Foreign Policy of Afghanistan War (September 11, 2001- Present)
Both the Taliban and Al Qaeda are both Islamic terrorist groups functioning in Afghanistan. Their main goal is to eliminate western influence on Arab countries. They interpret the scripture of their religion as encouragement for violent actions against individuals who are not members of their religion.
US Leaders During Conflict
Taliban Leaders
- Mawlawi Abdul Raqib: First Deputy Council of Ministers
- Mullah Abbas Akhund: Taliban leader
- Mullah Ghausuddin: Taliban leader
- Amir Khan Muttaqi: Minister of Culture & Information
- Mullah Nooruddin Turabi: Minister of Justice
- Qari Ahmadullah: Minister of Security
- Mullah Khaksar Akhund: Deputy Minister of Interior Affairs
- Mullah Abdul Razaq: commerce minister
- Mullah Mohammed Hassan Akhund: First Deputy Council of Ministers
- Abdul Rahman Zahed: Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Mullah Obaidullah Akhund: Minister of Defens
- Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar: Governor of Herat and Nimruz Province
- Mullah Mohammed Omar (current leader): supreme commander
Al Qaeda Leaders
- Osama Bin Laden (creator and former leader)
- Ayman al-Zawahiri (current leader)
Summary of US Goals During Conflict
- Overall Goal: To ensure that the world knows the US is "Enduring Freedom", while making sure the prestige of the our military is known to all.
- Goal: Making sure terrorists can't find a safe Haven anywhere. Congress passed the idea to ramp up, train, and equip the Iraq and Syrian opposition to help fight ISIL. -September 28 2014 Obama
- Goal: By the summer of 2013 "work with the Afghan forces to secure two key provinces: Wardak and Logar. Both provinces curl under Kabul like cupped hands and serve as a staging area for Taliban attacks on the capital." - NPR Paul Bowman reports in May of 2013
- Goal: The US Secretary of State John Kerry and Afghan leader Hamid Karzai are working to bring the Taliban into Peace Talks- 2013
- Goal: By 2014 the US will transition the responsibility of maintaining the power in Afghanistan to the local Afghan forces. -2010 Lisbon Summit
- Goal: After the 9-11 bombing the Bush Administration's goal was to topple the Taliban and the intent of President George Bush was "kicking someone's ass"
Type of Foreign Policy
The type of foreign policy that is used to describe the war in Afghanistan would be Collective Security (working with other countries to influence other nations). At the beginning of the war there were 47 other countries that were aiding Afghanistan with suppression of force from the Taliban. 47 countries had men that lost their lives and spent immense amounts of money to aid another country that was not theirs. Towards the end of the conflict it falls under the category of Internationalism (Intervening individually in other countries to promote important national interests and/or safeguard international security). Currently the United States is the only country left with military power in Afghanistan for the purpose of guarding international security from another September 11th or another enormous terrorist attack of the same degree.
Comparison of Policies to Other Wars
Iraq: Very similar. Both fighting to prevent the power of extremist groups that may be a threat to other countries. In fact, soldiers say the only real difference is the terrain. [1]
Vietnam: The United States, along with a few other countries, fought in Vietnam to prevent the spread of Communism in the aftermath of WWII. This is different that the Afghan War because they are preventing a political practice from spreading whereas the war in Afghanistan is fighting against terrorism (which is less likely to spread but more likely to be a direct threat to the lives of people internationally).
[1] http://content.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,42188023001_1926394,00.html
Vietnam: The United States, along with a few other countries, fought in Vietnam to prevent the spread of Communism in the aftermath of WWII. This is different that the Afghan War because they are preventing a political practice from spreading whereas the war in Afghanistan is fighting against terrorism (which is less likely to spread but more likely to be a direct threat to the lives of people internationally).
[1] http://content.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,42188023001_1926394,00.html
War Songs
"Let Them Eat War"
There's a prophet on a mountain and he's making up dinner
With long division and writing crop
Anybody can feel like a winner
When it's served up piping hot
But the people aren't looking for a handout
They're America's working corps
Can this be what they voted for?
