I feel sorry for those soldiers away from home, away from their family and friends. The people who decide to wage war aren’t exactly leading up front like some William Wallace character. No, they’re thousands of miles away, back home with THEIR family and friends, while these young Americans risk their lives. Even if they survive, and fly home, sitting upright, all limbs intact, they will most likely need counseling.
There’s a lot of money to be made. Money money money. Israel is stirring up sh1t now.

http://original.antiwar.com/porter/2012/01/03/obama-seeks-to-distance-us-from-israeli-attack/

And some poor aid worker or journalist over there is going to feel the brunt of this.

what a simplistic idiotic observation

I wouldn’t limit it to Americans

Really? Every American is hated? Not just human beings behaving badly, but the entire country? That is stereotyping and making a sweeping comment on an unrealistic level. Do people hate to accept our charity? Why do so many want to become American citizens? The all encompassing statements about “Americans” that are expressed on this site are ridiculous and not based in reality. Every American citizen is not hated by the rest of the world. Others may not like some or many of our governmental policies or political behavior, but the behavior and policies of the government are not representative of individual citizens. If you are an Irish citizen, you should really understand this. The Irish government is not an indicator of the attitudes and behavior of the majority of Irish citizens. We would never say, “See, that’s why no one trusts the Irish, they are all promise breakers.” Just not true. If you personally hate every last one of us, then express your opinion for yourself…there is no way you know all of us, but don’t speak for the entire world. Maybe TheJournal.ie could poll every human being without American citizenship in the entire world and ask “Do you hate every American”. If the results are 100% “Yes”, then I stand corrected and your statement is reasonably based on fact. I’ve traveled the world and have received warm welcomes. In fact, I spent three months exploring Ireland in 2011, certainly didn’t feel hated. In Scotland right now. Having a great time. Haven’t heard a single anti-American slur.

“Leave some lads in the middle of nowhere with constant stress and pressure… “. No doubt, that’s the way of things, so maybe best not to do that in the first place, eh?

So the stress of occupation causes the poor devils to do things like that. A day is coming when those filthy dogs will wet their pants, only they won’t be smiling.

well Imran..ive not “justified” this its wrong but it is a war..that is offerred in “mitigation” which is totally differant. now when it comes dwn to justifying evil deeds well the taliban al qeeda hamas and hezbollah (& closer to home various versions of ira inla uvf uda ) etc are pretty loud about that. IF this is actually true..plenty of fabricated tapes video and audio out there..rossport tape prime example..the soldiers will face military justice thats justice in a court..not taliban extremist murderous justice. ptsd is a fact..live with it…war is cruel..live with it..those who want war least are the brave men and women who are called upon to fight..9/11 was reason afghanistan was invaded..the regime and their friends threaten ALL the world

correction..fabricated/doctored tapes

You clearly have insight whatsoever as to what’s going on in Afghanistan. Go back to watching fair city or something or try doing some research on the situation.

And you’d know what the Taliban do, how?

SilentFugitive, you want something to wrench about? Here’s something for you and all the other drama lovers posting on this subject that’s truly horrific: http://www.michaelyon-online.com/taliban-attacking-more-children.htm

If you want to be disgusted, be disgusted about something real.

Yeah, and that seems to be a reputable news channel!

Showing your true colours now. Michael Yon is one of the most respected and knowledgable journalists on the ground. He’s been there for almost a decade. No other journalist has his experience or time in field. Maybe you should spend more time reading and less time shooting your mouth off.

One thing is for certain, he’s more knowledgable and reputable than you.

Listen, Jackass, I aint clicking a link like that in work hence the reply it “seems” to be a reputable news channel. If you derive inference that I meant it in a sarcastic light, that is yours to make. If anyone is shooting mouth off here it is you with that outburst. You sir are certainly true to your twitter handle.

When The Journal decides to report on Taliban atrocities you can be sure that I and many other right minded commentators expressing disgust in this thread will be among the first to do so on that thread. This article is about marines pissing on corpses. You don’t even know if these corpses belonged to Taliban hardliners…. More likely they were just foot soldiers, villagers caught up in a conflict against a foreign invader.

well Imran..every time terrorist atrocities are spoken about by contributors in obective debate..you are one of the first to justify their acts due to imperialism etc…indeed ill use your phrase blah blah

Please provide links or evidence to back up your slanderous allegations. Failing that, stop talking out your hoop.

Imran..if ive upset you I do apolgise. in a reply to me you, like I consistently accept that awful deeds are committed on both sides yet you then go on to say ” at least the other side are more open about it ffs” you have on an earlier thread accused me and others of justifying this despicabke act. i have condemned this blatant act of disrespect in each comment. i simply offered mitigation in the same way i accept mitigating factors in persons being drawn into terrorism..they are many belief in group as freedom fighters..personal grief at hands of authority are but two..but you cannot accuse me of jystification and then ignore my detailed reply and then try to tell me the taliban are more open about their misdeeds…how exactly? will they court martial thise responsible for using an 8 year old boy as a guinea pig for their ieds? i doubt it. thevUSMC have id’d this unit: these soldiers will be court martialled as have many.others and disciplined. i accept you do not support the terrorists..i accept that without question..

