07-04-2010, 07:11 PM
Thanks, Peter, for digging out and posting the transcript.
The issue. as I see it, is not "Oh, look how bad and evil those chopper gunners are" or, for that matter, any of the soldiers. From what I understand and appreciate, the training of a soldier requires the disabling of mental and moral and emotional filters not so that they can be goons and go kill (though surely there is some of that) but so that they can survive in a hostile environment and protect themselves and their fellows. But it's a thin line and a slippery slope which can be used and abused and which leads to accidents, incidents and .. alas... war crimes.
The issue is not what on earth they are doing there but who sent them there, why, and under what pretenses. It seems to be thus always so.
If, as Sun Tzu tells us, there needs to be a war, then undertake war lethally and get home quickly.
The old men of the Senate and the Administration and the House and the media said "Okay, let's have war..." for reasons that needed to be created.
The focus of our anger must be the old men in the suits who send them, not those who got sent.
As old men now, our task is to once again write the tale of folly and felony in hopes that somewhere in the future mankind will learn the lesson.
The issue. as I see it, is not "Oh, look how bad and evil those chopper gunners are" or, for that matter, any of the soldiers. From what I understand and appreciate, the training of a soldier requires the disabling of mental and moral and emotional filters not so that they can be goons and go kill (though surely there is some of that) but so that they can survive in a hostile environment and protect themselves and their fellows. But it's a thin line and a slippery slope which can be used and abused and which leads to accidents, incidents and .. alas... war crimes.
The issue is not what on earth they are doing there but who sent them there, why, and under what pretenses. It seems to be thus always so.
If, as Sun Tzu tells us, there needs to be a war, then undertake war lethally and get home quickly.
The old men of the Senate and the Administration and the House and the media said "Okay, let's have war..." for reasons that needed to be created.
The focus of our anger must be the old men in the suits who send them, not those who got sent.
As old men now, our task is to once again write the tale of folly and felony in hopes that somewhere in the future mankind will learn the lesson.
"Where is the intersection between the world's deep hunger and your deep gladness?"