The Death Squads of Baghdad

Would be wonderful to get out without leaving a chaotic mess, but staying is going to offer just as many problems, maybe.

The only winners are the manipulators, the "terrorists", they want this to go on and on. Just wait, if and when we finally do leave, they will draw us back into it, think more attacks on US soil. They're goal is to break the west, spiritually, financially, and they will wait a thousand years to do so.

While the rest of the world simply stands by there "you created it, you figure it out" attitude.......well, anyway.

It sucks, that's for sure. I suppose for me it has gotten to a point where I want less damage to my neighbor on a micro scale than macro.

thanks for the dialogue.

Indeed, that explanation of the media makes a hell of a lot more sense than a government-run propaganda machine.

I agree with pretty much everything else you said, as well - however, if we were to pull out of Iraq tomorrow, then - from what I gleaned from this video and other sources - I wouldn't be surprised if full-scale ethnic cleansing broke out only a few paces down the road.

As it is the US that put Iraq into this situation, I think something should be done - and needs to be done - to keep that from happening, before we withdraw.
Easier said than done, of course...I don't know, standing by and just letting a genocide/ democide happen seems to be a favorite pastime of the Western world, but it shouldn't be.

Humdrum,

"the civilian population should know as much about the situation as possible"

YES!

"why isn't it being reported on in any of the main media outlets?"

I suppose it doesn't sell, the public doesn't want to hear it

Denial is not just a big river, it is something that brings comfort.

The American masses are kept dumbed down by our public education system, entertained, by sports and hollywood and comforted by a high standard of living. Such a life diverts us from seeing the truth, the world is an ugly place.

I do not think the traditional media is a government controlled spin machine, I think it is a sort of clique, a community that spreads it's own beliefs and is always searching for financial gain. What's on TV is what sells, simple.

"It is the US government/ our government basically letting it happen, even causing it to happen"

And that is nuts. What I really think, is that we should not be in the middle east, period. We should walk away and let the events that follow take place. We cannot undo what has been done, but we can butt out, once and for all.

Sadly the "leaders" we have, not just current administration, are not going to let this happen, the terrorists who stir the pot will not let this happen, probably not for another generation at best.

How I wish we could focus on our own backyard.

It is indeed true that this sort of thing has been going on for thousands of years, and will probably keep on keeping on - but, since it is the US government/ our government basically letting it happen, even causing it to happen, I think the civilian population should know as much about the situation as possible (which is the obvious sentiment on this site).

Given our current government, this is unrealistic, I know - but still infuriating. Like middle_east said, if the information is so easy to find on Google video, why isn't it being reported on in any of the main media outlets?
It does nothing but keep the masses ignorant to what's really going on, keeps them forming opinions based on ignorance - which is probably the idea.

Mafioso - doh!

My bad, my comment about censorship should have been directed at "middle_east", the post bellow yours.

I agree with you, mid east turmoil is not going to end for a loooooong time. I just hope that our "leadership" eventually gets it and gets us out of there, our government's imperialist attitudes just make things worse.

bb5999 - What are you talking about? I don't promote censorship. All I said was I don't think this will end anytime soon.

the problem is that stories like this are so censored and watered down for the american public. Most people just don't care and would rather not have the whole truth on their evening news. That way they don't have to admit to themselves that these horrific acts are taking place and they won't feel the need to act on behalf of innocent dying people to far away from their backyard to be concerned with.

These religious feuds have been going on for generations. What you are seeing here is nothing new.

Mafioso, you are kidding, right? Censorship? No, no, no!

Americans are already coddled and mislead, less censorship is what we need. Independent upon subject matter of media, less censorship is needed, not more.

"acknowledge this or solve these issues"
"government systems fail to acknowledge, solve, or even mention these issues."

If something you see in the media effects you, it is your responsibility to act, not that of your government or the media. Expecting a government to protect you by hiding the truth? Very wrong.

It's all money and power. If the people in power fuel the hatred by causing these atrocities then people will always want to exact revenge. Then people will always have a need for weapons and it becomes a endless cycle. The only people that benefit are the people in charge, the higher-ups, and they'll continue this for as long as they can. It's good business.

How is this stuff even available on YouTube? Is it just me, or shouldn't this stuff be censored? Not that it should not be made known to the public, but if this is able to get on YouTube for anyone to watch, how is it that networks do not acknowledge this or solve these problems?

It's frustrating to see how much access we have to witnessing atrocities taking place all over the world yet all government systems fail to acknowledge, solve, or even mention these issues.

A sad and tragic situation. I wish I could say there was hope for Iraq on the horizon, but I doubt it.

As I lack much in the way of hard knowledge about the situation in Baghdad, I found it extremely informative, particularly (obviously) about the motivations and the makeup of the monstrous Shia death squads and the politics of the city, as well as giving an idea of how American forces have really dropped the @#$%ing ball in keeping these atrocities from happening.

It made me feel very angry, and, as always, relatively impotent.