Heartening News from Abroad to the Homeland

The Democratic Underground post will have to wait until I mention this: from Black Five, a mention of Iraqi soldiers serving at Taji military base, who have collected a million dinars (roughly $680 U.S. dollars) amongst them to donate to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. It may not sound like much, but all things taken into consideration, including what their current standard of living and monthly salary must be like let alone coming off of having their country invaded/liberated a couple of years ago, I'd say the very gesture of wanting to help the U.S. and show compassion for its citizens is symbolic. Story source.

CJ weighs in here. He mentions that $680 amounts to more than a year's pay for most people there.

Anyone want to bet me any dinars that this story does not see even narrow coverage from the lamestream media?


And to break away for a moment, from Hurricane news, while we are on Iraq, here are some photos I had wanted to make mention of a while back and never got around to doing so:

Kirkuk Orphanage Gets Playground


Children jump on two new spring toys before their installation at the orphanage in Kirkuk, Aug. 19, 2005. U.S. Army Sgt. Fenton Doyle constructed the playground equipment from old humvee parts during his spare time and other unit soldiers painted the equipment.U.S. Army photo






U.S. soldiers from Task Force 2-116 Armor’s headquarters company swing Iraqi children after installing their new swing set at the orphanage in Kirkuk, Iraq, Aug. 19, 2005. U.S. Army Sgt. Fenton Doyle constructed the playground equipment from old humvee parts during his spare time and other unit soldiers painted the equipment.U.S. Army photo




U.S. soldiers from Task Force 2-116 Armor’s headquarters company watch Iraqi children dangle from their new monkey bars after their installation at the orphanage in Kirkuk, Iraq, Aug. 19, 2005. U.S. Army Sgt. Fenton Doyle constructed the playground equipment from old humvee parts during his spare time and other unit soldiers painted the equipment. U.S. Army photo

Mike's America had a post and a picture on soldiers building playgrounds, and I recall this comment left there:

I like to type my name on google and see the sites where my pics get used. As a combat photographer I would like to say 80% of the sites (yours included) portray my images to show the event as it actually took place, no more, no less.
The other 20% of certain web-sites portray these missions as some sort of propaganda event. As an active duty combat photographer, I am not ever told what to shoot or what not to shoot. I do not write any articles for any paper or mag. (to include military publications) I am not told to "try" and put soldiers in situations that look any better than what they are. My job is to document an event as it happens. The soldiers in the photo are infantrymen and have seen the worst Iraq has to offer. No media was there, nor were they asked, because these types of missions happen all the time.
combat photog | 08.31.05 - 4:45 am | #

Our soldiers are warriors....they fight to preserve civilized society and defend lives. Not destroy. God bless them and the positive work they are doing.