Generals and Killing People

[erpowers]

I few days ago I was listening to Democracy Now and host Amy Goodman was talking to the director of the film In The Loop. During her conversation with him he pointed out that actor James Gandolfini, who played a four-star general in the movie, went to the Pentagon as part of his research for his roll. As part of his research Gandolfini asked at least one general if he had killed anyone. Gandolfini reported that the general then asked someone else if he had killed anyone and when that person told him yes he then responded to Gandolfini with the answer yes. Is there a reason a general would have to ask someone else if he had killed a person? Does this mean the general did not actually kill anyone? I cannot imagine anyone who was in the military and killed someone would not be able to remember if they had done it even if they had done it many years before. Are the generals just afraid to admit that they killed someone? Are they may be criticized for admitting what they did.

[vadawg]

1. no the general was showing that hes responsible for anyone killed by his command

its a pretty good learning moment. Most generals if they are marine or army will have some combat experience and some have a lot..

[Captain Hilts]

2. Killing someone in hand-to-hand combat is thought of differently than shooting at a distance or

lobbing bombs on someone.

I know George C. Marshall hadn't killed anyone in any way and I don't believe Eisenhower had. MacArthur had. Bradley might have. Montgomery had.

[Captain Hilts]

3. One interesting thing, when it came time to appoint the 'MacArthur' of post-war Germany....

a non-combat veteran was chosen specifically for that reason: Gen. Lucius Clay.