POLL: At what point would you stop "supporting" the / a troop?

[Infohawk]

Just curious. Troops deserve support but at some point they can cross the line and be deserving of disapproval. What is it for you?

 

[Infohawk]

I tried to make a spectrum from least tolerant to most tolerant. It's not perfect though. Feel free to post your line in the sand.

 

[miketheidiot]

when they do what they know is wrong.

 

[daveshel]

The entire question is a slippery slope, as there are several ways to interpret 'support.'

I pay taxes so I support the troops by contributing to their salary and for their equipment.

I support them in their efforts, no matter how ill-advised, and I pray for their lives. In fact, I support any measures that will rethink their mission and get then out of harm's way.

But under no curcumstances do I support the decision to put them in harm's way, nor do I support the commander-in-chief who made that decision.

 

[Infohawk]

miketheidiot, that seems dangerous. Take some of the views on this board. Shooting an unarmed man instead of imprisoning him was apparently right for them. Does that make it right? What if they raped someone and they thought it was right because it was revenge for 9/11 and beheadings? Is that right?

 

[Aimster]

You shouldn't support that marine who shot that unarmed man. Anyone who is supporting that is sick. Not everyone in this world has a good heart. Lots of evil out there.

You should always support our troops. Never judge the actions of a few and base it on the majority.

 

[miketheidiot]

Originally posted by: Infohawk
miketheidiot, that seems dangerous. Take some of the views on this board. Shooting an unarmed man instead of imprisoning him was apparently right for them. Does that make it right? What if they raped someone and they thought it was right because it was revenge for 9/11 and beheadings? Is that right?

good point, some people do have fvcked up definitions of right and wrong.

 

[Infohawk]

Originally posted by: Aimster
You should always support our troops. Never judge the actions of a few and base it on the majority.

That's why I said a troop. I'm not talking about the majority, I'm talking about the particular soldier in question.

 

[Aimster]

Originally posted by: Infohawk

Originally posted by: Aimster
You should always support our troops. Never judge the actions of a few and base it on the majority.

That's why I said a troop. I'm not talking about the majority, I'm talking about the particular soldier in question.

I know you are. I wasn't suggesting you weren't.

 

[Infohawk]

Originally posted by: daveshel
The entire question is a slippery slope, as there are several ways to interpret 'support.'

I pay taxes so I support the troops by contributing to their salary and for their equipment.

I support them in their efforts, no matter how ill-advised, and I pray for their lives. In fact, I support any measures that will rethink their mission and get then out of harm's way.

But under no curcumstances do I support the decision to put them in harm's way, nor do I support the commander-in-chief who made that decision.

I mean mostly disapproval or approval in the context of this thread. I also want to just focus on the soldier who does the action and not the military in general.

 

[Tab]

1)Disobyes orders and put himself and other in greater danger
2)Purposely kills civilians

 

[AFB]

Killing defenseless civilians

 

[Tom]

i think you need different or more categories as far as civilians. The opponent in a war frequently use civilians as cover, or in some cases a tactic in war is to deny the opponent things that also benefit civilians, highways, infrastructure, production capacity.

Some people wouldn't consider these acceptable, but some would. Your poll doesn't give them a place to express this.

 

[SP33Demon]

Your poll sucks.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Originally posted by: SP33Demon
Your polls sucks.

 

[digiram]

Originally posted by: daveshel
The entire question is a slippery slope, as there are several ways to interpret 'support.'

I pay taxes so I support the troops by contributing to their salary and for their equipment.

I support them in their efforts, no matter how ill-advised, and I pray for their lives. In fact, I support any measures that will rethink their mission and get then out of harm's way.

But under no curcumstances do I support the decision to put them in harm's way, nor do I support the commander-in-chief who made that decision.

same here, I agree 100%

 

[nageov3t]

purposefully killing or raping civilians, or engaging in abuse / torture.

 

[dahunan]

Should the German citizens have risen up against Hitler when he fired up the ovens?

 

[miketheidiot]

Originally posted by: dahunan
Should the German citizens have risen up against Hitler when he fired up the ovens?

if they knew about it.

Yes.

 

[Klixxer]

Originally posted by: Infohawk
Just curious. Troops deserve support but at some point they can cross the line and be deserving of disapproval. What is it for you?

Never, a soldier follows orders.

If you want your army to be a discussion club then go for that.

A true soldier will follow orders without questioning them there is always a reason.

 

[JacobJ]

I would uncoditionally support them, even if that means locking them/him/her up in jail for the rest of their lives.

 

[KevinH]

This is such a HUGE gray area here. Let's go back to that shooting that recently occured as it's fairly obvious that's what spurned this poll. That said, in that situation it's easy to automatically assume that the soldier went buckwild and shot hte Iraqi. However, the reality may be very difference. In light of the fact this particular soldier was shot the previous day AND Iraqi Insurgents were known to be using bodies to hide bombs...that soldier was probably being overly cautious. No offense but I heard many of you rattling off about how his ass needs to be tossed away but let's be real here. I'm against this war but I'm picturing myself in his shoes and I know if I felt even an iota of a threat to my well being, then I'm shooting. That's it. Ive never been in a fight and consider myself a bit of a pacifist but if I'M IN THAT SITUATION, then all bets are off...from where I'm sitting, it's my life or his. It's a deicions that's made in a nanosecond. Fatigue, stress, etc...all these emotions would certainly cloud my judgement. I could see that soldier going through the exact same thing. Now in retrospect the insurgent was unarmed...but the soldier acted in what was perceived as self-defense. What then? Lock him away and throw away the key? Hardly...
Obviously I'm not suggesting that the scenario I painted was 100% what occured. However, I'm just saying that there may have been other factors that may have contributed to the soldier being trigger happy. Hopefully the investigation may shed some light on this.

 

[xyyz]

an example of where you stop supporting A SINGLE SOLDIER would be when he crosses the line and shoots, point-blank, and unarmed and injured individual, as witnessed by the NBC crew.

 

[Kibbo]

Originally posted by: loki8481
purposefully killing or raping civilians, or engaging in abuse / torture.

I agree, the intention of a soldier is all important in this. Collateral damage is not the soldier's responsibility, it is the responsibility of those above him.

Your poll was poorly phrased.

Edit: I'm even inclined to agree with Klixxer, that a soldier should follow orders, even if they are morally reprehensible. Or, at least, they should have mitigated responsibility for actions which were ordered, even if those actions are vile. At least for Non-coms and enlisted men. I have less empathy for commissioned officers.

 

[Klixxer]

Originally posted by: Klixxer

Originally posted by: Infohawk
Just curious. Troops deserve support but at some point they can cross the line and be deserving of disapproval. What is it for you?

Never, a soldier follows orders.

If you want your army to be a discussion club then go for that.

A true soldier will follow orders without questioning them there is always a reason.

99% of all of us would be in jail if you fvckers got to decide.

Clear an area means just that, you want us to go around and politely ask them if they are enemies?

War is hell and sh!t happens, don't worry too much about it. Most are nor innocent.