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Originally posted by fleabit
First of all, there is no telling if this is an actual soldier. I rather doubt it. He certainly isn't in Iraq or anywhere overseas. Just because he spews a message wearing a floppy hat and military t-shirt doesn't mean a thing.
About his message: The first third of it, he goes on about contractors and how evil they are making a buck, while the soldiers fight the war and risk their lives. Well.. guess what.. you SIGNED UP FOR THAT. I served in the military. MY choice. I signed on the line. This dude if he serves (or ever has.. I doubt it), is a sad soldier. If you for a moment doubt the reasons for fighting in any war you are commanded to fight in, you should have NEVER JOINED. There are political agendas to wars? No... you THINK? If he was too dense to realize this, he should have never joined. He was not drafted.. he VOLUNTEERED. Why would you read and sign the forms that say you will basically be the tool of our politics and military, and then complain about it.
Second, contractors: I work for a company that has many contracts previously in Iraq and Kuwait, and now in Afghanistan and Pakistan. I may have to go to Afghanistan soon as part of my job, at Camp Bastion. Our contractors make 100k EVERY YEAR, no matter WHERE they work. Or more. Because they went to that place called college, and earned degrees in engineering and geology and chemistry, and work to restore military bases and rebuild towns, and survey for further work in Pakistan and Afghanistan, because of the mess war makes.
It's kind of ironic. Yes.. the Iraq and Kuwait peoples are innocent. Except.. we have to rebuilt military bases that were utterly stripped of every wire, screw and tile (literally), so nothing remained by the husk of buildings. Our contractors send us photos constantly. And what do they do? They buy BACK the materials stolen by the locals, and then HIRE THEM to help build the bases back. Yes.. they are complete monsters. Each morning, hundreds of locals camp outside the base, and our contractors each morning try to hire as many locals as they can for the days work. They do this every day. And because of their degrees and work ethic, choosing to live often LONGER in foreign countries than soldiers, they are monsters, greedy and power-hungry. They try to rebuilt military bases, towns, airports and police stations, so they can POLICE THEMSELVES.. trying to get them exactly where this supposed soldier wants them to be.. and they are monsters.
Get some perspective people. It's not as black and white as you think. And youtube is not always the bastion of truth and justice. It's quite often the source of bullcrap and ludicrous lies. That so many of you "intelligent' people buy into this crap without thought is frightening. You obviously don't know all the facts, if you claim this guy is the herald of all that is right and true.
Originally posted by Sashromi
While there is a lot of interesting info provided in this 3 year old video, one must remember that just because a soldier says something, it doesn't make it so. My gripe is with the bearded guy, presumably ex-soldier or Marine, who says that he was given orders to kill everyone in a crowd if even one shot was made. Well quite frankly that's BS. I know its BS because such an order would be a war crime, and in today's climate I can not imagine any officer or NCO giving such an order. And if someone did give such an order, the troops know well enough that to follow such an order would also be a war crime. My guess is the guy is saying that because he wants to embellish his anti-war point of view. Which point of view I am not against.
The ways things really work is that if a US patrol were to encounter fire from someone in a crowd, the first thing we are taught is to return fire, and manuver either towards the ambush or out of the fire-trap. Let us consider here, the worst case scenario, where a US convoy is fired on from a crowded market area. Those soldiers not immediatey identifying the sources of fire, would return fire in the direction of where they thought it had come from, and if that area was in a major civilian crowd, should fire in the air, above the head of the crowd. A person's natural relfex is to either duck or jump to the ground. Anyone not doing exactly that, puts themselves as very risk of being shot, particularly if they had anything that looked like a weapon in their hands. Do innocent persons get killed like this? Sometimes, and that is a tragic loss. However, put the blame on where it properly lay, which is on the cowardly attacker who risks his fellow muslim's lives by hiding in a crowd, and not on the US troops reacting to an attack.
Let us all remember that war is a terrible thing among humans; indeed, it should be the most terrible and horrific. And in this regard, the US has rather shown awesome restraint in its use of military power in pursuing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. I know that seems hard for some to fathom when we hear of a dozen or two civilian casualties. Yes, that's very sad, but what would be sadder is to read of tens of thousands of civilian casualties on a recurring basis. And that is exactly what the US has the POWER to do, if it wasn't so concerned with avoiding as much harm to civilians as possible. People doubting this need to read their history, where in a war not so long ago, the US would inflict tens of thousands civilian casualties in a day in their bombings of Germany and Japan. Or cause hundreds in their bombings and artillery fires in Vietnam. And compared with other modern wars, the US has not conducted any ethnic cleansing of Iraqi or Afghani villages, even in retribution for heinous ambushes of US soldiers.
I don't agree with the political decisions to either invade Iraq or continue the war in Afghanistan, but having been a soldier myself, I have great sympathy for those over there then and now. And despite what a few pissed-off ex soldiers say, or some bad behaving persons that happen to be soldiers have done, the story from Iraq and Afghanistan is one of remarkable HONOR in the behavior of the vast majority of US (and its allied) military has behaved in these wars. The fact that we can discuss this on this forum - despite the great flaws in our political and social systems - is a celebtration in the continued freedoms we all enjoy. There is much broken in the western democracies right now, however there is also much that works right. So let's acknowledge that while we may not be doing well of late, that the basic model is correct, and that we as its moving parts simply need to keep pressing for change.
Originally posted by sincerelyme
Originally posted by fleabit
First of all, there is no telling if this is an actual soldier. I rather doubt it. He certainly isn't in Iraq or anywhere overseas. Just because he spews a message wearing a floppy hat and military t-shirt doesn't mean a thing.
About his message: The first third of it, he goes on about contractors and how evil they are making a buck, while the soldiers fight the war and risk their lives. Well.. guess what.. you SIGNED UP FOR THAT. I served in the military. MY choice. I signed on the line. This dude if he serves (or ever has.. I doubt it), is a sad soldier. If you for a moment doubt the reasons for fighting in any war you are commanded to fight in, you should have NEVER JOINED. There are political agendas to wars? No... you THINK? If he was too dense to realize this, he should have never joined. He was not drafted.. he VOLUNTEERED. Why would you read and sign the forms that say you will basically be the tool of our politics and military, and then complain about it.
Second, contractors: I work for a company that has many contracts previously in Iraq and Kuwait, and now in Afghanistan and Pakistan. I may have to go to Afghanistan soon as part of my job, at Camp Bastion. Our contractors make 100k EVERY YEAR, no matter WHERE they work. Or more. Because they went to that place called college, and earned degrees in engineering and geology and chemistry, and work to restore military bases and rebuild towns, and survey for further work in Pakistan and Afghanistan, because of the mess war makes.
It's kind of ironic. Yes.. the Iraq and Kuwait peoples are innocent. Except.. we have to rebuilt military bases that were utterly stripped of every wire, screw and tile (literally), so nothing remained by the husk of buildings. Our contractors send us photos constantly. And what do they do? They buy BACK the materials stolen by the locals, and then HIRE THEM to help build the bases back. Yes.. they are complete monsters. Each morning, hundreds of locals camp outside the base, and our contractors each morning try to hire as many locals as they can for the days work. They do this every day. And because of their degrees and work ethic, choosing to live often LONGER in foreign countries than soldiers, they are monsters, greedy and power-hungry. They try to rebuilt military bases, towns, airports and police stations, so they can POLICE THEMSELVES.. trying to get them exactly where this supposed soldier wants them to be.. and they are monsters.
Get some perspective people. It's not as black and white as you think. And youtube is not always the bastion of truth and justice. It's quite often the source of bullcrap and ludicrous lies. That so many of you "intelligent' people buy into this crap without thought is frightening. You obviously don't know all the facts, if you claim this guy is the herald of all that is right and true.
