General Discussion

quinnox

(20,600 posts)

60. so all the troops are patriotic heroes?

Thu Jan 3, 2013, 09:00 PM

Jan 2013

I'm not sure about that, I have heard about several soldiers who did pretty despicable things like massacre civilians, and also stuff like Abu Ghraib comes to mind too.

In any case, I think the soldiers do bear some personal responsibility for their own decisions, which include volunteering for the military in the first place.

For those interested, here are a couple incidents I'm referring too:

U.S. Soldier Accused of Killing 16 Afghans, Including Women and Children - he killed them with a machine gun while they were sleeping in their beds.
http://abcnews.go.com/International/us-soldier-accused-killing-16-afghans-including-women/story?id=15897098#.UOY7yGmwWSo

Haditha killings - The Haditha killings (also called the Haditha incident or the Haditha massacre) refers to the incident in which 24 unarmed Iraqi men, women and children were killed by a group of United States Marines on November 19, 2005 in Haditha, a city in the western Iraqi province of Al Anbar. All those killed were civilians.[1] The dead included several children and elderly people, who were shot multiple times at close range while unarmed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haditha_killings

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If you've never served in the military than you can't criticize those who have. [View all] white_wolf Jan 2013 OP

of course people who have never served can criticize, and they do Skittles Jan 2013 #1

This. Adsos Letter Jan 2013 #5

you got it, Adsos Letter Skittles Jan 2013 #12

Does this entitle me to one "You may dodge one ass-kicking" card? Adsos Letter Jan 2013 #34

you know you'd pay me for one Skittles Jan 2013 #36

! Adsos Letter Jan 2013 #39

Hell, Skittles, I'll give you all my comic books, cliffordu Jan 2013 #109

how big is that, er, plaster cast? Skittles Jan 2013 #134

Uh..... cliffordu Jan 2013 #136

You are right Mojorabbit Jan 2013 #55

This Recursion Jan 2013 #22

Agree Solly Mack Jan 2013 #43

They often are nadinbrzezinski Jan 2013 #48

That's what gets me the most about people like those in the OP RomneyLies Jan 2013 #69

A doctor if I remember correctly. nadinbrzezinski Jan 2013 #74

There was also a captain and there was a major who first volunteered to go to Afghanistan RomneyLies Jan 2013 #79

At this point...popcorn nadinbrzezinski Jan 2013 #2

Nah, enlisted aren't to blame for the war RedCappedBandit Jan 2013 #3

They aren't at fault for what the government did, but they are responsible for their own actions. white_wolf Jan 2013 #8

Makes about as much sense as blaming Wal-Mart door greeters for the evils of corporations Major Nikon Jan 2013 #20

Like I said, they're individuals. RedCappedBandit Jan 2013 #52

No offense but that is a dumb comment to make. If I remember right Bush/Cheney were lying southernyankeebelle Jan 2013 #88

I would add that people don't join the military for patriotic or ideological reasons Major Nikon Jan 2013 #111

Well I know my dad and father-in-law both joined because of WWII but both liked the southernyankeebelle Jan 2013 #115

They don't decide their mission iiibbb Jan 2013 #145

One does not have to be able to even boil water, much less cook a meal TheKentuckian Jan 2013 #4

I have two brothers who prove military intelligence is an oxymoron. liberal N proud Jan 2013 #6

I have an nephew who does the same. white_wolf Jan 2013 #10

You are aware that the line of demarcation nadinbrzezinski Jan 2013 #51

Oh, c'mon nadin... Adsos Letter Jan 2013 #64

Of course it is nadinbrzezinski Jan 2013 #66

Don't blame E-1s for obeying orders in combat coming from O-10s reporting to the Commander in Chief. jody Jan 2013 #7

Those E-1s choose to enlist. white_wolf Jan 2013 #9

No job, no prospect of a job, no way to afford college… Jackpine Radical Jan 2013 #15

Then we need to bring jobs back to this country. white_wolf Jan 2013 #29

why do you think we are invading those countries?? Angry Dragon Jan 2013 #77

That's possibly the most naive thing (I'm being extremely charitable) I've ever read here. n/t Egalitarian Thug Jan 2013 #95

