General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsArmy's new Photo Scandal: Photos released by LA Times show American troops posing with human remains
Sadly, this behavior is a common part of war.
Put young people in a situation like that, train them to hate the enemy and this is what you sometimes get
(just look at the suicide bombers that they are posing with.)
Now the Facebook generation is once again breaking through the
censorship to bring such common features of war to a mass audience, like TV did in the late sixties.
Are these the same photos that Der Spiegel published last year which the Pentagon apologized for?
(was going to post this in LBN if maddezmom hadn't already posted the original Los Angeles Times article here) --
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-afghan-photos-20120418,0,5032601.story
U.S. troops posed with body parts of Afghan bombers (warning graphic photos at the link)
Here's Salon's take on it:
[font face="New York" size="5"]The armys new photo scandal[/font] (Salon) By Tim Fitzsimons, GlobalPost
Photos released by the LA Times show American troops posing with the corpses of Afghan suicide bombers
The Los Angeles Times released photos on Wednesday showing American troops posing with the mangled corpses of Afghan suicide bombers, leading the Pentagon to issue a strongly worded statement condemning the actions in the pictures, which were taken in 2010.
The photos were provided to the newspaper by a soldier distressed about the actions of his division. (semi-related link -- courtesy LG) He sent 18 photos saying they pointed to a breakdown in leadership and discipline that he believed compromised the safety of the troops, the newspaper wrote. The Army requested the newspaper withhold the images.
In a statement, the Pentagon said, The secretary is also disappointed that despite our request not to publish these photographs, the Los Angeles Times went ahead. The danger is that this material could be used by the enemy to incite violence against U.S. and Afghan service members in Afghanistan. The Pentagon promised to take all measures necessary to protect troops from a public backlash.
These images by no means represent the values or professionalism of the vast majority of U.S. troops serving in Afghanistan today, Pentagon spokesman George Little said.
The LA Times quoted its editor, Davan Maharaj, as saying, After careful consideration, we decided that publishing a small but representative selection of the photos would fulfill our obligation to readers to report vigorously and impartially on all aspects of the American mission in Afghanistan, including the allegation that the images reflect a breakdown in unit discipline that was endangering U.S. troops.
The U.S. military is still reeling from the January release of a video showing Marines urinating on Afghan corpses, and riots in February following the news that troops burned copies of the Quran, Islams holy book. Those riots killed 30 Afghans and six Americans. In March, Army sergeant Robert Bales went on a shooting rampage and killed 17 Afghan civilians, including 9 children. Bales has been charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder, according to the Associated Press.
CNN reported that the paper told the Pentagon about the pictures in March, which resulted in a criminal investigation. George Wright, an Army spokesman, said, such actions fall short of what we expect of our uniformed service members in deployed areas, according to the LA Times.
Leopolds Ghost
(12,875 posts)On GD, I mean...
Poll_Blind
(23,864 posts)PB
spanone
(135,781 posts)Cali_Democrat
(30,439 posts)For the life of me I can't figure it out.
Leopolds Ghost
(12,875 posts)Not sure what that signifies but the other side seems to be just as hate-filled.
Or it's just a cultural disconnect: they're willing to kill themselves on the off chance of blowing up an American; we're willing to kill innumerable Afghans so long as an American doesn't die.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)from Occupationists and Invaders.
It is amazing...if one thinks about it for more than a second or two...isn't it?
TheKentuckian
(25,018 posts)At a certain point, it becomes highly stupid assholery that buys blowback and for this I blame command for not pressing the importance of the issue and lack of institutional control.
I also blame the soldiers involved for pure lack of thought and irresponsibility. If they are too stupid to avoid these antics then they are probably too irresponsible to be trusted with equipment and weaponry.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)they know to get them out of there...even if they never thought of "Court Martial."
It's what happens when Soldiers realize they are fighting for NOTHING but their OWN SURVIVAL and know the "Folks at Home" will just laugh at them throwing up a burned foot or arm in front of a Camera ...and Laughing hysterically at it.
