Video details Iraq atrocity

[Donkey]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8603938.stm

Wow. Just wow. It's the sort of thing that we bleeding heart lefties always assume happens in warfare... it's just chilling to have it come out.

And no, I haven't watched the video, and have no intention of doing so.

[andrewl]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8603938.stm

Wow. Just wow. It's the sort of thing that we bleeding heart lefties always assume happens in warfare... it's just chilling to have it come out.

And no, I haven't watched the video, and have no intention of doing so.

The video is very disturbing. But what really irks me is that the initial account by the pentagon is almost completely opposite of what the video shows. This really damages whatever remaining trust the pentagon had - it makes one wonder why they would ever bother to offer any explanation at all for these sorts of incidents. Who would believe them?

Pretty what the apologists are saying is that this must be viewed in "context" - this amounts to believing that the rules of engagement are such that any group of men in iraq (that are not US soldiers or police) with anything in their hands are legitimate targets. Hard to imagine how one expects any lasting or meaningful good to come of such an idiotic strategy.

The other thing that really strikes me in the video is the "video game" like banter between the american soldiers. To the point that they were obviously having great fun, were not under any threat themselves, and were even laughing at death and wishing for more opportunity to kill more. The fact that they shot children did not even seem to bother them in the slightest. Fucked up.

Andrew

[Greendruid]

Just watched this video on thunderf00t's YouTube webpage. Very strange stuff considering not one of the civilians in the footage appeared to be armed. Some of these guys must be so friggin' trigger-happy that any excuse seems like a good idea. Indeed, andrewl's observation of the video-game like atmosphere of the command chatter is bang on. A couple of the soldiers sound like the kind of guy you would avoid in grade school because he got a little too excited about squashing bugs.

The blatant disregard for respect towards the dead was unreal. At one point a tank operator says, "I think I just drove over a body" and indeed he had. He buddy laughs over the com. War is getting very easy it seems. I fear the ramifications for these soldiers and their families may be a different kind of hell than those of the slain innocent. We return to the question of what the hell the US is even doing in Iraq. I'm sure the same crap is happening in Afghanistan.

[Michael]

Indeed, the 'video-game' character of it has to be the most salient feature of this particular video, though the scene depicted doesn't seem unusual or extraordinary in any way - other than the techology used to record it.

That is to say, this general category of 'atrocity in war', to the best of my knowledge, has been quite routine throughout the 20th century. Nothing unusual there at all.

And since we don't have YOUTUBE videos from Vietnam, Korea, WW2 and WW1, it is hard to make judgements that this is a 'new and scary' phenomena of psychotic soldiers rather than the typical banter of soldiers in battle conditions.

[Donkey]

Indeed, but this sort of thing being recorded tends to be a(n albeit minor) stick in the spokes of "noble warrior" militaristic sycophancy.

[Americano]

Indeed, the 'video-game' character of it has to be the most salient feature of this particular video, though the scene depicted doesn't seem unusual or extraordinary in any way - other than the techology used to record it.

That is to say, this general category of 'atrocity in war', to the best of my knowledge, has been quite routine throughout the 20th century. Nothing unusual there at all.

And since we don't have YOUTUBE videos from Vietnam, Korea, WW2 and WW1, it is hard to make judgements that this is a 'new and scary' phenomena of psychotic soldiers rather than the typical banter of soldiers in battle conditions.

Mob mentality, behavior change in response to new social situations. The high school kid who couldn't get work at Walmart being provided with food, clothing, shelter, money, weapons and a license to kill is among his/her immediate peer group. Nothing new but the reporting method.

[Americano]

Indeed, but this sort of thing being recorded tends to be a(n albeit minor) stick in the spokes of "noble warrior" militaristic sycophancy.

Not at USPO and other forums who worship military service. 'Our boys' can do no wrong and they're actually restrained in their heroic actions.

[Laughing now]

Not at USPO and other forums who worship military service. 'Our boys' can do no wrong and they're actually restrained in their heroic actions.

What is this "USPO"?
I have drifted around this place for a little while and see someone bring it up all the time.
Is this some competing site or something?

[Non Sequitur]

What is this "USPO"?
I have drifted around this place for a little while and see someone bring it up all the time.
Is this some competing site or something?

read this thread page (http://www.discussionworldforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1140&highlight=uspol&page=2) if you want a fuller explanation

In short, it's another online forum (United States Politics Online is the name thus USPO) that many people here are refugees from (myself included). USPO has become particularly dogmatic and nasty in it's discussion quality. That's why i hardly post there anymore.

by the way, welcome to the forum :)

[Michael]

What is this "USPO"?
I have drifted around this place for a little while and see someone bring it up all the time.
Is this some competing site or something?

So one of our lurkers appears! :)

We have about 1000 regulars who come to the forum but never join or post. It sure would be nice to see more of them join up and participate!

Anyway, welcome to the forum. :)