Troops Taking Pics With The Dead. So What?

[Katzndogz]

If we are not there to win, and we are not there to win, we should not be there at all.

 

[JakeStarkey]

When we removed Spec Ops and Helicopter and Mountain units in late 2002 and early 2003 for the Iraqi invasion, the US threw away its chance to change the ME. We need to bring our troops home.

 

[Peach]

When we removed Spec Ops and Helicopter and Mountain units in late 2002 and early 2003 for the Iraqi invasion, the US threw away its chance to change the ME. We need to bring our troops home.

The fight against terror took a sharp 90 degree turn..................

 

[High_Gravity]

If we are not there to win, and we are not there to win, we should not be there at all.

That pretty much sums it up.

 

[regent]

If we are not there to win, and we are not there to win, we should not be there at all.

That pretty much sums it up.

Win is an undefined term in warfare, it implies an unconditional surrender type of victory. Perhaps it is more accurate to have goals and reaching those goals is considered victory? For example what were our goals in Korea and did we reach the goals? Be interesting to see if our goals were expressed for most, or all, of our 300 plus military conflicts?

 

[Billo_Really]

In today's headlines: Photos revealed of US troops posing with corpses


I'm getting tired of the media making a big deal of soldiers taking souvenir photos. That's the nature of war. It has always been done, it comes with the territory. I've seen much worse war souvenirs.

Is it unseemly? Maybe. But it's WAR!

Is it a little weird? Sure. But so is WAR!

Is it disrespectful? Yeah. But so is WAR!

Is it inciteful? Probably. But so is WAR!

I'm sure some thin-skinned, empathic, namby-pamby will ask, "What if the dead person were your son/brother/dad"?

To that I say, we have already seen what these animals do to our dead, and it isn't any nicer.

War is hell. If you didn't know that going in, wake the **** up.

It's a war. But it is an illegal war of aggression no different than what the nazis did to Poland, Hungary, Russia, etc. These wars are the highest crimes a nation can commit. They are crimes against humanity and you've just shown your lack of it.

You've also shown all American's in a bad light and have made us less safe with your sadistic comments. As an American, you suck! Because that's not who we are. Your comments have nothing to do with American values. You're just some skumbag war-monger who watches too much TV.

 

[JakeStarkey]

The war in Afghanistan is certainly not illegal by international standards. Iraq is another matter altogether. However, it is time to declare victory and bring our troops home.

 

[Peach]

The war in Afghanistan is certainly not illegal by international standards. Iraq is another matter altogether. However, it is time to declare victory and bring our troops home.

So true. al Qaeda was based in Afghanistan, after 9/11/01, we had little choice but to go in, Iraq is nothing like the fight against terror.

 

[9thIDdoc]

In today's headlines: Photos revealed of US troops posing with corpses


I'm getting tired of the media making a big deal of soldiers taking souvenir photos. That's the nature of war. It has always been done, it comes with the territory. I've seen much worse war souvenirs.

Is it unseemly? Maybe. But it's WAR!

Is it a little weird? Sure. But so is WAR!

Is it disrespectful? Yeah. But so is WAR!

Is it inciteful? Probably. But so is WAR!

I'm sure some thin-skinned, empathic, namby-pamby will ask, "What if the dead person were your son/brother/dad"?

To that I say, we have already seen what these animals do to our dead, and it isn't any nicer.

War is hell. If you didn't know that going in, wake the **** up.

It's a war. But it is an illegal war of aggression no different than what the nazis did to Poland, Hungary, Russia, etc. These wars are the highest crimes a nation can commit. They are crimes against humanity and you've just shown your lack of it.

You've also shown all American's in a bad light and have made us less safe with your sadistic comments. As an American, you suck! Because that's not who we are. Your comments have nothing to do with American values. You're just some skumbag war-monger who watches too much TV.

Gosh, you're suddenly the last word in international relations, war, crime, and humanity?
I don't think so. I'm thinking just another anti-American idiot who has overdosed on Hallmark Greeting Cards and is having delusions of competence.

 

[Sunshine]

I don't think what they did is anything unusual, just that in past war eras, the technology has not been available to disseminate it.