........... Angry Dragon Jan 2013 #105

Sorry. This is DU after all and one can never be sure. n/t Egalitarian Thug Jan 2013 #138

One can argue that you are just as guilty for not providing alternatives for these people. Kaleva Jan 2013 #104

No, you never "have to" enlist, period. Not one person capable of filling out the enlistment Egalitarian Thug Jan 2013 #92

Thank you for bringing some sanity to this thread. Scuba Jan 2013 #97

Those E-1s enlist to serve under CIC Obama you helped elect. If they have been misled as you claim, jody Jan 2013 #16

And many did to escape the hood nadinbrzezinski Jan 2013 #17

If jobs were out there, at living wages, I am betting a good number of recruits would not join. white_wolf Jan 2013 #32

Perhaps you missed this by a mile. nadinbrzezinski Jan 2013 #35

Blah blah blah cliffordu Jan 2013 #110

You elected or failed to elect representatives to give the military their objectives iiibbb Jan 2013 #146

Oh dear theKed Jan 2013 #11

See post 87. eom RomneyLies Jan 2013 #13

... pinboy3niner Jan 2013 #18

pardon me RomneyLies Jan 2013 #21

RomneyLies xoom Jan 2013 #63

See Post 91. eom RomneyLies Jan 2013 #70

RomneyLies xoom Jan 2013 #71

You do know that I love you, brother. cliffordu Jan 2013 #114

Back atcha, brother pinboy3niner Jan 2013 #118

ONE day in the sun, one day in the rain "over there" cliffordu Jan 2013 #121

RomneyLies xoom Jan 2013 #65

You can't criticize the military... Bigmack Jan 2013 #14

I agree GP6971 Jan 2013 #58

Agreed Adsos Letter Jan 2013 #90

There is nothing soldiers abhor most than war nadinbrzezinski Jan 2013 #94

This Recursion Jan 2013 #99

+47% nt pinboy3niner Jan 2013 #103

So why aren't willing to lay down your life to stop these crimes cliffordu Jan 2013 #116

Translation, please... nt Bigmack Jan 2013 #149

It's bullshit. OTOH if your exposure to the military is Hollywood Recursion Jan 2013 #19

+1 Adsos Letter Jan 2013 #24

hey recursion, check out the holiday pic emailed to me from Marines in Afghanistan Skittles Jan 2013 #31

High five Recursion Jan 2013 #37

Hey. When was the last time I said I loved ya??? cliffordu Jan 2013 #117

you would have laughed at this Skittles Jan 2013 #133

Rofl.... cliffordu Jan 2013 #137

. RomneyLies Jan 2013 #61

I take a perverse satisfaction when people criticize military service Recursion Jan 2013 #72

clicked your OP just to say "horse shit," only to find that we think pretty much alike.... mike_c Jan 2013 #23

I'm curious, where have you heard that here? I've heard it elsewhere, and dismissed it as bullshit, 11 Bravo Jan 2013 #25

I agree, short of someone at your front door pointing a gun at your head, or Hitler, there is 4 t 4 Jan 2013 #26

If you had any clue how woefully DevonRex Jan 2013 #27

Does that mean we should be applauding the MIC theKed Jan 2013 #100

K&R, that is just one lame talking point among many others quinnox Jan 2013 #28

Right and/or wrong, you have a right to your own understandings & so do others. & patrice Jan 2013 #30

If you've never served linbarkertx Jan 2013 #33

'First, when the the Westboro Baptist Church start posting threads here?' marmar Jan 2013 #38

This message was self-deleted by its author RomneyLies Jan 2013 #42

This message was self-deleted by its author marmar Jan 2013 #44

Yep. Why the fuck not?? cliffordu Jan 2013 #119

and let me guess, they are a dirty commie as well quinnox Jan 2013 #41

Wow you really are pathetic. white_wolf Jan 2013 #53

Now you sound like the anti-Obama people. I'll critizize who I want loyalkydem Jan 2013 #40

Did you read past the thread title? white_wolf Jan 2013 #49

The military can not invade nations without orders from the civilian government. Agnosticsherbet Jan 2013 #45

