For Kaua‘i native and Koloa resident Harold Vidinha, the recent atrocities revealed in Iraq are more than enough to convince him that he belongs in Iraq, working to free Iraqis. Vidinha, a former U.S. Army Ranger now working for a
For Kaua‘i native and Koloa resident Harold Vidinha, the recent atrocities revealed in Iraq are more than enough to convince him that he belongs in Iraq, working to free Iraqis.
Vidinha, a former U.S. Army Ranger now working for a U.S. civilian security firm in Iraq, has returned to that war-torn country after burying a relative, friend and colleague who was killed in Iraq doing the same kind of work Vidinha is doing.
He is angry that the world’s people are condemning Americans for the abuses occurring in one Iraq prison, while apparently turning a deaf ear to the systematic decapitation of another American civilian worker there.
And while excerpts from an e-mail he sent were in advance of the Memorial Day weekend, they still are fitting while we pause to remember fallen comrades, family members and friends.
“As for me, I’m very frustrated. All I see on the American news is about the prison abuse,” Vidinha states.
“What about the latest killing of an American civilian? I saw it here in Iraq, the full video in living color,” he said.
“I’m sure you saw the part up to where one of the bad guys took the knife out of his clothes. Well, I saw the rest,” Vidinha said.
“He started cutting the American’s head off while using what looked like a dull knife. He was just sawing back and forth while the poor guy was screaming,” Vidinha recalled.
“The American finally died, and the head was severed. To top this all off, they paraded the head around the room,” he said.
“I brought my cousin home to be buried last month,” he said. “He was one of the contractors killed in Fallujah. Their story was on television for about one month, and then how quick we forgot.
“Now (with) this American, not much (was) said.
“The world is condemning a soldier for the prison incident. I ask you, what is more gross?
“Seems like the United States has got their priorities backwards. I’m sorry for bringing this topic to you, but if I can get you to see my point just maybe you can show the people how brutal some people are, and the reason why people like me are here to free those who deserve a chance,” he continued.
“If I should die, I hope there is someone out there who will see it my way and come to the aid of the good Iraqis.
“We must rid the world of terrorism.”
Associate Editor Paul C. Curtis may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@pulitzer.net.
