U.S. soldiers killing Afghan civilians

[illmuri]

The American army is full of those pretentious, and self righteous gits.

In this space I will not draw conclusions on what we define "British" to mean.

At least in the British army, you have to go through a background check, and have certain qualifications in order to join it.

Heres a couple of examples of the effectiveness in your background checks:

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/feb2005/brit-f05.shtml

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/onthefrontline/7909740/Afghan-war-logs-British-troops-killed-dozens-of-civilians.html

In America their army is mostly full of idiotic school dropout's, and that's why this shit happens.

Heres a list of the various MOS and their requirements:
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/enlistedjobs/tp/armyenlistedjobs.htm

Ignorant forum posters, please take note.

===

More on topic, the people mentioned in the OP article are bad human beings. Being American has nothing to do with it. There are bad people in any army. This stuff is found out and the people are punished.

If you are shocked, its hardly the first time something like this has happened.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Baghdad_(1258)

 

[DanDeFool]

The saddest thing? I wish I could say that I was surprised.

I know I'm not. Not because "American Soldier = Evil Baby-Murdering Bastard" or anything like that.

It's pretty much just what happens when put a bunch of highly trained professional killers in a very foreign and extremely hostile environment and tell them to keep the peace when the next 'civilian' they see might have a bomb strapped to his chest and a plan to kill and/or maim their best buddies.

Not to say the perpetrators should be cut any slack, but you should expect this sort of thing given the circumstances.

 

[Jaranja]

Lol. Americans...

Damn it, Critical Miss >.<

Uhm, I mean... This is horrible but it's not surprising in the least. The soldiers don't know what they're doing in that damn country. They're certainly not protecting their country and they're not trying to better the country. They're fucking that country up.

 

[Sam17]

You're a soggy sock if you think that civilians don't get killed in war, as sad as it is

 

[Aur0ra145]

Okay. Sad story, these things happen. The guilty should be punished. Hey, at least it wasn't another My Lai.

 

[SovietSecrets]

It happens and nothing can be done.

 

[Risingblade]

This happens in all wars, the origins of the soldiers does not matter.

 

[Misho-]

Well, each side on a conflict has it's heroes and it's villains...
I mean it's war after all. They all can't be rugged handsome heroes with a soft side and a heart of gold.

The saddest thing? I wish I could say that I was surprised.

But This sums it up pretty nicely. In a sad sad kind of way.

 

[Stalk3rchief]

The people who are shocked by this have apparently never seen a gore thread on the internet. TONS of people get excited when they see dead bodies, especially the mangled and disfigured bodies. Obviously people like that would end up in the military, they might have even joined just for that reason.
Plus alot of soldiers develop a taste for this. I'm not trying to slander the military of the U.S. or any other nation, it's just a fact. Living with violence like that you get used to it and desensitized. The fact that they were targeting innocent civilians is also no surprise to me. People hate other people, it's not the same for everyone of course, but it's true. Being accustomed to killing people on a daily basis AND having a large population of people you despise all around you all the time, this was bound to happen and is bound to happen again.
It sucks but it's just the way things are.

 

[StBishop]

The American army is full of those pretentious, and self righteous gits.

At least in the British army, you have to go through a background check, and have certain qualifications in order to join it.

In America their army is mostly full of idiotic school dropout's, and that's why this shit happens.

America please take note.

Similarly, in Australia you'll get told to fuck off if you have a criminal record or if you don't pass psych evaluations when applying to the defence force.

 

[Misho-]

War is war, and war is hell. These soldiers broke, and didnt act like soldiers. I hope they're punished severely.

Did you read the article? If not then "Cpl. Jeremy Morlock was sentenced to 24 years in prison for his role in the 'Kill Team.'" for example.

 

[Bretty]

Hell, go take a look at some of the Wiki leaks videos regarding Apache gunners killing photographers and saying they had RPGs.

The problem is two fold. You are allowing idiots to fight for you (you would have to be to join at this point). Secondly, your countries support of the mental health of the guys over there and here is laughable.

 

[s0m3th1ng]

The saddest thing? I wish I could say that I was surprised.

Summed it up perfectly.

As much as I hate to say it, the draft actually includes everyone (well, everyone who can't buy their way out) not just people who are much more likely to sign up "Just to kill people"

U.S. soldiers weren't drafted to fight in Afghanistan...

That's what I'm saying.

In a voluntary war, you sign up if you

a) have no other options (poor)
b) you're a fucking psychopath

Yeah...everyone in the military was homeless and takes crazy pills. Sounds ABOUT RIGHT.

 

[Mrsoupcup]

The saddest thing? I wish I could say that I was surprised.

Summed it up perfectly.

As much as I hate to say it, the draft actually includes everyone (well, everyone who can't buy their way out) not just people who are much more likely to sign up "Just to kill people"

U.S. soldiers weren't drafted to fight in Afghanistan...

That's what I'm saying.

In a voluntary war, you sign up if you

a) have no other options (poor)
b) you're a fucking psychopath

Or you patriotic and wish to serve your nation? Some guys like the pay and like being outdoors.

OT: Nobody authorized this shit it's just some red neck who abused his military position.

 

[BRex21]

That's what I'm saying.

In a voluntary war, you sign up if you

a) have no other options (poor)
b) you're a fucking psychopath

There are plenty of reasons to be in Afganistan now, and its not just desperate people. However the US Army is currently taking pretty much anyone, regardless of their physical or mental condition. Lots of people join the Army because they feel their country needs them, and often times it does, Don't confuse Afganistan and Iraq either, they are very different wars with very different politics.

On the other hand americas recriting policies could use some attention. I would not qualify to be in the Canadian Army, yet am well above the average physical and mental condition of the average US Army recruit since the Iraq war started, mostly because the USA can't fill its quotas. Sadly many of the best people go to contract companies and do the same job for much more money, and the army gets the leftovers.

 

[SilentCom]

Hell, go take a look at some of the Wiki leaks videos regarding Apache gunners killing photographers and saying they had RPGs.

The problem is two fold. You are allowing idiots to fight for you (you would have to be to join at this point). Secondly, your countries support of the mental health of the guys over there and here is laughable.

That reminds me:
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Iraq-Friendly-Fire-Video-Leaked-US-Troops-Itching-To-Attack-Group-Of-Iraqis-Before-Opening-Fire/Article/201004115595754

This footage is a little disturbing and may add fuel to the fire.

Edit: I'm not trying to bash on the military, I'm just trying to illustrate how horrible war is and how regulations need to be enforced better.

 

[moretimethansense]

No officers were charged

Of course fucking not, god forbid that officers should have to take resposibility for the troops under their comand, every last one of them should be handed over to the local govornment for torture and execution.