Let them eat war [x2]
That's how to ration the poor
Let them eat war [x2]
There's an urgent need to feed
Declining pride
From the force to the union shops
The war economy is making new jobs
But the people who benefit most
Are breaking bread with their benevolent hosts
Who never stole from the rich to give to the poor
All they ever gave to them was a war
And a foreign enemy to deplore
Let them eat war [x2]
That's how to ration the poor
Let them eat war [x2]
There's an urgent need to feed
Declining pride
We've got to kill 'em and eat 'em
Before they reach for their checks
Squeeze some blue collars
Let them bleed from their necks
Seize a few dollars from the people who sweat
Cause it's freedom or death and they won't question it
At a job site the boss is god like
Conditioned workhorses park at a stoplight
Seasoned vets with their feet in nets
A stones throw away from a rock fight
But not tonight, feed ‘em death
Here comes another ration (feed them death)
Cause they're the finest in the nation (feed them death)
When there's nothing left to feed them
When it's freedom or it's death
Let them eat war [x2]
That's how to ration the poor
Let them eat war [x2]
There's an urgent need to feed
The language is very sarcastic and plays on Marie Antionette's phrase, "let them eat cake." The title of the song "Let Them Eat War" alludes to a hostile in your face sort of song. This song appears to be anti-war. According to the verse "Here comes another ration (feed them death)." this phrase can be analyzed to be thought of as with the necessities of life, comes death. Rations is a very military term for nourishment, in the song the phrase is echoed by feed them death. This can mean that with the life of a soldier, they are not long lived, you receive your rations, but are being fed death instead. Can war in all of it's destruction be beneficial? This song disagrees, it thinks that war creates more problems then it solves. "There's an urgent need to feed Declining pride," this quote from the song suggest that we only went to war to help feed our pride. War is the answer, we can recruit more human beings to fight our declining pride, then we will feed them death. This song is against the foreign policy. In the follow verse "All they ever gave to them was a war And a foreign enemy to deplore," gives us an understanding of the writer's feelings on the US's involvement in Afghanistan. In this song's context America only gave Afghanistan a war, and this conflict has created strong disapproval in the United States. I think the song is a little melodramatic. It raises some good points, such as the life of the soldier, but it neglects to talk about the good we are doing to rebuild Afghanistan. However I disagree with the message this song is sending. The audience this song is created for is a more edgy, punk, rage against the government type so it makes sense that it would be popular with that crowd.
American Soldier- Toby Keith
There's a prophet on a mountain and he's making up dinner
With long division and writing crop
Anybody can feel like a winner
When it's served up piping hot
But the people aren't looking for a handout
They're America's working corps
Can this be what they voted for?
Let them eat war [x2]
That's how to ration the poor
Let them eat war [x2]
There's an urgent need to feed
Declining pride
From the force to the union shops
The war economy is making new jobs
But the people who benefit most
Are breaking bread with their benevolent hosts
Who never stole from the rich to give to the poor
All they ever gave to them was a war
And a foreign enemy to deplore
Let them eat war [x2]
That's how to ration the poor
Let them eat war [x2]
There's an urgent need to feed
Declining pride
We've got to kill 'em and eat 'em
Before they reach for their checks
Squeeze some blue collars
Let them bleed from their necks
Seize a few dollars from the people who sweat
Cause it's freedom or death and they won't question it
At a job site the boss is god like
Conditioned workhorses park at a stoplight
Seasoned vets with their feet in nets
A stones throw away from a rock fight
But not tonight, feed ‘em death
Here comes another ration (feed them death)
Cause they're the finest in the nation (feed them death)
When there's nothing left to feed them
When it's freedom or it's death
Let them eat war [x2]
That's how to ration the poor
Let them eat war [x2]
There's an urgent need to feed
The language is very sarcastic and plays on Marie Antionette's phrase, "let them eat cake." The title of the song "Let Them Eat War" alludes to a hostile in your face sort of song. This song appears to be anti-war. According to the verse "Here comes another ration (feed them death)." this phrase can be analyzed to be thought of as with the necessities of life, comes death. Rations is a very military term for nourishment, in the song the phrase is echoed by feed them death. This can mean that with the life of a soldier, they are not long lived, you receive your rations, but are being fed death instead. Can war in all of it's destruction be beneficial? This song disagrees, it thinks that war creates more problems then it solves. "There's an urgent need to feed Declining pride," this quote from the song suggest that we only went to war to help feed our pride. War is the answer, we can recruit more human beings to fight our declining pride, then we will feed them death. This song is against the foreign policy. In the follow verse "All they ever gave to them was a war And a foreign enemy to deplore," gives us an understanding of the writer's feelings on the US's involvement in Afghanistan. In this song's context America only gave Afghanistan a war, and this conflict has created strong disapproval in the United States. I think the song is a little melodramatic. It raises some good points, such as the life of the soldier, but it neglects to talk about the good we are doing to rebuild Afghanistan. However I disagree with the message this song is sending. The audience this song is created for is a more edgy, punk, rage against the government type so it makes sense that it would be popular with that crowd.
American Soldier- Toby Keith
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWrMeBR8W-c
Song Lyrics:
I'm just trying to be a father,
Raise a daughter and a son,
Be a lover to their mother,
Everything to everyone.
Up and at 'em bright and early,
I'm all business in my suit,
Yeah, I'm dressed up for success from my head down to my boots,
I don't do it for the money, there's bills that I can't pay,
I don't do it for the glory, I just do it anyway,
Providing for our future's my responsibility,
Yeah I'm real good under pressure, being all that I can be,
I can't call in sick on Mondays when the weekend's been too strong,
I just work straight through the holidays,
Sometimes all night long.
You can bet that I stand ready when the wolf growls at the door.
Hey, I'm solid, hey, I'm steady, hey, I'm true down to the core.
And I will always do my duty, no matter what the price.
I've counted up the cost, I know the sacrifice.
Oh, and I don't want to die for you,
But if dying's asked of me,
I'll bear that cross with honor,
'Cause freedom don't come free.
I'm an American soldier, an American,
Beside my brothers and my sisters I will proudly take a stand,
When liberty's in jeopardy I will always do what's right,
I'm out here on the front lines. Sleep in peace tonight.
American soldier, I'm an American soldier,
Yeah, an American Soldier, an American.
Beside my brothers and my sisters I will proudly take a stand,
When liberty's in jeopardy I will always do what's right,
I'm out here on the front lines, so sleep in peace tonight.
American soldier, I'm an American, an American, an American soldier!
Analysis:
“American Soldier” by Toby Keith has very proud and confident language that stands out a lot. This song is defiantly Pro-War because in the song it says “Providing for our future's my responsibility”, “I'll bear that cross with honor, ‘Cause freedom don't come free” and “When liberty's in jeopardy I will always do what's right”, these lyrics clearly show how honored he is to be an American soldier. The song represents the war in a very positive way when it says that freedom doesn’t come free so there are American soldiers. It is in total support of the foreign policy, collective security, when the song says “When liberty's in jeopardy I will always do what's right” because it is showing he will do anything as a soldier to help the United States which would mean to help another country (Afghanistan). It answers the driving question “How do war affect the individual?” because the song is from a soldiers perspective. It clearly shows how it affects an individual when he begins to talk about his family, “ I'm just trying to be a father, Raise a daughter and a son, Be a lover to their mother, Everything to everyone” and he talks about his experience in war “And I will always do my duty, no matter what the price. I've counted up the cost, I know the sacrifice”. I agree with the message of the song that being in war is tough but soldiers help provide a better future for the United States of America.
Song Lyrics:
I'm just trying to be a father,
Raise a daughter and a son,
Be a lover to their mother,
Everything to everyone.
Up and at 'em bright and early,
I'm all business in my suit,
Yeah, I'm dressed up for success from my head down to my boots,
I don't do it for the money, there's bills that I can't pay,
I don't do it for the glory, I just do it anyway,
Providing for our future's my responsibility,
Yeah I'm real good under pressure, being all that I can be,
I can't call in sick on Mondays when the weekend's been too strong,
I just work straight through the holidays,
Sometimes all night long.
You can bet that I stand ready when the wolf growls at the door.
Hey, I'm solid, hey, I'm steady, hey, I'm true down to the core.
And I will always do my duty, no matter what the price.
I've counted up the cost, I know the sacrifice.
Oh, and I don't want to die for you,
But if dying's asked of me,
I'll bear that cross with honor,
'Cause freedom don't come free.
I'm an American soldier, an American,
Beside my brothers and my sisters I will proudly take a stand,
When liberty's in jeopardy I will always do what's right,
I'm out here on the front lines. Sleep in peace tonight.
American soldier, I'm an American soldier,
Yeah, an American Soldier, an American.
