Trouble in Paradise
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Does anyone want to talk about the soldiers peeing on the corpses?
Re: Does anyone want to talk about the soldiers peeing on the corpses?
I'll start by saying that I think it's reprehensible and I think the soldiers involved need to be disciplined.
That said, I think there are far more worse things that happen in wartime than peeing on corpses and I don't completely get the full-out outrage over the whole situation.
I'll never condone it, i think it was totally disrespecful and dispicable. I will say that being deployed to a combat zone does things to you. Especially for the guys out on missions, in contact on an almost daily basis...seeing your friends die, get wounded. I was lucky i never was invovled in direct combat, but went out on enough patrols, had enough friends die while over there, that you just break down sometimes. These are also for the most part, kids...not mature enough to deal with some of the anger and fear they are feeling. It doesn't excuse it at all, but I thikn one also has to have experienced what they do as well before passing too much judgement.
Yes, the risked peace talks, they risked other military members lives, civilian's lives, they did a very stupid thing. They do deserve to be punished for it as they violated our rules, our code of conduct, and most likely the Geneva Convention for "desecrating dead bodies". I think they also need help as well.
I'm sort of on the fence (but let me explain).
The big picture is that it's insensitive, cruel and completely irresponsible. Yes, they're the "enemy" but they are still human beings. And it's our responsibility as a nation to act in a way that does not create more problems for our troops and our future. Every soldier raping a civilian, or peeing on a dead body, or abusing prisoners, or murdering civilians creates more hostility to the presence of our troops and becomes a justification for the responses in kind. As the article states, the video is now a recruitment tool for the Taliban. As part of the armed forces, you have to act in a way that represents our country.
On the other hand, I find it odd that the focus is on the urination. What people are forgetting is that these soldiers killed these men before peeing on them. When I've been shot full of holes, I probably wouldn't care too much about being peed on. This is war. People are being killed on both sides and we're focusing on urinating on dead bodies?
But, overall, I do think the soldiers need to be punished, but they need to be punished according to the rules of the military.
Yes, I think we are focusing on the urination for a good reason. We accept that in war, people will die. We hope that the people who die during a war are soldiers, people who chose to fight, people who understood the risk of death when they decided to enter into war. To have to kill the enemy who is trying to kill you first is the essence of battle. It is inevitable.
But to denigrate the being of the fallen enemy is not a part of war. To chose to violate their dignity after you have defeated them is outside the needs and necessity of battle. It is not only a violation of the spirit of warfare, but the honor of humanity. That is why there is an outcry from every corner about this action.
I disagree with this, wholeheartedly. Of course it's a part of war and it's been done, like, forever. lol
Violation of the spirit of warfare? wtf is that shiit?
I see both arguments actually.
In both mythology and history, desecration of the bodies has been a form of taunting the other side. In the Iliad, Achilles drags Hector's body behind him on his chariot, when both sides had codes of honor (or whatever) that allowed each side to collect and honor the dead after each day of battle. So Achilles dragging the body was a big old middle finger to the city of Troy. Same with heads being impaled on stakes, or displayed on posts in cities (like William Wallace's). You read through history and it's been done throughout the ages.
And from DaringMiss' perspective, I can understand why some people are making it a big deal. I suppose the killing of the enemy is considered unavoidable and we're desensitized to it.