The residue of an ongoing bad war
Lewis DiuguidWar can turn good people into monsters.
The latest example — and there have been many — is a Marine Corps sniper team in Afghanistan posing in front of a flag with a logo resembling that of a Nazi SS unit. That flag traces back to an awful period of 20th century history.
It resurrects the German atrocities of World War II and by association extends them to U.S. troops in Afghanistan. The U.S. military has apologized for the terrible display.
But somehow the U.S. troops need to be schooled that they are making things worse for America’s involvement in the Middle East, not better.
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Phil Cardarella
3 months agoCouple of observations:
About 10% of Americans know enough history to actually recognize who the SS were and why we were mad at them.
Frankly, most prosecutors and judges — shown the film “Judgment at Nurmberg” — would wonder why everyone is so mad at than nice man played by Burt Lancaster. After all, he was just following the law…
Second, only about 1% of that 10% — .001 — are the age of those Marines. Most of their parents were not alive during WWII.
Well-educated diplomats they are not. Their job is to turn very bad people into very dead people. Usually while those bad people are trying to kill them or their fellow troops.
They will sometimes do some dumb stuff, for which guys behind desks will apologize profusely.
I have never wanted to be a Marine — but I am damn glad there are guys who do.
Chuck Close
3 months agoWell said Mr Cardella….I have always believed that Nicholson’s line from “A Few Good Men”…….”You want me on that wall…you need me on that wall”….was one of the most prescient lines of movie dialogue ever.
While any war produces isolated acts of random stupidity I believe that our military leaders and soldiers aspire to and strive for rational civility seasoned by the reality of the mission. They are clearly 99% successful in that pursuit.
Still it is, unpleasantly, a good thing that the least flattering events continue to be revealed. It is in efforts to hide them that we see more perversions.
Tom Ryan
Crossroads, Kansas City
3 months agoDon’t become angry with the soldiers. The Corps’ leadership will question their non-commissioned and commissioned (university educated) officers.
Kay Fox
Kansas City
3 months agoSick and tired of media and their never ceasing touchy feely Politically Correct hypocritical reporting.
We have freedom of speech, the guys were “acting out” and let’s leave it at that. Had it not been for the MEDIA who would have known or cared? It could have been handled in house by their CO.
HOW MANY PEOPLE IN AFGHANISTAN KNOW WHAT THE FLAG MEANT? The girls don’t go to school and the boys barely attend.
Just another way to make people feel bad about the military…so what else is new?
Do not support the war.