Don’t flatter yourself, it’s takes more than that to get me upset, champ.

I accept I hold a very cynical view of the US, and a quick thumb count on related article show me to be in the majority when it comes to commentators here.

And another thing, I don’t exactly remember calling you out by name with my first comment on this thread, nor was it in response to any of your previous comments. Yes it was implied, and I stand by it. Yours is a very childish argument, like that of a 10 year “he started it” bullshit

I also grew up thinking the US could do no wrong and carried themselves honourably. That belief has slowly eroded over time as I look beyond the Hollywood bullshit, see the hypocrisy and look at their actions past and present. So in that context, I criticise the US. And that is exactly where I’m coming from when I say “at least the other side are more open”…. Because we expect more from the “leaders of the free world” and those who fight for it (even though it’s all a big war for resource, but anyway, there’s the cynic in me again).

Now, do you really need me to say how horrific the use of children in warfare is?

The Marine Corps do not fly , that is the American Air Force !

Far less of an atrocity than the Taliban strapping bombs to kids, blowing up schools to keep people from getting educated, and terrorising their own people for their own benefit. I’ll piss on a Taliban fighter dead or alive. Go ask the Taliban why they shoot at Medivac helicopters, which by the way is against the Geneva convention as well.

No animals eat their dead! Animals do worse!

Begrudgy.
It’s interesting to notice that you got so many down thumbers for correctly pointing out the down side of human nature, especially in war. In the greater scheme of things this is a minor transgression when taken in comparison with the atrocities carried out in our most recent past in both civilian life and war time.
There is a inherent ability in all humans of any nationality or background to partake in such crimes and to deny the reality of that is to ignore our very nature and what we can become in particular circumstances especially war.

It’s the people that sent them there I’d charge. And the arms companies that sell fear for free. And the generals that trained them and brainwashed them to see anyone in their way as a target. They’d treat kids like this too, doesn’t have to be an armed Taliban fighter!

Colm @
Unpopular ?Not at all. You are dead right . They are very dangerous people. Don’t mind the red thumbs . Infact I would nearly envy the red thumb brigade in this instance for their innocent naievety .Bless their little cotton socks. ;) Their ignorance will not protect them !

Paul.
I think you should think a little deeper about the duties and responsibilitys of soldiers. You do indeed have a choice about becoming a soldier (conscripts aside) and pledging your life to your country, it’s citizens and institutions. I agree that some conflicts arise because of the influence of corporate interests and political narcissism, where these threats arise it is also the duty of the soldier to defend the weaker, the unarmed, the young, the old and the infirm.
Unfortunately in modern armed combat the lot of the soldier is not a pleasant one and requires that the soldier is capable of contending with the unnatural environment that warfare presents, otherwise the combatant is a danger to himself, his comrades and the civilian population he is sworn to defend.
The nature of warfare demands that a soldier must act outside the mores of civilian life, that is a fact. The nature of warfare demands that a soldier must obey orders that the normal citizen would balk at, that is a fact. It is also a fact that if freedom is under threat by a malignant military force that every citizen of the country would be more likely concerned about the effective military defense of that freedom rather than the niceties of normal civilian life which can be more comfortably indulged in when the bodies are counted and the war is won.

Perhaps if people thought a little more about the megalomanics they elect the life and lot of the soldier, and citizen, might be a happier one!

John
All wars occur because of resources. Religion, ideology etc… are just excuses to reap the spoils. Who benefits in the end? The Haliburtons, oil men, munition factory owners, land grabbers etc..Certainly not the general population of a country and probably not too many soldiers, other than the top brass. I don’t believe there is anything noble in defending the interests of the select few who destroy this world.

useful.though for brushing heavy snow from.fotpaths..providing transport and refuse disposal servicrs during strikes..doing 24hour duty on border in the dark days ensuring those who have no sympathy for volunteer soldiers have a cushy life rescuing people in difficulty on land and at sea and thats just our Defence Forces. the rights of those in west to spout such uninformed garbage are ensured by men and women in.uniform..most of whom.are volunteers but sure the truth is boring isnt it?

Hmmm sounds very useful to me to get them to do the dirty work but dont for a second believe they are defending anybody’s opinions and rights other than their puppet masters.

Derek
It is the only way to fight terror …..
My gun is bigger than yours
You whip us we will cut your hands off
you cut our hands off we will cut your legs off
need I go on
This is what war is

Earlier comment removed? Any reason for the removal TheJournal.ie?

Well Daithi, I’m not really into winning hearts and minds. You can bet the Marines only beat the natives to the punch (or piss) as they feel pretty much the same about their Taliban handlers. You just sit there happy on the sidelines and criticise and leave the rest of the world to go try to clean up these cesspool countries. Well done for you….