Why does everyone think they know everything about the people and place?  How Iraq was so great before and all we did was harm?  People have no idea.  I've lived here for almost two years now and seen it first-hand, dealt with the people and everyone's opinion that they are calling "facts" are so far off it's not even funny.  Why does everyone think they know everything about this place?
200855
It is because of the famous gullibility of the American people in general. The media wants them to believe that we should all be shedding a tear for the poor innocent Iraqi's who never wanted us there to begin with (which is obviously incorrect). There is a movie called Voices if Iraq, you should watch it, they passed out 150 cameras across Iraq for the people to record what they wanted to say and pass it on. A couple years later they collected the cameras and made a movie of it. Time after time people were thanking Bush and America and the troops for saving them from Saddam. There was one Iraqi man that was mocking the crybabies that had claimed American soldiers "tortured" them... as he was talking about the American "abuse" from the female soldier, it shows Iraqi's in Saddams prison getting their tongues cut out in the background. Kind of puts it into perspective. Those people are glad America came and changed things.
268286
yeah, America is often viewed as the country filled with people who are uneducated and have no clue what is going on around them. \nI heard a comment from a comedian, he said,\n"As a whole the U.S. is a country filled with idiots, but as a whole they are genius; Russians on the other hand are all Einsteins, but as a whole you can't find a dumber group of people." \nIt's sad, but somehow true, for example, try asking an Average American what the capital of Italy is, or even France. Americans don't care about what is going n in Dafur, in fact 95% probably didn't even hear about the country. Or ask an American to place Iraq on the map... and we are at war with this country!\nThere is nothing that anyone can do about that. But the fact that we are the most individualistic country in the world has something to do with that. People just don't care, they would rather watch American Idol, then worry about what is going on in Congress. Arrogance... \n\nOne day the political arrogance and ignorance of the general population will get us into trouble...
88261
My husband works in Iraq as a private contractor and has told me first hand....the U.S.military,civ contractors and the Iraqi military  have all ,together,done alot of good for Iraq and its people.But no,it wont be shown on our news or in the papers,at this point people dont want to know that any good is happening.Most people thrive on gore and negativity.The media is a joke ! I'll continue to open emails that show very positive proof that its indeed taking place.
587828
Whoa... Damn ppl, reporting?! Harming?! Naming names?! I can't believe how everyone is buying into this crap... Yes, there's a problem, but it's been here for years. Everyone's got chill out, 'cause this is starting to sound like one of those infamous Red Scares again? What's next, are we gonna accuse of them being Commies? Public persecution? Are you actually afraid, or do just people love to get on the band wagon and bash everyone that the media tells them to? Bush, Iraq, and now Immigration, oh yeah gay marriage before that? You do realize the last two are just a little thing that Bush and his cabinet uses to get the focus away from his incompetence?
285391
my answer. \ni'm a soldier and spent about six monthes living inside the haditha dam in that town. \nthe "facts" that others speak of here, are actually facts. and they are not in question. those innocents were killed by marines (whether on accident or on purpose) and i agree with his opinion that it's sad and it makes me sick too.\ni have also spoken to very nice and somewhat hostile iraqis and they all would like to see us leave. i never spoke to the very hostile ones, but i can only assume they would like us to as well.\nso i agree with most veterans in politics (guys like murtha) on this issue and not with the cowardly draft dodging self servers who got us into this war. it's crap. oh, and i love them soldiers. and think that our country should let them go kill the bad people who actually sponsor terrorism.\nthe end.
313
They sure picked a bad time to open their mouths and say stupid things.  I know I won't forget what they did at this time.  What they have been doing borders on being anti-American, even treasonous.  I mean, the day before elections in which 70% of the Iraqi populous turned out, you have Weseley Clark saying we are losing the war.  Is that stupid, or what? (And I don't use the word "stupid" too often.)
116408
People tend to fear what they don't understand. Personally, I believe it is fear that is manifesting itself rather than hate.\n\nThat doesn't justify their actions which are often times displayed by hateful acts. Most have never seen our benevolent side. \n\nWith the onslaught of natural disasters, many of these people have witnessed first hand how quickly we, as a nation, have responded to their peril. \n\nI have read accounts of how these people were absolutely shocked that we would respond faster and with more resouces than their own government. They had previously thought we were a selfish nation... taking things that don't belong to us... forcing other to conform to our vision for their lives... They fear that they might become our next victim.\n\nThe answer is not Iraq as suggested above. There are way too many people here on Yahoo answers that want to be the first to answer a question and give no regard to it's accuracy. Their misinformation is a blithe on an otherwise great site. You deserve an answer not an opinion that isn't even backed up with the flemsiest of evidence. \n\nPardon my distain. Back to the topic...\n\nYour anticipated response would be, what can we do about it? How do we let them know that we want them to be happy, prosperous and free to enjoy life under their own terms? Well, there's not much an individual can accomplish on an international scale. \n\nTrue, there are some amazing people that have a calling it would appear and these people have proven how much good or bad one person can accomplish internationally. As for you and me, we need to take the time to examine our leaders. We need to look beyond party lines and select officials that represent our country for what it really is. A melting pot of ideas and people. A place where their way of life is acceptable as long as it doesn't infringe on another person's way of life. A nation that loves it's soldiers and can hardly bear the thought of placing them in harms way. And if we do send them into battle, there is no reasonable doubt that they are dying for a worthy cause. A cause that is international in scope rather than that of the privileged few that seem to have far too much control.\n\nWe must calm their fears.
580942
having been in Iraq, I am totally shocked at how different the reality of the war is from how it is covered. We captured Saddam, killed his sons and Zarqawi and created a democracy in the Middle East, one that has higher levels of participation that in our own country. Yet all I hear are about mis-steps and allegations.\n\nI don't get too down about it though, think of it this way. Do you ever read about good cops? Nope, only the bad ones make the news. We live in an age when a doctor can replace your heart with  a donor heart or a Jarvik heart- which is like something out of science-fiction-  yet you never read about stuff like that.\n\nIt's not that the media is liberal or anti-war, so much as it is negative.
513694
I'm right there with you!  I heard a report that many times when our troops come home from Iraq, they are surprised and disgusted by what they here on the mainstream news.  All they report is what's going bad, and the troops know first hand what good they have done over there.
373368
What amazes me is that most of the posts on here jumped on the ALLEGED rape, torture and murder case.  That's not what I read in the question at all.  I don't see anything about that case in this question.  It's funny how easy it was for everyone to jump all over a bad incident instead of finding the good.  That's much like our news.  We do good in Iraq everyday.  We never see that reported.  Let just one questionable thing happen and the news is all over it.  After that, you idiots are all over it like flies on sh*t.  Don't be so quick to judge and convict our military.\n\nFirst and foremost, EVERYONE is innocent until proven guilty.  There will be a trial for those accused of those crimes.  IF they are found guilty, they will be punished properly.  Since it's a military crime, they'll be punished more severely than any civilian ever is.  \n\nNow, in relation to the question, if someone from the military is on trial (being court martialed), there is doubt as to whether or not they did their job properly.  Yes, they are shot at and attacked on a regular basis.  However, there is proper procedure for how they're supposed to respond and handle the situation.  If there's doubts or questions to that, they'll be court martialed.  If they're innocent, they'll go back to their jobs and if guilty, they're punished by appropriate means to the crime.\n\nThe longer this war goes on, the more I have to agree, Americans are crazy.  They don't support their troops.  They believe every BAD piece of news reported.  They fall victim to all the propaganda out there.  You see it on Y! Answers all the time.  A question will be asked about Iraq and a soldier or famiy member will reply and other answerers will tell them they're lying or they just don't believe it.  Perfect example is when military says they are doing good in Iraq and it's not about oil and so on.  The general American public will argue tooth and nail, yet that miltary person is there and on the front line.  America is truly in a sad state right now.  \n\nI wonder, do they realize just how much their ignorance is tearing the country and military apart?!?!
572057
Oh lordy, I thought I was alone.  There is NO evidence of any connection between Iraq and 9/11.\n\nJesus some of these people are dumb.
474041
First of all, let me say this, what a wonderful testimony!!\nAnd then, to answer your question, most of it is politics. From humanitarian point of view, it's better for a few people that are guilty of ruining a lot of people's lives and making the innocent suffer, it's better for the clique to suffer than a whole nation to be enslaved to their practice. Yeah! Such people like Saddam and those whose business is terror - that is directed towards the innocent and the vulnerable, yeah, such people deserve to be exterminated. \nSome deny the role of the Americans in Iraq because they are simply incapable of walking a mile in your shoes. They exercise their freedom by saying what they think even if it's stupid what they say. And let me tell you there's a whole school of stupid people.  I hope that answers your question somehow. And thanks again for your courage and honesty in posting this question. God bless you!
503793
I think it's good to help people no matter where they are, but it's true that a lot more focus needs to be done here.  How can Bush say he is concerned with the welfare and safety of the Iraqi people when he can leave his own people stranded in New orleans for all of those horrible days? He was on vacation when he knew a huge storm was coming. Did he send troops there to protect his own people? I see your point.
471884
I'm out here in Iraq and trust me... please trust me when i tell you that it's not all the same or to prevent genocide. Keep in mind that most if not all countries were forged by wars. Specially our great U.S. of A. Need less to say that I pray  everyday for myself and my brothers and sisters in arms because Sh!t is going to hit the fan once saddam is executed...Once more this is nothing like Hotel Rwanda, nothing all,
143005
I'm in Iraq right now. Me being on here should give you an idea of what I'M doing...nothing. What's it like? HOT! Alot of people do have it pretty rough over here though, but I wouldn't say the majority have it all that bad. It just sucks being away from home for so long. I don't think it's really getting better. They're gonna fight us as long as we're here.
635388
All of you people are full of it...you guys don't know what you are talking about..please get your facts straight before spitting out poison!!
366423
I so agree with you bro, I went to Iraq in 2004 and I was in Baghdad for a year. I'm currently in college and I love my country and I love the army, but Iraq was a huge mistake It's a fucking mess over there. I hope american leaders will wake up and realize the sooner we leave the better, because its only gonna get worse over there. I prey that no more of our countrys children will have to endure anymore torture over there because this war doesn't benefit anyone. BRING THE TROOPS HOME, and OBAMA FOR 2008.