Friday, October 01, 2004

Suicide of soldier recalled to Iraq: "A 20-year-old Milford Haven soldier, who broke down as his father was driving him back to his unit for further service in Iraq, was later found hanged from the swings at a village play area. Gary John Boswell, of 34 Woodbine Way, Hakin, had served with the Royal Welch Fusiliers in Iraq, Germany and Canada since joining up in 2002, the Pembrokeshire Coroner, Mr Michael Howells, was told at a Milford Haven inquest on Thursday.

"Before recording a suicide verdict, the coroner heard from Mr John Moses Boswell how his popular young son had suddenly banged his head on the car door and asked him to take him back home. He had previously attempted to cut his wrists and had also taken an overdose of tablets, but he had seemed happy at the start of the car journey back to camp. Mr Boswell said his son had never cried in front of him before, but he would not open up about what had happened out in Iraq."

20 years old - hardly more than a boy. The father suggested 'bullying' was a cause of the suicide. Bullying or 'discipline' (brutalisation - essential to form an army) has of course taken the lives of countless soldiers. We don't know for sure at this stage. What we do know (or ought to know) is that 'War is Hell' in the famous statement of General Sherman. Or the 'Supreme Crime', according to the Nuremburg trials. If that's unclear, barbarism and savagery. If anyone still doesnt understand what that means, see the nausea. The public needs to beware that just below the surface of this generation, the previous one (and doubtless the next one) is savagery of the worst kind possible. All of those (and that is nearly all of us, not only those who actually commit the atrocities) who lower the bar to war and violence share the responsibility. The alarming fact that we have to come to terms with is that in spite all our knowledge and experience and civilisation and democracy, the elected leaders of the Anglo-Saxon countries are war criminals. Such is the rate at which humanity makes progress - or affects to make progress while it skirts closely by the ultimate horror. Aaaiii! Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulu R'lyeh wagn'nagl fhtagn! Aaaiii!

No comments: