The people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country. - Herman Goering (second in command to Adolf Hitler) at the Nuremberg Trial

Well done, punmaster.

I must add, war is not the answer to removing a dictator. Thanks for the comment Aeneas, this isn't the only tactic that the "coalition" learnt from the nazis. Shock and Awe is just "Blitzkrieg" for everyone who knows a little history.

Please enlighten the world then, what is YOUR answer to removing this dictator that hasn't been tried in the past 12 years?

If you left the photos out it would be an pretty good image...

Really likr this kind of art! You know, hundred years from now, these pics ll be in history books.:-) Besides, i dont think anyone thinks that hussein is a nice guy but i really think this war isnt about freeing the people. Its about oil and about restructioring the east. I really think if the american government had good intensions then the iraqui people would help them! But in the end theyll keep suffering... sorry, if the words are a little crappy, but im german and still learn english :-)

I'm not sure how this image shows what you say in your comments. For propaganda to be effective you need to tug at the heart strings by showing the injustice of something. Fortunately, I don't agree with your point of view. I also believe that artist make the worst activists.

I disagree with MatrixG, this is not about oil, if it was we could have taken the oil thirteen years ago. It's about a coward using children, to protect himself, it's about a madman who will kill his own people to stay in power, It's about a Regime, that will stop at nothing to stay in power.

I can appreciate the sentiments and passions that go into the creation of this kind of art. I respect the point of view presented in this image, just as I respect any opposing or different perspectives that might arise in reaction to this image.

As artists in a global community, we cannot be so naive as to expect that we will have a monopoly on what the perception of world events should be. It is the diversity in our opinions that allow us to shape a collective view of what and how it will affect all our futures.

That being said, let us please remember that we post here for getting our art reviewed and critiqued by our peers in the art community. And, we venture comments here to help an artist improve their craft. Let's please keep it about that... and let's not allow this to degrade into just another flame war.

BTW, how did you accomplish the smoke... it certainly does not look like hypervoxels. The sand dune texture can also be improved with a bit more aggressive bump mapping on several layers.

a really great picture... you know, I saw something in this regard that was pretty interesting... out of three english language channels, CNN International, BBC World, and ITV... the only one to show the recent interview with the wounded American soldiers was ITV. This interview was extremely enlightening. For one thing, these men were told (and said in the conference) that they would hit little or no resistance in Nassiriya... and also stated that they were shocked by the level of resistance from irregulars. This has not been relayed very strongly by the media at all. Its rather upsetting to me, as I am well familiar with the situation for years and knew the soldiers would hit this kind of guerrilla resistance... I am shocked these soldiers were unprepared for the difficulties. The blame for this unpreparedness lies at feet of the military planners... I respect and support our soldiers putting their lives on the line, and I'm really very angry they were nearly sacrificed by this mistake. Democracy is still a valuable goal, don't get brainwashed by the propaganda of the left or the right, or the corporate mainstream.

Number 1: The US and it's "coalition" left Iraq when they were about to overthrow the dictator. They left it for 12 years to suffer under sanctions and Saddam

Number 2: This war is not about liberty for the Iraqi people, it is about wealth, and other greedy western "morals". Otherwise half of Africa, half of Asia and most of South America should be "liberated"

Number 3: This is propaganda, inspiring the Iraqi people to rise up against their dictators

And number 4: The smoke is hypervoxels (I would have done better texturing, but the hypervoxels settings took too long, and I wanted it done quickly) Thanks for all your comments.

I never said it was for oil I said it was for greedy western morals and wealth. I make no assumptions. This is my opinion, but maybe the. There is no doubt that America only acts out of greed, look at point number three for reference.

Great look and feel to the image, technically well done.

That is quite possibly the most ignorant, ridiculous thing I've heard since 9/11 Hacker. They WERE passenger planes that took off from US airports. Not fighter planes, where have you been, on the moom? Get a clue. Where is Tony Blair's photo?

I like people, who are able and inspired to make images with political/sozial Aspect... Im not for a war, but I even dont think, bush is making this (primary) for oil! Im really not sure.. have no solution for this problem...So Its important to think about and get information as much as possible... Peace!

Well done punmaster! I'm completely with you on this one! Thumbs up!!!!!!!!!!!

Please read what i said again jollyjedi. I said (for all the other special people like him)
Number 1: The US and it's "coalition" left Iraq when they were about to overthrow the dictator. They left it for 12 years to suffer under sanctions and Saddam.
This makes no assumptions as to why the US or any other country were there in the first place. That war was slightly more legal, and it did have more of a "moral" basis (i use the term lightly</>
If you bother to check other news channels/sites/papers you will get a very different picture as to what the Iraqi people see this invasion, and how they react.
Nonetheless you are entitled to someonelse's opinions.

Pretty dang stylish John. You need to look more at the real meanies behind this war though, not just dear, simian George Bush. Try building in Cheney, Wolfowits, Pearle, Rumsfeld(though u have done that) and perhaps Jack Straw... Just try not to propogate Saddam so much, I know you don't mean to but he seems to come off as quite a nice guy in the art, and we all know he isn't. To all those who think america is trying to help Iraq, go watch Bowling For Columbine. There are countless instances where America has used its military and special forces to kill leaders under the guise of liberation. Chile was never liberated by the american assasination of its DEMOCRATICALLY elected president and the imposition of AUGUSTO PINOCHET as its new leader... lest I continue?

dandavis I was talking about the jets that were launched to SHOOT DOWN the 747's!!! Oh, and it's moon.