Don’t speak to me of any “Just War”
Can somebody please tell me what the hell we’re doing there?
(Warning: people, actually die in this video, and the recorded voices of their killers revel in it. There are children in the line of fire.)
Let there be no illusions as to the cost of such folly. If that had been someone you love on that street, your children in that van, would you ever tire of telling the tale to anyone who would listen? Would you fail to harbor those who want to destroy the country responsible? Would you not make it your life’s work?
Forty percent of the world’s entire military budget is spent by us, while we wrangle over the cost of health insurance, and our schools can’t meet their budgets. How can this not be the result? This is not defense; it is pathology.
- From Pharyngula
- From The Atlantic, here’s another view from someone who may have a lot of experience in rules of engagement. He’s not happy with how these videos have been interpreted. It’s very interesting and I’d be partly assuaged if he hadn’t started with the standard “war is hell, people die” trope. Yes it’s true that war is hell and people die, and that soldiers under pressure make mistakes for which they can hardly be blamed. We get it, but that’s all the more reason not to go to war unless you really don’t have an alternative – because it will result in stuff like this and it will be on your head. Besides, they lose any benefit of the doubt the minute they open up on that van; there was no indication that the van was doing anything but trying to help the wounded. Sorry, but “war is hell” doesn’t cover that.
- Slacktivist explores the difference between a soldier and a murderer in YNATKC. Find out what that acronym means…
- ***Dave makes the measured, rational analysis I could not, in Killing civilians and covering it up.
- A soldier from the ‘collateral murder video” speaks out, confirming that this is, in fact, a pretty typical case. He makes an excellent suggestion…
This is not defense; it is pathology.
Even in the 70s, when we were facing Soviet nukes that were on a hair trigger, we still spent less for defense when we thought we could. Today, with no enemies worthy of the name, we spend like drunken sailors.
I think our pathology is addiction to a sense of security. That, and having no sense of perspective.
“I think our pathology is addiction to a sense of security. That, and having no sense of perspective.”
A few years ago in a mass communications class, we looked at a study of people who watched the evening news. They tended to believe violent crime rates were much higher than those rates actually were. I think we might be addicted to scaring ourselves, then coddling ourselves, and all while treading water in our own little fishbowls. So yes, I think you are right, just add the love of fear.