rism for every imaginable rea- true reason that we went over son? Why is genocide, "ethnic there was to stockpile (steal?) Scleansing".(I always liked the their oil: We. never seem to Sirory of that tem), and murder ~go to the "aid" of any other -r e so prevalent on this planet, countries suffering similar when solutions seem to be so terrorism/genocide/rampant by Luke Lirot easily obtained? To answer this starvation issues, unless they question, we must look deep have something we need, like into ourselves. oil. Ifthe purpose was to elimi- Al Zarqaw i Gone, Vho's Next In Inthis country, theoreti- nateterronsm, Ithinkthatjust Si cally, we do not have to resign the opposite will be the result Who was she? 1 woke up sription of age and gender, mountains of flaming rubble ourselves to some type of :ofour.efforts. The reaction to early in my California hotel It is truly painful to rec- onthe.streets of Dresden after "manifest destiny" that war the invasion and destruction room last week to hear that ognize that we have emerged the incendiary bombings of and atrocity must be accepted. of Iraq will foment generations the long sought after al-Qa- into a new and truly troubling World War II. She is running The decisions to invade, "seek of terrorists, bitter about the eda assassin, Abu Mussab existence.where we can dilute naked down the dirt roads of justice," "protect our interests loss of their country/indepen- al-Zarqawi, had finally methis the characterization of the Viet Nam, her body burned around the world," are all 'dence/family members. Add karmic end, and, when hearing victims of war to only the most from napalm. The question the result of political deci- that to the emergence (and of those caught in the"smart "lowest common denomina- remains...Why? sions made, theoretically, by insurgent fueling) of the time- bomb" assault on his "remote tors" of sex and age. Who was Is it for-land? For oil? For people that we choose! The less conflict between Shiite location," was intrigued, and she? We will never know, but, pride? To prove whose religion little girl that was eviscerated and Sunni Moslems (the dif- somewhat unhinged, when the inthe same instance, we have is "better"? Somehow, none in the bombing of al-Zarqawi's ferences of which evade me), press described those ollater- aways known. She fell victim of those reasons seems legiti- hideout is not some type of and you have one of those apress desced those raid tohave tothe battles of antiquity. She mate. Why, when we have the expendable necessity that has situations where the conflict y included a"5-year-old femle." the easant child stumbling abiity, scientifically, agricul- to be accepted. We can change is permanent. No name; no political or philo- barefoot over the rocky, body turally, medically, socially, to things. In this country, we have When I was studying law sophical affilition descried, srewn battlefields of the "Holy evolve into a peaceful, tolerant become far too complacent in Ireland back in the merely ust p5-ealar-old female. No Wars" of the Middle Ages She world, doesmankind continue when it comes to changing 1980s, I took a course in legacy oher than a generic de- is- aimlessly wandering the to revel in senseless barba- our, and the world's, destiny. "comparative constitutional SWe spend more on video games law," a class which compared than we do on vanquishing American constitutional pro- oppression, and it is not hard tections with those of Ireland, to see how -ther people of we actually researched the the world are offended, by philosophical and psychologi- I appy F-ater's Day Dad toYou and Jto a 1ihe ollir our actions, when we provide' cal reasons the conflicts l.ke jO: Cmore war, McDonald's and the IRA/Catholic-Protestant Dads whose ht rs ie t Starbucks than we do aid to dispute was so persistent. I Dads whose hearts beat for moments like tis. developing countries. befriended a family with close I was against invading Iraq, ties to many "interesting"-folks and I truly have'a philosophi- who were actually relatd to cal dilemma as to what to do some of the Northern Ireland at this point. The"powers that prisoners that had resorted be" insist that we "stay the to hunger strikes and were course," and 1 can't imagine actually starving themselves that anyone who has lost a to death to.make their politi- son, daughter, father, mother, cal statement. After months of husband or wife in "operation" studies and interviews, I carne dujour would be comfortable if to the conclusion that the we (pick one) bringthe troops conflict was not the result of home and stop any further political or religious differ- senseless killing, or, contine ences, but was, essentially, a to try to "develop" Iraq.into a permanent fixture because so democracy, spending billions '. much violernce and murder had of dollars to rebuild a country gone on for so long in such a that was largely in the stone concentrated area, every per- age, but trying to develop. At son was almost certain to have least -the people in the metro- a friend or faraily iember that politan areas had electricity. had been maimed or killed in And what will we accomplish? the conflict. I never bought the "weapons Is Iraq.even as big as Texas? of mass destruction" line, be- That kind of hatred and the de- cause I was certain, just from sire for revenge are more than nappearances, that the Iraqi enough to preserve such con- government was probably fix- flicts for years, if not decades. ing its tanks with old toaster Layer on -the other ideological parts. The rolling chemical differences that are prevalent labs were a joke, too. Have in the debacle in Iraq, and you you ever tried to mix a batch have serious repercussions. FRAN COSTANTINO of toxic chemicals when you're It would not surprise me if BROKER bouncing over the potholes on we have to start dealing with Real Estate Broker the road to Basra? No way! suicide tricycles soon.- I do www.costantinoandcompany.com Chemical Ali was famous at the not know why we didn't take 2216 4th Ave.: E. Tampa, FL 33605 dry cleaners for having burns the same approach in Iraq in all his shirts. that we did in' Russia, whose (813) 241-6767 Fax: (813) 241-6868 I sympathize with anyone' ideological differences were that has lost a family member ultimately undermined, and Brochures and Information on historic district tax incentives and Barrio Latino guildelines provided to in this "operation," but I cer- finally crumbled, from years of our customers FREE with real estate purchase. tainly don't see any benefit at black market rock and roll and the gas pump, which is truly smuggled blue jeans. frustrating, since I figured the I think Ghandi, Martin Lu- ther King and John Lennoi had it right. We should give peace a chance, and not just sing about, it, but put some true effort into doing so. We must, if we are ever to make progress on this planet and prevent nameless, faceless dead little girls from decom- posing in the rubble of our insanity. Our sole focus is keeping cancer out of the picture. CMOFFITT Cancer Center & Reseaich Institute A National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center Ths hldy sson A, Ihe Uni'verwit rf Snith Florida 1-888-MOFFITT ep specessurvve. www.MoffittCancerCenter.org ww.sveteanatee.rg Save tIbe Manatee~ Club LA GACETA/Friday, Junel6; 2006/Page'15