What have we descended to? The events of the past few weeks are very disturbing. The culmination of a surreal set of events, and one that makes me confident there is no hope for humanity. We are doomed.

If we are to ignore the conspiracy theorists, Saddam was a tyrant who performed atrocities against his people, but does that justify a war? A war where 20,000 civilians die? 20,000. They're just numbers, no? I can't imagine it, 20,000 people with lives, stories, family. 20,000 people with a consciousness much like my own, all dead. 20,000. Wow. And for what?

But of course, sometimes you need war to bring about peace, right? What about Hitler? Was WW2 justified then? Surely the civilian casualties there were overshadowed by the evil that was stopped?

Or do the "you can't place a value on a human life" arguments hold? "Life, woman, is God's most precious gift, and no principle, no matter how glorious, may justify the taking of it". Isn't that just hiding behind pretty prose? An intellectual approach that doesn't hold in the real world? I don't know, probably.

But of course, you have to ask, was war the only way out? Was there not another way? I truly don't know. Perhaps war was the only option if Saddam was to be removed. Perhaps diplomatic channels were all doomed to failure. I don't know.

And if the war was justified, are the US any better than Saddam? But the abuses are not indicative of the whole US army. Yet the growing number of reports suggests a fundamental lack of preparation and comprehension of the seriousness of war (something I don't presume to have). There doesn't seem to be a moral centre anymore, it's a free-for-all. Maybe the war makes you crazy. Kill enough people and you can't tell friend from foe.

"Who cares?", asked a US soldier. Indeed. I wonder.

Does Berg's horrific killing overshadow the abuse? Surely abuse is one thing and murder another. But the abuse held particular shame due to the culture over there. And yet, murder is murder is murder. It is understandable that the abuse would be reacted to unfavourably. But murder is a sickening retaliation. But what if it's the only way they'll learn? But it's murder.

Questions, too many questions, and no answers. Perhaps both sides are right. Or perhaps the truth lies in between. Whatever. To hell with reason and logic, I've had enough.

I want to read the history books of tomorrow.