Yep, that’s Rule #1 of any military regime: they’re all tameable if you catch them young enough, before the brain has fully developed.
Of course, this does not excuse the parents.
From BoingBoing:
Here, some Israeli girls have apparently been told to “sign”
bombsHowitzer shells directed at Lebanon, writing messages like “from Israel with love.”Link(via lawrenceofcyberia and thismodernworld) Update: That link keeps crashing my browser. Here are better links, to the source of these photos: one, two.Caption, via AP, “Israeli girls write messages on a shell at a heavy artillery position near Kiryat Shmona, in northern Israel, next to the Lebanese border, Monday, July 17, 2006.” AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner.
raincoaster 
Raincoaster, the thing that ashamed me the most about the Iraq bombings was our military writing stuff on bombs and missiles. Pictures like that being beamed around the world do nothing to quell hatred of the West or further the cause of democracy and freedom.
I just can’t believe they’re getting children to do it. This goes beyond sinister.
For those interested, here is the story behind this photo:
[edited to open link in new window]
Thanks, Xeni. Will check it out and probably post.
I read the post cited above, which claims the pic is a photo op staged by western journalists. It in turn has a comment posted from the original writer that modifies the story.
The situation is that yes, the children were goaded into performing for a camera crew.
By their parents. Who wrote the original messages on the shells.
That IS a clarification, though. Originally it appeared as if the military asked them to do this. That the parents did, in order to show off their hatred in front of a worldwide audience, is a meaningful piece of information.
As for what the photographers were doing there, anyone who’s been to Israel knows the photographers go where the military tells them to. If they don’t, they get shot.
I think Pee Wee Herman said it best with a fan letter:
“My name is Shlomo. I’m 9 years old and in the Israeli army.”
Anybody else remember when Spy dubbed the US actions in Somalia “Operation Save CNN’s Ratings”?
I still think Duke has become the IDF’s Chief of Staff, and that Honey is the adjutant – makes perfect sense in a gonzo sort of way
By the way, di dI miss anything during my three consecutive days and two nights at work?
Not really, sorry to report. Minor skirmish with Metro about whether or not online petitions should exist. 300 Lebanese casualties and 7 Canadian ones. Gawker is playing email tag with a Jessica Alba stalker. Chad Vader, Day Shift Manager is worth checking out, because it’s always fun to watch people whose lives are more pathetic than your own. Found a guy who posts lightsaber tutorials to YouTube, and shall post eventually. Xeni Jardin commented on my blog, and I broke the top 100,000 on Technorati. Operation Global Media Domination continues according to plan. Discovered my scanner does not work, therefore cannot post the amusing restaurant receipt I got that read “BANG LORRAINE”.
More interesting activity over at the Shebeen Club blog
Congrats on Xeni’s attention!
Sounds like it’s been more fun that any human should be allowed to have, otherwise.
I did skate twice…and am about to do it again, in the dark this time. Wish me luck. If I’m not blogging by dawn, call the Mounties. They have no jurisdiction in Vancouver, but they’re hotter than the VPD.
She let a big truck graze her hip . . .
Sorry, been waiting to use a Dire Straits lyric line for ages
So has Mark Knoffler. The Planetarium hasn’t been the same since they dropped the Dire Straits show for the Britney one.
He’s got a day job
He’s doin’ alright . . .
See the benefits of a liberal arts education?
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