Steely Eyed Determination Or Battle Fatigue?

[DistressedAmerican]

You may have seen the image I based this on in many spots recently. Most headlines saluted his "Steely Eyed Determination" or something of that nature. Call me a pesimist but, I see something different. I see a desperate man who just wants out of the mess he's in. What do YOU think?

The brave folks don't need to be there. Bring them home!
DA
p.s. For the record, not to question the guy's guts and bravery, its just not what I see on his face.

http://www.seedsofdoubt.com/distressedamerican/main.htm

[blackangrydem]

1. I think it discredits this soldier.

You're assuming he is an unwilling pawn when he is in fact a brave volunteer.

[THUNDER HANDS]

2. a brave volunteer

whose lightbulb has turned off. It won't be turned back on again.

[blackangrydem]

3. Pessimistic Outlook.

[MADem]

4. He's just a kid

...who was looking for a paycheck, obeyed orders, found himself in a mess, and who is pissed off because he is getting shot at constantly and doesn't even have any cigarettes. He is an exhausted, nicotine-seeking, unhappy camper. He isn't a philosopher, he isn't a hero, he's just a stuck, unhappy SOB who wants a steady supply of smokes.

I read an interview with him. He ain't that deep....poor bastard.

[DistressedAmerican]

5. Where'd you find that

I'd like to read it.
DA

[blackangrydem]

7. Yes, please provide the link. Otherwise you are trying to read his mind.

[DistressedAmerican]

8. Didn't mean all that.

Not trying to question anyone's credability. Just curious to read it. Frankly, The state of this specific guy's mind is of less interest to me that the fact that so many people looked at the message and found it inspirational. I find it distrubing.
DA

[DistressedAmerican]

6. Just because you enlisted

doesn't mean you thought you were going to get shot at disarming an unarmed man.
DA

[DistressedAmerican]

9. Tillman Death Cover-up Just More Of The Same

I see the unthinkingly jingoistic headlines that originally accompanied this graphic are just one more sypmtom of the ongoing prowar propoganda fest that still grips the country. This morning's revelation that the Pentagon covered up the details of Tillman's "friendly fire" death to better capatalize on his All American image for propoganda uses makes me sick. They called the guy a hero and repayed him by lying to his family for 6 full weeks after his death. Is that how we treat our heros and their families? These people deserve better.

Remember the massive fiction that was reported about Rambo-like but loveable Jessica Lynch, who to her credit denied the stories once she was well enough to do so. How about her buddy pfc. Johnson. Guess this black girl wasn't the skinny blond or studly pro football player the Pentagon apparently thinks represent the "Best of America".
DA
http://www.seedsofdoubt.com/diatressedamerican/main.htm

[From the south]

10. It could be both

they are not mutually exclusive.

Operations like the one in Faluja are exhausting, both mentally and physically

[DavidDvorkin]

11. "Thousand-mile stare" was what I thought of

when I saw that picture.

Some time ago, I saw a before-and-after picture of Florence Nightingale -- as she was before she went to the Crimean War, and as she was afterwards. Not only had she aged shockingly, she also had that thousand-mile stare.

I suspect that people in Rome saw that same look on the faces of legionnaires returned from the bloodier frontiers.

[DistressedAmerican]

12. Make you wonder

what his before picture looked like. Hopefully happier days.