Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : View from the Center and Left -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Ilaine who wrote (22869)	7/5/2006 11:39:36 AM
From: epicure	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 541339

I think we do not actually have a peace to win any more- and since our soldiers can't know which Iraqis are anti-American, it's easy to understand (though of course this is different from approving or excusing) they are seeing Iraqis in general as the enemy. I wish it was possible to prevent such actions, but I don't think it will be. I think the brutality of the Iraqis who are arrayed against the US, or who are simply killing each other, pollutes the climate with such a miasma of brutality and violence that our soldiers will inevitably fall victim to these sorts of episodes- and the wide cultural rift only makes things worse.

To: Ilaine who wrote (22869)	7/5/2006 11:39:51 AM
From: Rambi	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 541339

Well, the point I kept trying to make, and didn't make very well You did make the point, Cobe. The problem seemed to be some inability to distinguish the concern over a possible pattern that could be symptomatic, from a criticism of our troops in general, a real hot button for some. And if it's a pattern, either in one platoon, or overall, it needs to be addressed quickly and directly and not excused or justified by strange connections or misdirection.

To: Ilaine who wrote (22869)	7/5/2006 4:02:25 PM
From: Suma	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 541339

Atrocities occur in all wars which is one reason that I am so against them.... ahem.. When I worked at Indiantown Military Reservation during the Korean War I got first hand bragging about raping Korean women breaking their backs and throwing down wells. Not just from one soldier either..Numerous.. It was just the thing to do. Also, cutting off beards of older men.. Anything to humiliate... I was only 21 years old and this experience had a profound effect on me who had been reared to believe and in fact did believe that our men passed out Hershey bars and were loved by the populations they freed. I also saw notches on belts of the kills of civilians that were made... along with bragging.. Funny at the time I never thought of reporting this. I was overwhelmed with the military and even though my rank was of a second Lt. and I had all the perks of that rank I was stunned by the machinations that went on.... many of which I do not want to relate here. Suffice to say that regardless of all the objections of those who believe this could not happen or that our troops would not do such a thing I never have believed that.. Otherwise I liked E's article and as Euterpe said, it was a good one to bring the playing field lever. MY biggest complaint is ignoring that these things do happen... or trying to white wash the incidents. A soldier is being tried in Charlotte right now charged with murder...

To: Ilaine who wrote (22869)	7/7/2006 12:54:16 PM
From: TimF	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 541339

They didn't care about the wellbeing of our South Vietnamese allies any more than they cared about the North Vietnamese. To them, these people were all "gooks." Who exactly is the "they" you are talking about? Defending atrocities against innocent Iraqis by reference to 9/11 is simply insane. I don't see anyone defending atrocities. I do see statements that these atrocities are not the norm, I see statements about certain specific alleged atrocities that we should reserve judgement until the facts are in. I don't see "it was perfectly ok to rape that Iraqi woman", or "the dead Iraqi civilians got what they deserved".