Beside my brothers and my sisters I will proudly take a stand,
When liberty's in jeopardy I will always do what's right,
I'm out here on the front lines, so sleep in peace tonight.
American soldier, I'm an American, an American, an American soldier!
Analysis:
“American Soldier” by Toby Keith has very proud and confident language that stands out a lot. This song is defiantly Pro-War because in the song it says “Providing for our future's my responsibility”, “I'll bear that cross with honor, ‘Cause freedom don't come free” and “When liberty's in jeopardy I will always do what's right”, these lyrics clearly show how honored he is to be an American soldier. The song represents the war in a very positive way when it says that freedom doesn’t come free so there are American soldiers. It is in total support of the foreign policy, collective security, when the song says “When liberty's in jeopardy I will always do what's right” because it is showing he will do anything as a soldier to help the United States which would mean to help another country (Afghanistan). It answers the driving question “How do war affect the individual?” because the song is from a soldiers perspective. It clearly shows how it affects an individual when he begins to talk about his family, “ I'm just trying to be a father, Raise a daughter and a son, Be a lover to their mother, Everything to everyone” and he talks about his experience in war “And I will always do my duty, no matter what the price. I've counted up the cost, I know the sacrifice”. I agree with the message of the song that being in war is tough but soldiers help provide a better future for the United States of America.
Peacemaker- Green Day
One, two, three, four
Well, I've got a fever
A non-believer
I'm in a state of grace
For I am the Caesar
I'm gonna seize the day
Well, call of the banshee (Hey, hey)
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
As God as my witness the infidels are gonna pay
Well, call the assassin
The orgasm
A spasm of love and hate
For what will divide us?
The righteous and the meek
Well, call of the wild (Hey, hey)
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
Well, death to the girl at the end of the serenade
Vendetta, sweet vendetta
This Beretta of the night
This fire and the desire
Well, shots ringing out on a holy parasite
Well, I am a killjoy from Detroit
I drink from a well of rage
I feed off the weakness
With all my love
Well, call up the captain (Hey, hey)
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
Well, death of the lover that you were dreaming of
This is a stand off a Molotov
Cocktail's on the house
You thought I was write off you better think again
Well, call the peacemaker (Hey, hey)
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
I'm gonna send you back to the place where it all began
Vendetta, sweet vendetta
This Beretta of the night
This fire and the desire
Well, shots ringing out on a holy parasite
Well, now the caretaker's
The undertaker
So, I'm gonna go out
And get the peacemaker
This is the Neo
St. Valentine's massacre
Well, call up the Gaza (Hey, hey)
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
Well, death to the ones at the end of the serenade
Well, death to the ones at the end of the serenade
Well, death to the ones at the end of the serenade
Well, death to the ones at the end of the serenade!
Analysis:
This song has a log of interesting choice of words, some of the verses I find most interesting include "Vendetta, sweet vendetta, This Beretta of the night, This fire and the desire, Well, shots ringing out on a holy parasite."Well, call the assassin, The orgasm, A spasm of love and hate, For what will divide us? The righteous and the meek." And "As God as my witness the infidels are gonna pay." This song in my opinion is pro-war because it talks about the vendetta that the United States has on al Qaeda for the attacks on September 11th. In addition to this, Billy Joe states that God will be the witness to the deaths of the infidels in Afghanistan. This song supports the foreign policy of Collective Security because if supports the United States cause for war on terror in Afghanistan. While Billy Joe talks about the United States vendetta on al Qaeda, it answers the driving question of "How does war affect society?" because not only are some families supporting the war, but the whole country is fully supporting the deployment of troops to suppress the threat of terrorism. I do not agree with the message of this song because I personally am anti-war. The acts committed against us were horrible, but it is no cause to lose even more men. In elementary school we learn the "Golden Rule" which is treat people how you want to be treated, if the United States wants to end the cycle of terrorism they should not invade and kill them as revenge for their crimes. Although the majority of the public would agree with the message in this song because they feel like we need to get revenge for the deaths of thousands on our own soil.
One, two, three, four
Well, I've got a fever
A non-believer
I'm in a state of grace
For I am the Caesar
I'm gonna seize the day
Well, call of the banshee (Hey, hey)
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
As God as my witness the infidels are gonna pay
Well, call the assassin
The orgasm
A spasm of love and hate
For what will divide us?
The righteous and the meek
Well, call of the wild (Hey, hey)
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
Well, death to the girl at the end of the serenade
Vendetta, sweet vendetta
This Beretta of the night
This fire and the desire
Well, shots ringing out on a holy parasite
Well, I am a killjoy from Detroit
I drink from a well of rage
I feed off the weakness
With all my love
Well, call up the captain (Hey, hey)
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
Well, death of the lover that you were dreaming of
This is a stand off a Molotov
Cocktail's on the house
You thought I was write off you better think again
Well, call the peacemaker (Hey, hey)
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
I'm gonna send you back to the place where it all began
Vendetta, sweet vendetta
This Beretta of the night
This fire and the desire
Well, shots ringing out on a holy parasite
Well, now the caretaker's
The undertaker
So, I'm gonna go out
And get the peacemaker
This is the Neo
St. Valentine's massacre
Well, call up the Gaza (Hey, hey)
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
Well, death to the ones at the end of the serenade
Well, death to the ones at the end of the serenade
Well, death to the ones at the end of the serenade
Well, death to the ones at the end of the serenade!
Analysis:
This song has a log of interesting choice of words, some of the verses I find most interesting include "Vendetta, sweet vendetta, This Beretta of the night, This fire and the desire, Well, shots ringing out on a holy parasite."Well, call the assassin, The orgasm, A spasm of love and hate, For what will divide us? The righteous and the meek." And "As God as my witness the infidels are gonna pay." This song in my opinion is pro-war because it talks about the vendetta that the United States has on al Qaeda for the attacks on September 11th. In addition to this, Billy Joe states that God will be the witness to the deaths of the infidels in Afghanistan. This song supports the foreign policy of Collective Security because if supports the United States cause for war on terror in Afghanistan. While Billy Joe talks about the United States vendetta on al Qaeda, it answers the driving question of "How does war affect society?" because not only are some families supporting the war, but the whole country is fully supporting the deployment of troops to suppress the threat of terrorism. I do not agree with the message of this song because I personally am anti-war. The acts committed against us were horrible, but it is no cause to lose even more men. In elementary school we learn the "Golden Rule" which is treat people how you want to be treated, if the United States wants to end the cycle of terrorism they should not invade and kill them as revenge for their crimes. Although the majority of the public would agree with the message in this song because they feel like we need to get revenge for the deaths of thousands on our own soil.
Green Day - 21 Guns
Do you know what's worth fighting for?
When it's not worth dying for?
Does it take your breath away and you feel yourself suffocating?
Does the pain weigh out the pride?
And you look for a place to hide?
Did someone break your heart inside,you're in ruins
One, 21 Guns
Lay down your arms
Give up the fight
One, 21 Guns
Throw up your arms into the sky
You and I ...
When you're at the end of the road
And you lost all sense of control
And your thoughts have taken their toll
When your mind breaks the spirit of your soul
Your faith walks on broken glass and the hangover doesn't pass
Nothing's ever built to last, you're in ruins
One, 21 Guns
Lay down your arms
Give up the fight
One, 21 Guns
Throw up your arms into the sky
You and I ...
Did you try to live on your own?
When you burned down the house and home?
Did you stand too close to the fire?
Like a liar looking for forgiveness from a stone
When it's time to live and let die
And you can't get another try
Something inside this heart has died,you're in ruins
One, 21 Guns
Lay down your arms
Give up the fight
One, 21 Guns
Throw up your arms into the sky
One, 21 Guns
Lay down your arms
Give up the fight
One, 21 Guns
Throw up your arms into the sky
You and I
2. How does this song present the war? Pro-war or anti-war and how do you know?
The song is anti-war in that it begins by saying that the reasons that impel us to go to war are not justified and that they are “not worth dying for”, and then saying that soldiers should “Lay down your arms; Give up the fight”.
3.Is this song in support of or critical of the stated foreign policy?
The anti-war language implies that the song is not in support of the foreign policy. They believe that we should not be fighting because it is not worth it, and in the end we are just destroying ourselves by “burn[ing] down the house and home”.
4.How does the song answer one of the driving questions?
The artist says that the pain doesn't outweigh the pride, meaning that the cost of war is much greater than the benefits of war. In addition, songs like this showcase how war affects society in that these songs are the product of the effect that war has on people and on society. War causes people to be emotionally charged to the point where they have to write songs about it.
5.Do you agree with the message of the song or not? Why
I agree with the message to an extent. The song states that the war was not worth the cost and the pain because there were no benefits other than pride. I believe that the war did have some benefits such as security for both the US and Afghanistan, although the costs were ridiculously high.
When it's not worth dying for?
Does it take your breath away and you feel yourself suffocating?
Does the pain weigh out the pride?
And you look for a place to hide?
Did someone break your heart inside,you're in ruins
One, 21 Guns
Lay down your arms
Give up the fight
One, 21 Guns
Throw up your arms into the sky
You and I ...
When you're at the end of the road
And you lost all sense of control
And your thoughts have taken their toll
When your mind breaks the spirit of your soul
Your faith walks on broken glass and the hangover doesn't pass
Nothing's ever built to last, you're in ruins
One, 21 Guns
Lay down your arms
Give up the fight
One, 21 Guns
Throw up your arms into the sky
You and I ...
Did you try to live on your own?
When you burned down the house and home?
Did you stand too close to the fire?
Like a liar looking for forgiveness from a stone
When it's time to live and let die
And you can't get another try
Something inside this heart has died,you're in ruins
One, 21 Guns
Lay down your arms
Give up the fight
One, 21 Guns
Throw up your arms into the sky
One, 21 Guns
Lay down your arms
Give up the fight
One, 21 Guns
Throw up your arms into the sky
You and I
- What language of the song stands out to you, catches your attention, etc?
2. How does this song present the war? Pro-war or anti-war and how do you know?
The song is anti-war in that it begins by saying that the reasons that impel us to go to war are not justified and that they are “not worth dying for”, and then saying that soldiers should “Lay down your arms; Give up the fight”.
3.Is this song in support of or critical of the stated foreign policy?
The anti-war language implies that the song is not in support of the foreign policy. They believe that we should not be fighting because it is not worth it, and in the end we are just destroying ourselves by “burn[ing] down the house and home”.
4.How does the song answer one of the driving questions?
The artist says that the pain doesn't outweigh the pride, meaning that the cost of war is much greater than the benefits of war. In addition, songs like this showcase how war affects society in that these songs are the product of the effect that war has on people and on society. War causes people to be emotionally charged to the point where they have to write songs about it.
5.Do you agree with the message of the song or not? Why
I agree with the message to an extent. The song states that the war was not worth the cost and the pain because there were no benefits other than pride. I believe that the war did have some benefits such as security for both the US and Afghanistan, although the costs were ridiculously high.
The Man I Shot
That man I shot, He was trying to kill me
He was trying to kill me He was trying to kill me
That man I shot I didn't know him
I was just doing my job, maybe so was he
That man I shot, I was in his homeland
I was there to help him but he didn't want me there
I did not hate him, I still don't hate him
He was trying to kill me and I had to take him down
That man I shot, I still can see him
When I should be sleeping, tossing and turning
He's looking at me, eyes looking through me
Break out in cold sweats when I see him standing there
That man I shot, shot not in anger
There's no denying it was in self-defense
But when I close my eyes, I still can see him
I feel his last breath in the calm dead of night
That man I shot, He was trying to kill me
He was trying to kill me, He was trying to kill me
Sometimes I wonder if I should be there?
I hold my little ones until he disappears
I hold my little ones until he disappears
I hold my little ones until we disappear
And I'm not crazy or at least I never was
But there's this big thing that can't get rid of
That man I shot did he have little ones
That he was so proud of that he won't see grow up?
Was walking down his street, maybe I was in his yard
Was trying to do good I just don't understand
URL to audio or video performance: http://www.ranker.com/list/best-songs-about-the-iraq-and-afghanistan-wars/clark-benson
Analysis Questions:
- What language of the song stands out to you, catches your attention, etc? “That man I shot, I still can see him when I should be sleeping, tossing and turning. He is looking at me, eyes looking through me.”
How does this song present the war? Pro-war or anti-war and how do you know? I think this song is more on the anti-war side because its describing the feelings he has after he has actually harmed someone else, which are sad and confused with himself.
Is this song in support of or critical of the stated foreign policy? Collective security
How does the song answer one of the driving questions? This is answering the question how does war affect the individual.
Do you agree with the message of the song or not? Why? This message describes the feelings this man has after he has to kill someone in war, I wouldn't know this feeling but I can imagine it would be similar to his.