Even though I am opposed to the war in Iraq, and outraged at the recent torture of Iraqi civilian prisoners, I hope that our troops succeed as long as they are there. In addition to trying to provide security, here are some of the good things they are doing:

"From Marine Corps News"

Marines of Third Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, currently assigned to the 1st Force Service Support Group, delivered shoes and school supplies to children and also gave rudimentary medical check-ups to the villagers.

The St. Louis-based unit has made several such visits to the small village, and others like it, where they work with locals in an effort to improve their communities and their lives.
During previous visits the reservists have coordinated construction efforts, delivered food and water, and even worked to renovate the fishing village’s school, said Capt. James Suh, the battalion’s logistics officer, who is in charge of planning the visits to the villages.
There is still some work left to be done on the school, but battalion commanding officer, Lt. Col. Milton L. Wick, said that he expects the battalion to complete renovations by the fall.
“We need to get the school schedule up and running … to have classes in session, and those kids getting an education,” said Wick

"Hat Tip : reader 'Wife of a Corpsman'"

[The Command Post]

COMM 228:
WE WILL BE HAVING CLASS TOMORROW (LAST DAY). Any of you who like may bring a selection from your radio program to play for the class (on CD). I will bring a couple of selections from groups who have been working in my office recently.

Everyone knows about the recent scandal involving US soldiers torturing Iraqi prisoners. There are several details that make these actions even more horrific. The prisoners are mostly civilians, and they are being tortured in the same place that Saddam Hussein used to torture innocents. Seymour Hersh, writing in the New Yorker, suggests that higher-ups must have encouraged, if not ordered, these tortures, to shame the prisoners and prep them for interrogation. The expressions on the faces of the young soldiers, their visible candor before the camera, suggests they didn't think they were doing anything wrong. The military says these crimes are not "systematic," but a report by a US general says otherwise.