That was Heinlein's idea in Starship Troopers. The vets simply said nobody else votes, and that was leveymg Jan 2013 #46

Nice to know I'm not the only starship troopers fan loyalkydem Jan 2013 #142

I read it as a warning not a User's Guide leveymg Jan 2013 #148

. RomneyLies Jan 2013 #47

W and Co. lied to the American people to garner support for those wars. rrneck Jan 2013 #50

rrneck bullseye! nt jody Jan 2013 #54

Bravo! RomneyLies Jan 2013 #56

Indeed. n/t Adsos Letter Jan 2013 #57

Why I didn't vote for Bush or the Congress. white_wolf Jan 2013 #59

Just plain bullshit. rrneck Jan 2013 #62

How so? I had nothing to do with the wars. I didn't elect the people who voted for them. white_wolf Jan 2013 #67

That's a cheap cop out. rrneck Jan 2013 #91

so all the troops are patriotic heroes? quinnox Jan 2013 #60

Post removed Post removed Jan 2013 #83

give me a fucking break quinnox Jan 2013 #93

Just because you alerted on that Drunken Irishman post, I'll post it again: cliffordu Jan 2013 #124

nope, I didn't alert on it, that is why I was in the middle of typing a reply to it quinnox Jan 2013 #127

. Bobbie Jo Jan 2013 #129

Thanks, cliffordu Jan 2013 #130

+1 LiberalLoner Jan 2013 #140

No, they are not partiotic heros. rrneck Jan 2013 #87

Kinda painting with a REALLY broad brush, right? cliffordu Jan 2013 #128

"painting with a broad brush" is exactly what I thought the post I was responding to quinnox Jan 2013 #132

I liked the line from Dr. Zhivago Recursion Jan 2013 #76

I never served in the military. rrneck Jan 2013 #96

Criticize them all you want from your computer. MicaelS Jan 2013 #68

Oh wow the vets can kick my ass. white_wolf Jan 2013 #73

For the record nadinbrzezinski Jan 2013 #78

No Vet who takes the oath seriously will cause you any harm atreides1 Jan 2013 #80

Criticizing vets won't get you beat up Recursion Jan 2013 #84

Yup nadinbrzezinski Jan 2013 #86

So that's how you really feel about those freedoms? Mariana Jan 2013 #107

So vets are bully's? Logical Jan 2013 #143

Since you are a soldier in a war against reason Herlong Jan 2013 #75

Tell someone who says that to you that the logic is similar to the idea that zbdent Jan 2013 #81

I think of it like people who have never smoked. Robb Jan 2013 #82

I wonder if the "you can't criticised the grunt" posters would be that forging to an invading Arctic Dave Jan 2013 #85

I guess the rant was okay. Stinky The Clown Jan 2013 #89

A civlian outranks a general underpants Jan 2013 #98

That's like saying if you haven't been a member of the US House or Senate MNBrewer Jan 2013 #101

+4,962 Angry Dragon Jan 2013 #141

"just to be clear I consider anyone who enlisted..." Shivering Jemmy Jan 2013 #102

Not at all and nor do I care what you or the other posters here think. white_wolf Jan 2013 #106

Wish that were so but there is a group that only want people who support their personal beliefs to jody Jan 2013 #113

LOL. THAT was easy to type, wasn't it? cliffordu Jan 2013 #108

whatever....wrong on so many levels, not worth these few words to argue Demonaut Jan 2013 #112

If you've never been a snotty young campus Marxist, you can't criticize those who are. Throd Jan 2013 #120

The irony nadinbrzezinski Jan 2013 #123

B.S. Pretzel_Warrior Jan 2013 #122

Those same types of people who have made such statements are same type who criticized We People Jan 2013 #125

You noted this in your op: tomg Jan 2013 #126

You sound like somebody who doesn't know know any veterans or troops. musical_soul Jan 2013 #131

Civilian casualties in modern warfare Bradical79 Jan 2013 #135

I have never ever seen that here. cali Jan 2013 #139

You can criticize all you want. iiibbb Jan 2013 #144

I haven't heard that one treestar Jan 2013 #147