but it needs to be watered down a bit, that's all.

As for the present alert status - well the UK has maintained that level since February 03. So don't panic about anything- chill. Be more worried about drunk drivers and idiots with guns, they offer far greater threats to us. Yes, shit happens - that's the price of living in a free country. Welcome to the free world (it hurts like hell doesn't it).

But do remember that we are your friends, the stripes on your flag join us together forever and we like your TV shows, music and especially Mr. Moore. Have a great Christmas and New Year...

Now I'm out of here to start a nice new civilian job in London in January.

Have a good one

____________

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