The Marines Tale.

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

From a UK source

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/story.jsp?story=523992

Worth the time if you are interested.

"Iraqis, he said, "would see us debase their dead all the time. We would be messing around with charred bodies, kicking them out of the vehicles and sticking cigarettes in their mouths. I also saw vehicles drive over them. It was our job to look into the pockets of dead Iraqis to gather intelligence. However, time and time again, I saw Marines steal gold chains, watches and wallets full of money."

Several members of his platoon expressed concern that so many civilians were being killed, but Mr Massey says he told them: "We've got a job to do." Finally, however, he voiced his own doubts to his commanding officer. "I told him I felt like we were committing genocide in Iraq, that we were doing harm to a culture. He said nothing and walked away. I knew my career was over." Later, he says, his superior poured abuse on him, saying, "You're a poor leader. You're faking it. You're a conscientious objector, you're a wimp."

This Marine was eventually discharged with post traumatic stress disorder.

Now, my question to military folks, particulalry veterans, is what this guy saying unusual in the combat situations you've been in or heard about? Does "shit happen", and its just not talked about much?

[NMDemDist2]

1. what about the children???

ooops wrong cliche

Remember 9-11!!

ok that's the right one <sarcasm off>

[Must_B_Free]

3. Here's what the children think

http://www.puffinroom.org/iraq/index.html

[bpilgrim]

2. many books have been written that document this

though it's not talked much as you can imagine.

vietnam vets educated a lot of americans about the horrors of war but they certainly weren't the first.

it's not something that the media like to talk about much either, though thank GORE he 'invented' the internet :bounce:

peace

[scarletlib]

4. kick

[Karenina]

5. Hmmmm.....

<snip>

"Mr Massey watched as badly injured Iraqis were repeatedly "tossed on the side of the road without calling medics". His reaction to the event that triggered the recent siege of Fallujah - the sight of the blackened, mutilated bodies of four American private security men - was that "we did the same thing to them".