Posted on 05/29/2006 4:46:05 PM PDT by Coop
...
In the meantime, my column had been posted on a well-known right-wing American website, where it attracted 119 comments. Oddly, none of them displayed any hint of disquiet over the behaviour of the Marines under investigation. Rather, their outrage was reserved for John Murtha and yours truly.
One poster's reaction was to "nuke the Middle East" adding "thank you very much Dishonourable Rep. Jack Murtha". He was later to write "if you can't stand behind our troops, stand in front of them".
A few of his co-posters rushed to the website of Murtha's Republican challenger Diana Irey to donate campaign funds.
The fact that this murdering troop has the support of even those 119 posters is worrisome. Surely, nobody should defend the indefensible based on some false notion of patriotism.
Military personnel should act as ambassadors for their country and behave according to international rules of law and the Geneva Conventions that were drawn up as a result of atrocities committed during the Second World War. There should be a difference between real soldiers and ruthless thugs with public opinion the final arbiter.
If the public, as represented by the 119 posters on the Free Republic website, condones such behaviour or seeks to excuse it, then not only is its members giving their country's soldiers a license to kill arbitrarily, they are altering the fundamental psyche of their nation.
To quote a well-known rationalist intellectual Felix Adler "Love of country is like love of women - he loves her best who seeks to bestow on her the highest good."
The "Freepers" - as members of the Free Republic website have come to be known - may also like to contemplate the words of theologian Howard Thurman who said "During times of war, hatred becomes quite respectable, even though it has to masquerade often under the guise of patriotism."
In short, people who glorify soldiers who purposefully assassinate women and small children are as misguided as those who glorify the blowing up of crowded buses, trains and marketplaces.
Does the donning of a uniform render its wearer impervious to justice? The Nuremberg trials indicate not...
I cannot say the words in public that I would say to this enemy of the Republic in person.
Secondly, we used to understand what was required to wage war, and it wasn't allowing the likes of Murtha to give aid and comfort to the enemy.
Yes, Ms. Heard, the insurgents are the enemy. Let's be clear, you as a feminist and a leftist would find yourself trapped at home wearing a burqua should the Islamists succeed. Speak out of turn, and like women in Afghanistan, you could expect to have your painted fingernails ripped out or shot in the head. We are trying to stop them from influencing the world. You are not helping. Therefore, go to hell.
Regards, Ivan
Well done, mate! :-)
"Well, then string the sorry bastards up right now! "
I never said that. You're putting words in my mouth.
"There is doubt as to whether the occupants were already dead, if they killed from afar or at point blank range, etc. "
I hope you're right.
"You haven't heard claims of anyone else? Why would that be? Oh, perhaps because you don't know squat about what occurred, just like the rest of us? Perhaps because we're only getting one side of the story. There's a reason we have prosecutors and defense attornies - although this point is premature since no charges have been filed."
You were the one suggesting you had knowledge of another responsible party. I guess that is not the case.
"Yes, it takes a trained marksman to put a gun to someone's head and pull the trigger - which is what you and others are accusing them of having done"
Were marines there or not? Are they trained marksmen or not?
If they were the only ones there and a girl was left behind with a bullet in her forehead...then it isn't looking very good.
I sincerely hope that isn't the case.
"a) No it doesn't. The victims are not being accused of crimes. b) You act as if said presumption has been afforded to these Marines. It certainly has not been by you and many others. You've already convicted them. "
Again..you put words into my mouth.
I do not agree with Murtha. The investigation has not been completed and the information has not been released.
If the press is correct so far about what they are reporting - it is looking very bad.
"Liars, maybe. More likely distraught and confused by an incredibly hectic situation, ready and willing to lash out at anyone - it's human nature."
And IF it was Marines who stormed this girls house (she was very clear that it was), then yes - certainly she would want to lash out at those who killed her family.
"By the way, I am very glad to see you've overcome your inherent shyness to post about this important topic. [cough, cough]
I know, I know! You're just a long-time lurker! [wink]"
I don't know what you're talking about.
I've been very honest about my opinion...you seem to be suggesting I've been dishonest? In what way?
Maybe you would be more comfortable at a forum of your own creation where every member MUST look at the issues just as you do and always agree with your viewpoint?
Bo-o-o-o-oring!
I'm not suggesting, I'm saying it's really good to see you getting over your shy nature, at least on this topic.
"Actually, that's not accurate.
The little girl specifically stated: "I couldn't see their faces very well—only their guns sticking into the doorway."
In FACT, the little girl thought the Iraqi soldiers were responsible: ""We were lying there, bleeding, and it hurt so much. Afterward, some Iraqi soldiers came. They carried us in their arms. I was crying, shouting 'Why did you do this to our family?'
http://www.time.com/time/world/printout/0,8816,1174649,00.html"
I'm going by memory of what I saw yesterday on the morning news (I believe it was ABC)
The girl was speaking her own language, and the station was providing translation.
If my memory serves me correctly she did (according to the translator) say they were American soldiers.
She said they knocked on the door, and when her father went to answer - they shot him through the door. Then they entered and started shooting at everyone.
She claims she survived by pretending to be dead.
"I'm not suggesting, I'm saying it's really good to see you getting over your shy nature, at least on this topic.
"
And it's nice to see you seem to believe you are the self appointed bully here.
Yawn.
"Bully? Then you must be a victim!! Oh, the humanity! How awful for you!"
Every thread has a bully who wants to mischaracterize the words of others.
Have you done that? Yes you have.
Which version? There was "I played dead underneath my bloody brother killed by the Americans." And then there was the "I played dead underneath my bloody mother/father/both (sorry, can't recall) killed by the Americans.
And let's not confuse those stories with the "I was hiding under the bed" story.
Velveeta, l'il help please?
I believe she said she was with her mother and a sibling.
She said her father was by the door.
Do you need a hug? Will that help??? Come on over here...
"Do you need a hug? Will that help??? Come on over here..."
What is your problem? You asked a question and I answered it.
Anyways...I'm off to pick up my son at school.
If you do have information suggesting this girls story is not reliable that would certainly be interesting.
I would caution you.
When accused of seduction, do not brag about rape.
Ms. Heard is perhaps ignorant of history. IIRC a standard tactic of the Vietcong terrorists was to infiltrate a 'friendly' village, wait for an American patrol, open up on them from hiding, then flee into the jungle, leaving the helpless villagers on the wrong end of American firepower.
Al Qaeda in Iraq, unlike certain left-wing journalists, is well versed in the history of warfare, and most likely have made an intensive study of the battles of Vietnam.
Ms. Heard and her colleagues on the Left make it sound as if US troops would surround a building occupied by a handful of terrorists and a large number of women and children, and then when the terrorists refused to surrender burn the building to the ground, keeping the local fire department at bay while everyone inside burned to death. That would never ha. . .
Oh- wait. That was Janet Reno at Waco.
Well cuz, FR Gets News Coverage is true. Criticism from a Euro jihadist supporter, America hater, Marines are barbarians author, but negative coverage none the less. They're on the right side of the internet issue, aren't they?
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