Soldiers’ Stories
Some kind of bittersweet love-in going on here between US armed forces and surviving peace activists in Baghdad.
At least a dozen soldiers have stopped to talk with us since we began the vigil at 3 this afternoon. “OK, can you tell us your side of the story?” asked one young man. “Can I sit there with you for awhile?” asked another. Each of them has assured us that they didn’t want to kill anyone. One young man said he was desperate for financial aid to care for his wife and child while struggling to complete college studies and work full time. He felt he could gain some respect in this world and also help his family by joining the Marines. He’s relieved that he was stationed at the rear of a line coming up from the south. His role was to guard prisoners. He didn’t shoot anyone. But he saw U.S. soldiers shoot at a civilian car with three passengers as it approached. The child in the car survived ‘ both of his parents were immediately killed. “They could have shot the tires,” said the soldier. “Some just want to kill.”