On your first point, well I would agree on a consensus that major liabilities for citizens volunteering for US military service include to "fight the war and risk their lives".
Within your first point, you emphasize "If you for a moment doubt the reasons for fighting in any war you are commanded to fight in, you should have NEVER JOINED"... This is a VERY unrealistic false ideology. Do you REALLY think that every soldier that joined did in-depth and accurate research on the reasons behind their particular war? Do you really expect that every soldier that serves during wartime did so because they had absolutely no doubt about their mission and expectations of service were based on 100% faithful trustworthy leadership? Yeah fucccckkking right. If you expect, as your bold statement says, that every soldier that "SHOULD HAVE JOINED" has no doubts behind the war, then you must admit that you are surrounded by soldiers that "should not have joined." I have several friends that have harbored doubts about our governance and military leadership that served very honorably as overseas US military. So who do you really think "should join"? People with absolutely no doubts about our leadership and military motives? Yeah fffuuccccking rriiight...
Your Second Point, which involves the validity and justification of overseas contractors, states that they "make 100k EVERY YEAR, no matter WHERE they work. Or more. Because they went to that place called college, and earned degrees in engineering and geology and chemistry, and work to restore military bases and rebuild towns, and survey for further work in Pakistan and Afghanistan, because of the mess war makes." So you are so brainwashed that you put forth an argument for non-military civilians to make an order of magnitude more money than you and your fellow soliders, while taking no personal combat risk? AND you give them the benefit of the doubt that they are doing their jobs simply because they have "earned degrees" and are working to "restore" and "rebuild" "because of the mess war makes"?? You are ignorant or in disagreement with the reality of the current state of the United States military-industrial complex.
On your third point, where you say "Each morning, hundreds of locals camp outside the base, and our contractors each morning try to hire as many locals as they can for the days work. They do this every day." - YES, in a situation of war profiteering, of course the profiteers will seek the cheapest labor to further their objectives. It creates a sense of righteousness that the profiteers are doing good work and the wrecked native citizens are doing good work as well.
Part of your third point involves the intentions of "they", which refers to the "locals" as you describe in previous wording. "They try to rebuilt military bases, towns, airports and police stations, so they can POLICE THEMSELVES." So... you really think these local Iraqis, Afghanis, Pakistanis, etc are spending their lives rebuilding infrastructure simply so they can "POLICE THEMSELVES"??? YYeeeahhhh fffooockkking righht!!! They are rebuilding because they HAVE TO so they can police their native land, ESPECIALLY against the invading foreign investors.
Originally posted by vonhelton
reply to post by truthseeker1984
oh i see this is a liberal feel good thread, sorry i came into the wrong room i was looking for the proud american room.
not that age should matter but i would bet i have a few years on you , kind of funny how if someone disagrees you have to sink to insultingtypical liberal trash .
Originally posted by sincerelyme
Originally posted by fleabit
First of all, there is no telling if this is an actual soldier. I rather doubt it. He certainly isn't in Iraq or anywhere overseas. Just because he spews a message wearing a floppy hat and military t-shirt doesn't mean a thing.
About his message: The first third of it, he goes on about contractors and how evil they are making a buck, while the soldiers fight the war and risk their lives. Well.. guess what.. you SIGNED UP FOR THAT. I served in the military. MY choice. I signed on the line. This dude if he serves (or ever has.. I doubt it), is a sad soldier. If you for a moment doubt the reasons for fighting in any war you are commanded to fight in, you should have NEVER JOINED. There are political agendas to wars? No... you THINK? If he was too dense to realize this, he should have never joined. He was not drafted.. he VOLUNTEERED. Why would you read and sign the forms that say you will basically be the tool of our politics and military, and then complain about it.