It's the Stuff the Limbaugh and Faux Military GET OFF ON... Great Video/Great Theater and NOTHING CHANGES.
It's WAR...and it's never PRETTY...except on CNN and other Propaganda Sources.
Leopolds Ghost
(12,875 posts)The question is... are they motivated by hatred, or morbid curiosity and fatigue?
KoKo
(84,711 posts)I'll give them that. I sure as hell wouldn't want to be over there examining burned corpses for body parts..
And most of us here who haven't had to do that...wouldn't want to do it and maybe those here who have never want to revisit it ever again and will understand how WAR causes folks to act in ways they might not do in "home situations."
Still there are always the "Jokers" who thrive off gruesomeness and war and killing. Those are the ones that one worries about when they get home. But, the others will also be worries because of the PTSD.. So, the costs of War are very high. It corrupts the souls of the good-hearted and makes the Jokers meaner.
Leopolds Ghost
(12,875 posts)A song about oath keepers and whistleblowers...
Unionworks turned me onto that song, in another thread. }:?|~
KoKo
(84,711 posts)in WAR!"
I think that's a quote from a Brit about either WWI or II...
I gotta look it up. It rang true with me when I first read/heard the quote. I think from some BBC Documentary.
THANKS!
jus-theFACTS
(15 posts)I blame the war criminals not the pawns.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)they were going to the US Invasion of these Countries to AVENGE 9/11.. IDEALSTS many...those lacking JOB but figuring it's a good GiG to get money for College another.
THEY WERE DUPED...
We don't know the background of this latest group of Soldiers who are ACTING OUT with Afghani Body Parts...but, it would be interesting to know their background because WAR...ENDLESS WAR and using people as SPEAR/ CANNON/GUN FIRE throughout the Ages has ALWAYS caused a backlash from those who have to do the GRISLEY/DIRTY/CLEAN UP Stuff!
After awhile WAR/DEATH/DESTRUCTION...and HUMAN TOLL becomes too much for even the MOST MACHO amongst us.
jus-theFACTS
(15 posts)but it was a mistake sending ONE soldier over there to hit the ground.
Any retaliation (assuming retaliation was necessary) could have been done by air and with cooperation from friendly gov'ts
Vattel
(9,289 posts)Calling them pawns is condescending.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)"Responsible ADULTS?"
Think about what you say. A Responsible ADULT is their Commanding Officers...who should have some years "under their belt" and been vetted and under command of someone whose served at least 15 years or more!
RESPONSIBLE ADULTS? They are RECRUITING THOSE WHO CANNOT GET JOBS FOR YEARS IN THIS HORRIBLE ECONOMY!
(sorry for shouting at you...but, I really found your post ...well... kind of clueless and uninvolved with the lives of these young women and men.
jus-theFACTS
(15 posts)and in addition... remember these kids have their mind erased and reprogrammed with their master's bloody agenda.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)They are so young they were REPROGAMMED during their growing up years...by BUSH/CHENEY WAR is GOOD/FEEDOM FIGHTERS to AVENGE "9/11!"
They don't all know anything about what the hell they are getting into..so young..and the older ones early on were National Guard brought into fight before we had the Full Force of the "Military Contractors" like Blackwater and such!
What a mess this has been. The very young..trying to be patriotic or just needing a JOB the Middle and even Older called back to FIGHT FOR FREEDOM when if they were National Guard they were in professions or doing other work and then those who had worked awhile got laid off and had no other opportunities and families who signed up. Men and Women with Children both signed up!
And where is the Media on this? They show a few segments of heart rending stories...but, for the most part we get little to NO WAR COVERAGE and only CHEESE STORIES about a few who've served who have had experiences the Nightly News or CNN can do in a SEGMENT ...and then they are forgotten!
It's dreadful. But, then...I guess I'm being what's called: "Overly Dramatic" that this stuff just SHOULD NOT BE GOING ON any more ...and shouldn't have gone on before!