Center for the Intrepid, Take Two

A great war leaves the country with three armies - an army of cripples, an army of mourners, and an army of thieves
--German Proverb

It is a road that leads to nowhere
The road that leads to war
If no one knows or seems to care:
"What was the dying for?"
Robert Clippard, fr. poem Iraq (found in "Day of Poetry for the War," 2/12/07)

[Ranger and I both unwittingly (separately) wrote on the Center for the Intrepid, the privately-funded rehab facility in San Antonio, as it struck the wrong chord in each of us. Below is my take.]

The above poem celebrates the glorious American invasion of Gulf War I, and the poet puts the words in an Iraqi soldier's mouth. But it seems American soldiers might also ask the same question, today.

I can not feel good about this celebration of maiming and capitalism, the reason for the hospital, and the celebration. The facility did not have to come into existence, as its clientele did not have to incur their devastating injuries.

At opening ceremonies for the center, John McCain said, "...your service demands us all to do what we can..." I agree, but these maximum efforts should be at curbing the insanity of a military engagement run amuck, versus its institutionalization.

Now, what it it our troops are doing in Iraq? It sure looks like they're serving as bullet magnets from all sides, helping in this regard to slake off some of the Iraqi's anger and ammunition as they move through their civil war, on the way to their eventual theocracy. And why is it we've had a hand in this?

No, I can't be happy about the new Center for the Intrepid. Call it what you will, it's a damn shame.

--by Lisa