Second, contractors: I work for a company that has many contracts previously in Iraq and Kuwait, and now in Afghanistan and Pakistan. I may have to go to Afghanistan soon as part of my job, at Camp Bastion. Our contractors make 100k EVERY YEAR, no matter WHERE they work. Or more. Because they went to that place called college, and earned degrees in engineering and geology and chemistry, and work to restore military bases and rebuild towns, and survey for further work in Pakistan and Afghanistan, because of the mess war makes.
It's kind of ironic. Yes.. the Iraq and Kuwait peoples are innocent. Except.. we have to rebuilt military bases that were utterly stripped of every wire, screw and tile (literally), so nothing remained by the husk of buildings. Our contractors send us photos constantly. And what do they do? They buy BACK the materials stolen by the locals, and then HIRE THEM to help build the bases back. Yes.. they are complete monsters. Each morning, hundreds of locals camp outside the base, and our contractors each morning try to hire as many locals as they can for the days work. They do this every day. And because of their degrees and work ethic, choosing to live often LONGER in foreign countries than soldiers, they are monsters, greedy and power-hungry. They try to rebuilt military bases, towns, airports and police stations, so they can POLICE THEMSELVES.. trying to get them exactly where this supposed soldier wants them to be.. and they are monsters.
Get some perspective people. It's not as black and white as you think. And youtube is not always the bastion of truth and justice. It's quite often the source of bullcrap and ludicrous lies. That so many of you "intelligent' people buy into this crap without thought is frightening. You obviously don't know all the facts, if you claim this guy is the herald of all that is right and true.
On your first point, well I would agree on a consensus that major liabilities for citizens volunteering for US military service include to "fight the war and risk their lives".
Within your first point, you emphasize "If you for a moment doubt the reasons for fighting in any war you are commanded to fight in, you should have NEVER JOINED"... This is a VERY unrealistic false ideology. Do you REALLY think that every soldier that joined did in-depth and accurate research on the reasons behind their particular war? Do you really expect that every soldier that serves during wartime did so because they had absolutely no doubt about their mission and expectations of service were based on 100% faithful trustworthy leadership? Yeah fucccckkking right. If you expect, as your bold statement says, that every soldier that "SHOULD HAVE JOINED" has no doubts behind the war, then you must admit that you are surrounded by soldiers that "should not have joined." I have several friends that have harbored doubts about our governance and military leadership that served very honorably as overseas US military. So who do you really think "should join"? People with absolutely no doubts about our leadership and military motives? Yeah fffuuccccking rriiight...
Your Second Point, which involves the validity and justification of overseas contractors, states that they "make 100k EVERY YEAR, no matter WHERE they work. Or more. Because they went to that place called college, and earned degrees in engineering and geology and chemistry, and work to restore military bases and rebuild towns, and survey for further work in Pakistan and Afghanistan, because of the mess war makes." So you are so brainwashed that you put forth an argument for non-military civilians to make an order of magnitude more money than you and your fellow soliders, while taking no personal combat risk? AND you give them the benefit of the doubt that they are doing their jobs simply because they have "earned degrees" and are working to "restore" and "rebuild" "because of the mess war makes"?? You are ignorant or in disagreement with the reality of the current state of the United States military-industrial complex.
On your third point, where you say "Each morning, hundreds of locals camp outside the base, and our contractors each morning try to hire as many locals as they can for the days work. They do this every day." - YES, in a situation of war profiteering, of course the profiteers will seek the cheapest labor to further their objectives. It creates a sense of righteousness that the profiteers are doing good work and the wrecked native citizens are doing good work as well.
Part of your third point involves the intentions of "they", which refers to the "locals" as you describe in previous wording. "They try to rebuilt military bases, towns, airports and police stations, so they can POLICE THEMSELVES." So... you really think these local Iraqis, Afghanis, Pakistanis, etc are spending their lives rebuilding infrastructure simply so they can "POLICE THEMSELVES"??? YYeeeahhhh fffooockkking righht!!! They are rebuilding because they HAVE TO so they can police their native land, ESPECIALLY against the invading foreign investors.