 

[JakeStarkey]

Sunshine hits right on the point. In our society now, collecting trophies and dishonoring the dead are no longer tolerated.

 

[9thIDdoc]

Sunshine hits right on the point. In our society now, collecting trophies and dishonoring the dead are no longer tolerated.

Ever had people you cared about treated in such a manner? I suspect that you would not feel quite so intolerant if you had. I don't approve but I find that a desire for a little payback is entirely understandable. And I think it worthwhile to remember that our troops were NOT in our society at that time.

 

[Peach]

You two have been led to exactly where the newspaper wanted you to go.

Not wanting more Americans to die is wrong? I do not approve of the newspaper printing the pictures to begin with.

That is not what you said. You clearly stated you wanted us out of the war, not that you were against Americans dying. There is a huge difference.

Americans died in WWII. Would you have said "Why are we still there?" the day after D-Day?

You clearly see this war in Afghanistan as being wrong for us to be involved in. Publishing these photos helps to push you toward that belief, as does all improperly balanced reporting which brings us more information about American atrocities than it does about the war itself and why we are there and what is really going on.

So don't give me this "not wanting more Americans to die" switcheroo crap.

No, I wrote of not wanting retaliation for publishing the photos. I blame the LA Times, as much as the soldier. Read my posts on the subject.

 

[JakeStarkey]

Having served in the infantry for twelves years active duty, most of that on airborne status, I assure you I do understand.

I also know that being aware of our changing cultural environment does not tag me as being "intolerant". I fully am aware of the desire for payback.

And you are right: you should not approve. Times they are a'changing, and we have to get with it.

 

[Peach]

MY PREVIOUS POST:

And will let OTHER soldiers may die because of it. The LA Times needs to - - - - - - -.
__________________

 

[JakeStarkey]

Soldiers need to understand that at the end of the day, the civilians are in charge, and that regular civilians and former soldiers have every right to tell active-duty troops they may need to reconsider out-dated thinking.

 

[9thIDdoc]

Having served in the infantry for twelves years active duty, most of that on airborne status, I assure you I do understand.

I also know that being aware of our changing cultural environment does not tag me as being "intolerant". I fully am aware of the desire for payback.

And you are right: you should not approve. Times they are a'changing, and we have to get with it.

Do you consider killing people part of our cultural enviornment?
Is constant fear of death and/or dismemberment?
In combat soldiers are NOT functioning within the normal rules of society and demanding that they abide by the fine points of those rules is silly and possibly dangerous. These may be guilty of a minor infraction.

 

[JakeStarkey]

Having served in the infantry for twelves years active duty, most of that on airborne status, I assure you I do understand.

I also know that being aware of our changing cultural environment does not tag me as being "intolerant". I fully am aware of the desire for payback.

And you are right: you should not approve. Times they are a'changing, and we have to get with it.

Do you consider killing people part of our cultural enviornment?
Is constant fear of death and/or dismemberment?
In combat soldiers are NOT functioning within the normal rules of society and demanding that they abide by the fine points of those rules is silly and possibly dangerous. These may be guilty of a minor infraction.

Let me quote "Soldiers need to understand that at the end of the day, the civilians are in charge, and that regular civilians and former soldiers have every right to tell active-duty troops they may need to reconsider out-dated thinking."

Troop, we live by the UCMJ, period. Any flouting of that is disobedience at the least and treason at the most by a soldier.

 

[9thIDdoc]

"Troop, we live by the UCMJ,..."
"Soldiers need to understand that at the end of the day, the civilians are in charge, and that regular civilians and former soldiers have every right to tell active-duty troops..."

You can't have it both ways. The UCMJ is military (not civilan) law and justice. There is good reason for this because civilian and military society are fundametally diferent.
Civilians do not have any such "right", are nowhere in the normal chain of command, and should feel free to keep their opinions to themselves because they rarely have a clue what they are talking about.

 

[JakeStarkey]

The civilians amend the UCMJ all the time, so, yeah, they do have the right, they are the normal chain of command (president, secdefense, on down), and will never keep their opinions to themselves.

You have the right to follow the orders of those above, as you have sworn to do, or face the consequences.