The flight of the Dead

From Random Hipatia

I met one of the Bush’s invisible Americans on my recent flight to California. While I rode in the cabin, he or she was in the cargo hold.

I already knew this person was there from the presence of the marine in full dress uniform that had been talking with the flight crew prior to departure. This person was one of the 2,000 or so who returned from Iraq in a box.

You will not see them travel, as no press or pictures are allowed of the return of those who gave their life in Iraq. These are like the disappeared, hidden from view.

I had to ponder what this person thought he or she may have died for. I do know many were told by that the Iraq was was a “revenge” war for 9/11. Others were told they were “liberating” the country. Similarly, Karl Rove spread this story of the revenge war through his connections to various right wing christian groups throughout the land. No doubt Gobbles would be pleased by his work on this part.

At the end of the flight, they had some difficulty unloading the box. A small mini-drama was taking place, hidden from view of most of those hurrying to leave, just behind the wing.

The coffin, which one presumes was there, based on size, was itself wrapped in a non-descriptive cardboard shipping container. The marine honor guard and the car that pulled up with the likely parents made this most sad homecoming complete, a weeping father, and a mother who had a most desolate look on her face. Again, a drama all but hidden from view.

All it seems on this flight of the dead were in some way victims. Certainly none of the perpetrators of this tragedy were to be found on the flight. They, the real war criminals, stayed behind safe in Washington and in the boardrooms of corporations across America counting their oil blood money.