Some of the remaining Human Targets Shields in Iraq are starting to slowly get the idea that they ain't exactly in Kansas. Some tidbits:
"In a way, it's unfortunate ... because in this case my goal - stopping the war - coincides with the goal of someone else [Mr. Hussein], whom I don't want to be supporting," says Phil Sands, a former banker and journalist from Britain who gave up his job to come to Iraq.
I really can't think of what to say to that. Next:
But when child cadets dressed in military fatigues began a common chant at half-time - "Yes, yes, our heart and soul for you, Saddam" - Mr. Houplina went to the group and implored: "Please don't sing that!"
Yeah, man, like... so tacky. It's like don't they know any Ani DiFranco songs they could have sung instead?
But wait -- there's more!
The experience has been an eye-opener for many Westerners here, unfamiliar with Iraq's authoritarian regime. "A lot of shields were thinking it was black and white, and that we were on the side of good like Che Guevara," adds Sands. "But it's not black and white at all."
A Che fan who was a banker. Now I've read everything.
(Via Joanne Jacobs.)
Update: chris provides a link to this story, which is written by a very different kind of "human shield." He isn't too happy with the current crop. Gee, I wonder why?
Posted by Andrea Harris at March 16, 2003 09:20 PMif you're registered, check out the NYT article written by a different type of "human shield"; a man taken hostage,lifted from Kuwait, used as a human shield against his will. he has a nice message for all the idiots going there voluntarily. i linked it in my livejournal.
Posted by: chris at March 16, 2003 at 10:59 PMPitiful idiots. Why did they have to go to Baghdad to learn what the rest of the world already knew. May they rest in peace.
Posted by: Bill OH at March 17, 2003 at 10:12 AM