GOP Rep: We're too concerned about preventing child casualties. We've gotta be willing to kill kids

[Cali_Democrat]

GOP Rep: Are We 'Prepared To Kill A 10-Year-Old' To Defeat ISIL?

Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) said on Tuesday that the U.S. military should look to the movie "American Sniper" in going after terrorist groups like the Islamic State, suggesting American policy is far too concerned with preventing child and civilian casualties.

"It's like in 'American Sniper,'" Gosar said in an interview with the Arizona Republic. "Are you prepared to kill a 10-year-old carrying an improvised explosive device?"

Gosar — whose district includes the hometown of a 26-year-old aid worker who was confirmed Tuesday to have recently died in Islamic State custody — argued that the U.S. rules of engagement are weighted too heavily toward protecting civilians.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/paul-gosar-american-sniper-children

[n2doc]

1. We already do

It's called a "drone strike"- and we don't bother with such niceties as determining if the kid has explosives or even a gun. They just have to be in the blast radius.

[Frustratedlady]

2. Yet, they argue against abortion for killing the fetus?

Make up your minds.

[Panich52]

28. Fkn hypocrit. Quote from Rep Paul Gosar in 2014:

Jan 16, 2014 ... “This bill permanently protects unborn babies from death by taxpayer-funded abortion.” -- Rep. Paul Gosar

[Initech]

3. Boy was George Carlin ever right about this one.

"When you're pre born you're fine, when you're pre school you're fucked!"

[hifiguy]

7. Carlin was the Great American Truth-Teller. nt

[louis-t]

4. Gosar? Wasn't that the name of a demon in Ghostbusters?

[BklnDem75]

20. Gosar the Gosarian

[Downwinder]

5. Rep. Paul Gosar's kind of soldier.

http://www.toledoblade.com/special-tiger-force/2003/10/19/7-allegations-focused-on-GI-from-Arizona.html

[Johonny]

6. If we don't want to prevent child and civilian casualties then why are we fighting the terrorists?

Shouldn't we just let ISIS continue killing them without trying to stop them? Who are we fighting this war for again?

[tblue37]

8. Cheney and his war-profiteering cronies, that's who. nt

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

9. No cause justifies the deaths of innocent people. Albert Camus

[sulphurdunn]

10. False dichotomy

There are several non-leather ways to deal with people walking up on your position before resorting to anything lethal.

[Arugula Latte]

11. How very Christian of him.

[valerief]

12. Willing to kill kids? US cops do it every day in America. nt

[packman]

13. Willing to kill kids? What about anti-vaxer's?

[valerief]

14. Puleeze. At least, anti-vaxxers have a legit reason to not trust big pharma.

They might be wrong, but they're not shoot-em-up-happy racists.

[packman]

15. "Legit reason"??

Pray tell, what legit reason? They may have a "reason", but puleeze - "legit"?

[valerief]

16. Looks like you have some research to do over all the approved and recalled drugs

that have harmed and killed people.

[packman]

17. Strange - you've wandered afield and off the ranch

I thought I was replying to a specific issue - anti-vaxxers. not "all the approved and recalled drugs". If you've gone from a specific issue to a more general one, of course there is a problem. Pluuze read posts carefully or one might think you approve anti-vaxxers as having "legitimate" concerns as expressed by Fox News people and other conservative anti-vaxxers.

[valerief]

19. Sorry you're unable to make the mental leap from anti-vaxxers not trusting big pharma

and the history of drugs produced by big pharma that have harmed and killed people.

I'm not playing anymore. You're on Ignore.

[packman]

22. "Ignore" - the refuge of those who lose their own arguement

[Aristus]

18. No. It's not legit.

Neither is your argument.

[dilby]

21. How about the whole reason we have ISIS is because of assholes like the Chris Kyle.

Furthermore why the fuck are politicians using American Sniper a hollywood bullshit film as their source for military policy.

[radiclib]

23. They used Jack Bauer to justify torture as well.

It's what they do. It's how they connect to their brain-dead voters.

[KamaAina]

24. We are. Or at least they are.

Cutting food stamps, for one thing.

[Kalidurga]

26. Yep

That is what I thought this thread was about. Republicans being willing to let children die of starvation so that they can give the wealthy more tax breaks.

[surrealAmerican]

25. That's the problem with movies than glorify violence.

People without a good grasp on reality will be influenced by them. Thank you, Mr. Gosar, for illustrating that for us.

[madokie]

27. No fixing stupid

[IkeRepublican]

29. Typical Republican

Chicken shit answer from the chicken-shit party.

[Enthusiast]

30. Kicked and recommended a whole bunch!

Another idiot Republican. What a surprise.

[uriel1972]

31. Another charming fellow I hope never to meet...

Besides in the World, post Total-War theory, civilian casualties are not just acceptable, but necessary.

[Sparhawk60]

32. Actually, He Does Have a Point.

Actually, he has a point. EVERY war involves killing innocent children. This fact should not be glossed over or ignored, but embraced. Every time politicians talk about the reasons for war, after they talk about “defense of our freedoms” or other high sounding and noble reasons to go to war, they should conclude their speech with..”and that is why killing children is justified.”

And if you can’t justify killing children, then you do not go to war.

War is a nasty, brutal business. We need to stop glorifying it and accept the ugly truth.