Brave "Humanitarian" actions by Americans in Iraq

[Crvena zvezda]

An interesting but brief video of the mentality of Americans in Iraq:

+ YouTube Video

[Routasydän]

Yes, this event is clearly very descriptive of the hundreds of thousands of American soldiers stationed in Iraq. Not?

Even if you disagree with the war (as do I), It is unnecessary to demonize the ordinary serviceman. Sure, this guy in the clip is complete idiot, but if you really want, I can find examples of Serbian humanitarianism as well.

I feel sorry for these people, fighting a war that is not in their interest or the interest of their family and friends or even supported by them, many only so they could afford to get an education. I think its enough to conclude that the invasion of Iraq was wrong and never was about WMDs or removing a global threat or freeing the Iraqi people, and at the same time acknowledge, that yes, there are plenty of idiots among the thousands of Americans stationed in Iraq.

But I feel that taking out your wrath on the simple serviceman is somehow misdirected. I have respect for the soldier of all nations and every cause, its not an easy job. Its easy to be angry at them, they've got guns and the American flag on their shoulder... But they're mercenaries, nothing but muscle, controlled by the brain.

Sorry for the outburst.

[Lutiferre]

Originally Posted by Crvena zvezda

An interesting but brief video of the mentality of Americans in Iraq

I cant take people who value animal life too high seriously, however, I think that was a sick thing to do, and also very telling about the mentality of those soldiers. I've seen many videos where they for instance shoot Iraqi civilians for the kick of it.

Additionally, concerning the video in question, read this comment from YT:

The puppy was already dead when he threw it. The yipping sounds were edited in afterwards by some sick freak to make our soldiers look bad.

You can tell that it's dead by the fact that it doesn't move or whimper when he's holding it, and also by the fact that its body looks a little lopsided and its hindlegs are up in the air instead of hanging down, which both show that he's been dead a while (slight rigor mortis). A live puppy would be squirming, moving its legs, and making noise.

[Marcus Marulus]

Originally Posted by Lutiferre

I cant take people who value animal life too high seriously, however, I think that was a sick thing to do, and also very telling about the mentality of those soldiers. I've seen many videos where they for instance shoot Iraqi civilians for the kick of it.

This has nothing to do with animal-protectionism, but with the level of depravity and degeneracy of people who indulge in such actions.

[Lutiferre]

Originally Posted by Marulus

This has nothing to do with animal-protectionism, but with the level of depravity and degeneracy of people who indulge in such actions.

Of course! Except the puppy was likely dead already in this case, but like I mentioned, there are many other cases where they kill even humans for fun.

[swordjumper]

These Americans see brutality and torture as a form of entertainment - just look at the films and TV they produce. This constant diet of violence desensitizes them in real life situations. A truly sick and obnoxious society.

[Marcus Marulus]

Originally Posted by wilpuri

But I feel that taking out your wrath on the simple serviceman is somehow misdirected. I have respect for the soldier of all nations and every cause, its not an easy job. Its easy to be angry at them, they've got guns and the American flag on their shoulder... But they're mercenaries, nothing but muscle, controlled by the brain.

Are these mercenaries worthy of respect - regardless of this particular video? I am not so sure.

[Routasydän]

Originally Posted by Marulus

Are these mercenaries worthy of respect - regardless of this particular video? I am not so sure.

Not every single one of them - but in general I have respect for soldiers, having finished my own mandatory service in the Finnish Defense Forces.

[Marcus Marulus]

Originally Posted by wilpuri

Not every single one of them - but in general I have respect for soldiers, having finished my own mandatory service in the Finnish Defense Forces.

That is a subjective attitude, but we may also differentiate between various sorts of soldiers. There are soldiers and soldiers.

I have respect for true soldiers as well, those who defend their homeland, are on their mandatory service...

[Routasydän]

Originally Posted by Marulus

That is a subjective attitude, but we may also differentiate between various sorts of soldiers. There are soldiers and soldiers.

I have respect for true soldiers as well, those who defend their homeland, are on their mandatory service...

How are they not true soldiers? They are professional soldiers, not peasants with weapons, like the Finnish army.

[Marcus Marulus]

Originally Posted by wilpuri

How are they not true soldiers? They are professional soldiers, not peasants with weapons, like the Finnish army.

There is no honour in them, since the current type of warfare boils down to massacring local populations with superior technology. I was saying that they were not true soldiers in a somewhat moral sense.

May I ask you, do you have the same respct for the Taliban and the Iraqi resistance fighters as well?

[Routasydän]

Originally Posted by Marulus

There is no honour in them, since the current type of warfare boils down to massacring local populations with superior technology. I was saying that they were not true soldiers in a somewhat moral sense.

War and Morality. Tough one. If you think about morality from the point of view of the individual soldier, then it really depends on the soldier in question. If we think about it in a more general setting, for example by stating that the tactics America is using are dishonourable, then its hardly the fault of the individual soldier.

May I ask you, do you have the same respct for the Taliban and the Iraqi resistance fighters as well?

Well depends - a person who straps explosives to disabled women and sends them wandering into a crowd before detonating them at a distance, I find it hard to respect that. But those resistance fighters, who attack the superior military might of the West with old Russian weapons definately have my respect in the way that I respect any man prepared to put his life on the line for his beliefs or his people.

[Marcus Marulus]

Originally Posted by wilpuri

War and Morality. Tough one. If you think about morality from the point of view of the individual soldier, then it really depends on the soldier in question. If we think about it in a more general setting, for example by stating that the tactics America is using are dishonourable, then its hardly the fault of the individual soldier.

It could be in a way said that his fault consists in the very fact of participating in this war which has been fought in such a dishounourable manner.