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In reply to the discussion: Video appears to show troops urinating on corpses [View all]Deep13
(39,154 posts)This is a way to dehumanize ones enemies. I have no respect for the Taliban or what they stand for. Even still, they are warriors risking their lives for what they believe in. Most of us will never do that. They deserve a modicum of respect as brave men even if their cause is one of the worse for which men have ever fought. U.S. Grant said something similar when talking about CSA soldiers. Those men were in open rebellion against the USA and were in effect fighting for slavery. So, I don't think the fact that our government and media labels Taliban fighters as "terrorists" really means anything for this specific point. I hate the sneaky, ambush tactics the Taliban uses--IEDs and whatnot--as they are not only cruel but run contrary to the Homeric tradition many in the West still consider to be the warrior ideal. Still, I must admit that they are stuck using the weapons they have. Warriors ought to afford each other a level of basic respect for being warriors.
I understand that a decade of tough fighting hardens hatred. Desecrating the remains of the enemy is an expression of that hate. It really is understandable and I do not fault the Marines for feeling that way. Unfortunately, treating the enemy as subhuman, unworthy of respect, will only harden their resolve causing the fighting to continue and causing civilians to suffer. This is the same complaint I had with Abu Grave (and yeah, that was a much worse situation). Ultimately, such things make it worse for everyone involved.