Recent U.S Deserter tells of atrocities

[Fidelio]

This is quite disturbing. 

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2006/03/30/1512671-cp.html


SO much for winning the hearts and minds...

[Freak]

And so much for my confidence in the American Media. Oh wait I never had any.

[Groundhog]

This, more than anything, makes me want to become a JAG.

[Freak]

This, more than anything, makes me want to become a JAG.

Infiltrate the system? heh

[haterade]

horrible as this is, i wonder if its anything new in the history of warfare...

i really dont know why this surprises anybody?

[Freak]

Nothing new, of course, but the US claims to be better, enlightenment and all that jazz. IMO it just helps prove we're human just like every other civilization  that's claimed enlightenment.

[haterade]

Nothing new, of course, but the US claims to be better, enlightenment and all that jazz. IMO it just helps prove we're human just like every other civilization  that's claimed enlightenment.

i wish we would just stop claiming enlightenment.  we should treat these assholes like assholes and stop apologizing or attempting to cover it up.

[cyberrev]

And so much for my confidence in the American Media. Oh wait I never had any.

it's the canadian media, but same difference

like i would trust anything a deserter said anyway... especially if he stood to profit by it

combat engineers typically dont participate in raids, i find this odd

[cyberrev]

And so much for my confidence in the American Media. Oh wait I never had any.

i'm going to repeat EXACTLY what stanley just said in different words.

you succeeded. 

i didnt see your post until now!


you've won this round curse you, but we'll meet again

[philibusters]

And so much for my confidence in the American Media. Oh wait I never had any.

er, canadian media?

and i would like to point out the following:

1. deserters have a tendency to exaggerate, and give the best story possible.

2. combat engineers kicking down doors?  i find this unlikely. 

3. the level of misconduct that he's talking about here is shocking and it would surprise me if it were true.

4. on the other hand, i probably would have said 3 to abu ghraib and that actually DID happen so @#!*.

5. the level of discipline throughout our military is not as consistent as i would like.

I disagree with you second pt., from what I understand army engineers in Iraq or pretty much like infantry in what they do at Iraq, at least that what a kid who is in my law school class and who was an army engineer in Iraq to me.  However, he didn't mention any of the brutal acts mentioned in this article.

I also disagree with your third point.  I wouldn't call it shocking.  What do you expect, you have young men, lots of times younger than the people who post on this board in a hostile territory where there lives are threatened.  Do you think they are going to behave perfectly.  I think its just human nature that their will be f*uck ups.  Dudes (guys) are violent across the world, our young men are no different.  I think where it said the men fire cause they are scared then make up reasons later sums it up well.  It reminds me a little bit of the movie Caulasties of War.

I think the testimony should serve as a reason not to go to war, because even if you start out with the best intentions, you have to implement them some way, and its hard, because the native population might not be receptive to even your best intentions, and your tools, our young soliders can only do the best they can do, and they won't be anyway near perfect.