Are our soldiers in Iraq going insane?

[Katie]

I heard about this on the news and i just shook my head.. I think it is taking a toll on the soldiers.. To the point where if you send them back home, 10 months or a year later, then its gonna be really hard to adjust again. Is it true that they started the draft again??

[BigFish]

Happens in War folks (unfortunately). Vietnam ring a bell?

[kevin d]

Originally Posted by BigFish

Happens in War folks (unfortunately). Vietnam ring a bell?

It happened in WW I and II, Korea and probably every war that lasted more than a few months. Raping, killing and plundering were considered the "spoils of war" until modern times. We are supposed to be above that now.

[spence]

Originally Posted by kevin d

We are supposed to be above that now.

I don't think anyone expects it not to happen on a limited basis.

But the big difference here is how early in the conflict the Administration repeatedly denied abuses while it was clear they were going on.

All their "chits" have been squandered on covering up bad policy, and none are left to protect the troops who unfortunately need them at times.

-spence

[Skitterpop]

Originally Posted by kevin d

It happened in WW I and II, Korea and probably every war that lasted more than a few months. Raping, killing and plundering were considered the "spoils of war" until modern times. We are supposed to be above that now.

In war the word civilized loses all meaning. Except maybe more advanced weapons.

[MrHunters]

Originally Posted by BigFish

Happens in War folks (unfortunately). Vietnam ring a bell?

my thoughts exactly... the difference (hopefully) this time is we won't be turning our backs on our soldiers when they return. I remember 2 years ago saying, no way will this turn into a vietnam...

[likwid]

So that one that fessed up dropped his defense of having looked for help but gotten none for battle stress.

Interesting...

[spence]

Originally Posted by MrHunters

my thoughts exactly... the difference (hopefully) this time is we won't be turning our backs on our soldiers when they return. I remember 2 years ago saying, no way will this turn into a vietnam...

There's another excellent book (yes, I read quite a bit) called "The New American Militarisim" by Andrew Bacevich which discusses (among other things) how the phyche of the troops transformed after Vietnam from a "citizen soldier" to the volunteer we have today...

There are certainly some on the far left who view the troops as thugs, but if you're going to be a real pacifist that would make some sense...although this is a tiny fracton of the population.

I can't fathom the same anti-troop attitudes we saw (ok, I was born in 1970 ) towards our troops today...but I do think the GOP has skillfully manipulated genuine anger towards our policy machine and redirected it directly at the troops.

A glaring example of this is (again) Rep. John Murtha's compassion for injured Vets being twisted into weakness and emboldening terrorisim.

I'm agast at the Administration comments about the Ned Lamont primary win over Sen. Joe Leiberman...here we have the democratic process alive and kicking with a huge voter turnout and it's painted by top Bush Administration officials as a win for terrorisim and emboldening the enemy.

What the %$%$%$%$ is going on?

I really wonder when people are going to wake up and realize that our leadership is ruling under a banner of fear, as if they were being led by the devil himself.

Please let me know a single time in our great countries history that we overcame tremendous challenge through FEAR.

This isn't my America.

-spence

[Skip N]

Originally Posted by Katie

I heard about this on the news and i just shook my head.. I think it is taking a toll on the soldiers.. To the point where if you send them back home, 10 months or a year later, then its gonna be really hard to adjust again. Is it true that they started the draft again??

No draft, who's spreading that rumor around??

[denport]

Just a liitle off topic on this one but...

Remember last week how we were [U]all[U] complaining about how freakin hot is is? A former military man asked me to consider the following statement: Full fatigues, full armor {if they have it}, 100 pound pack, plus weapon and ammo in 100 plus degree heat every day. Not to mention the forced extention of service. This is no excuse for any kind of behavior, but it would be enough to make me more than a little resentful. Like I said, THIS IS NO EXCUSE FOR BEHAVING LIKE AN IDIOT!!!!! It did make me fly off the handle just a bit quicker.

[kevin d]

No excuse for this to happen. Having said that you just have to remember that these things have happened in every war. You want to make sure it doesn't happen again? If they are found guilty, hang them. Set the tone. But there will always be that small percentage in any group that just doesn't get the picture.

[Katie]

Originally Posted by Skip N

No draft, who's spreading that rumor around??

my mom...