Semper Fi Pissin' Idiots!

[Sean]

When I originally read about this one of my first thoughts was that it in no way reflected on the Marines as a whole... just four dickheads doing dickhead stuff. However, after reading some of the thoughts expressed here I am beginning to wonder whether they are in any way indicative of the feelings of other Americans on this subject and whether it is possible that more (or even many more) marines behave in this manner...

[Joe Guy]

The despicable acts of soldiers at war are in no way acceptable, although we know they happen more often than we will ever realize.

As I wrote here once not long ago, we train them to kill and then we condemn them for killing.

The problem with this particular incident is that, as rubato mentioned but I thought was quite obvious, the soldiers made their act public.

Soldiers kill the enemy every day but they don't post a photo showing how they did it and/or the state of the corpse.

These marines crossed a line.

What line was crossed, you might ask?

The line between representing the United States as a country that doesn't take killing lightly and only engages in war in the name of freedom for the masses and to benefit humanity and to make an attempt to restore sanity to a world in which people are killed for unacceptable reasons, as in people being killed solely based on their color, ethnicity, sexual preference, religious or philosophical beliefs, etc.

Peace on you!!

[BoSoxGal]

Or because they have oil? Or because their tyrannical oppressor threatened the daddy of our appointed 'dear leader'?

[Sean]

The despicable acts of soldiers at war are in no way acceptable, although we know they happen more often than we will ever realize.

As I wrote here once not long ago, we train them to kill and then we condemn them for killing.

I haven't heard anybody condemn the soldiers for killing Joe. What I have heard is the soldiers being condemned for how thay acted in the aftermath of the killing.

The problem with this particular incident is that, as rubato mentioned but I thought was quite obvious, the soldiers made their act public.

Soldiers kill the enemy every day but they don't post a photo showing how they did it and/or the state of the corpse.

That's not the problem Joe, the problem is what these guys did. Are you saying what they did would've been okay if it wasn't made public?

In other words, anything is legal just as long as you don't get caught?

[Joe Guy]

That's not the problem Joe, the problem is what these guys did. Are you saying what they did would've been okay if it wasn't made public?

In other words, anything is legal just as long as you don't get caught?

Not at all, although the way I phrased it may have come across that way.

My point is that what those marines did was disgusting and then for them to publicize it made it appear that they were saying that it was something that would be funny and acceptable to all Americans.

That was wrong and I don't understand how anyone could believe that it was okay and justify it based on the belief that we must all know that things like that happen during a war.

[Sean]

Gotcha!

[Rick]

Said I wouldn't post on this any more so read it if you want. From Military.com

[Scooter]

Seemingly condemning it yet managing to find a way to rationalize it. How original.

[BoSoxGal]

Thanks for sharing the article, keld.

[loCAtek]

Joe, the Marines there, including the one who filmed it, were not the ones who publicized it. The guys in the field rarely have the time, technology and access it takes to download a video to the net. They often save photos and vids until it's time for R & R, or they're sent home.
As was the case with that rugby player who's private video of sex play with his dog was taken from an email and downloaded by a friend of a friend, to the net. It isn't likely any of these members directly intented to publish this video, but instead it went viral because of sharing.

ThX Keld, yup it's very true that you can't always regulate human nature.

[Scooter]

Can't always get people to see demented sociopaths for what they are, either.

[loCAtek]

Why it's not excuses;


These guys will come back home to civilization; where life makes sense again and there's more order than chaos.

Six months to two years, to perhaps longer than that down the road, they'll be reminded by something minor- a crosswalk guard, a football tackle, a summers thunder... and that memory of who they were, what they became in order to survive will come back. They're realize, they're not the same anymore.

They'll wonder will they ever be the same?

When they realize they won't; next they wonder- will my old friends and family still love me like the old me, in spite of what I've done?

Those fellow brothers who went through similar things will understand, those true and forgiving will try their best to understand.
Those folks won't give excuses; they'll give hope and support that this new person will learn from these experiences, hardships and mistakes, and be all of that person they loved and more.

[Scooter]

Forgiveness requires an acknowledgment that something wrong was done. There are several posts where I am not seeing that happening here.

[loCAtek]

I assume you mean my posts? I have stated they should be charged accordingly.

It's already standard post-deployment procedure that servicemen recieve counseling for any anger or guilt, brought about by their tour of duty. Those sessions, for now, are privy to doctor/patient confidence; as well as any other avenues for dealing with PTSD. Even if these men are sorry, the pressure from the media isn't doing any good.

[Timster]

The closest I think I can get to understanding Timster's position (since he refuses to explain it despite requests), is that the nature of war is itself so obscene that to fixate on urinating on a corpse is to dwell on trivialities while failing to condemn the larger obscenity, which is the wanton destruction of human life (or something).

That's my charitable attempt to make sense of his ravings. I'm still going with the need for a meds adjustment as my primary hypothesis.

Indeed Mates. Whilst profanity may be the last refuge for the inarticulate; Scooter somehow managed to nail it down in one try. Perfect!

And Sean, try not to let it ruin your day. okay?


*Excellent link Keld! Very enlightening and such. Seems that this is not the no-brainer that everyone assumes it to be even amongst military folks...

[Sean]

And Sean, try not to let it ruin your day. okay?

Well I did cry myself to sleep thinking about it last night Tim but I think I may be just about over it...