us troops posed for photos with insurgent body parts

[brainhulk]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-afghan-photos-20120418,0,5032601.story

The paratroopers had their assignment: Check out reports that Afghan police had recovered the mangled remains of an insurgent suicide bomber. Try to get iris scans and fingerprints for identification.

The 82nd Airborne Division soldiers arrived at the police station in*Afghanistan's
*Zabol province in February 2010. They inspected the body parts. Then the mission turned macabre: The paratroopers posed for photos next to Afghan police, grinning while some held — and others squatted beside — the corpse's severed legs.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

This is dave's complete lack of surprise.

 

[Broheim]

I'm not really seeing the problem...

 

[Crusty]

This is what really happens in the 82nd. You lose all your limbs yet are still concerned about your troops.

 

[Beev]

I'm not really seeing the problem...

I don't see the problem with a dead insurgent, but posing is just... tacky and makes them seem like giant losers, tbqfh. What else is new with our shit military. /shrug.

 

[rivan]

I'm not really seeing the problem...

We're killing people, but we have to be sensitive about it.

 

[clamum]

This is dave's complete lack of surprise.

Basically. It's war; these things happen. Solders' humor can be macabre and twisted to the normal citizen. Ultimately they weren't hurting anyone anyway.

 

[NFS4]

Basically. It's war; these things happen. Solders' humor can be macabre and twisted to the normal citizen. Ultimately they weren't hurting anyone anyway.

I agree...

But you know that if it were pictures of insurgent solders posing with dead U.S. soldiers' body parts plastered all over the news people would be going apeshit.

 

[Anubis]

yea i read this earlier, dont care, and to answer NFS4s question, i wouldent care about that either

 

[alent1234]

met A LOT of guys from 82nd over the years. loved the bragg stories. hated bragg when i had to spend a week there

 

[Theb]

If he wanted his body to be handled with the utmost care and dignity he should have chosen a profession other than Suicide Bomber.

 

[foghorn67]

Don't care. Boys will be boys.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

The mangled corpse of a suicide bomber deserves our reverence and respect.

 

[rivan]

Basically. It's war; these things happen. Solders' humor can be macabre and twisted to the normal citizen. Ultimately they weren't hurting anyone anyway.

War used to be really simple. Kill all the enemies until they gave up or were all dead. Rape their women, burn their fields, take their gold while you're there.

Now, when the US goes to war, we have very different goals that make this sort of thing incredibly counterproductive. We have goals that just cannot be accomplished if we alienate the locals. It's a totally new role for a soldier to really have, and it's an incredibly difficult position to be in: I have to kill you in the face, but I must absolutely be remorseful about it after.

It's kind of bullshit for soldiers to have to be that way, but it's what the goals of the mission demand.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

in poor taste, but not a bfd

 

[Kadarin]

The people we are killing barely (if that) deserve the title of "human being", so fuck them. Outrage not found.

 

[NuclearNed]

Considering this keeps happening, it seems like high command would issue a "no photos" directive.

 

[brandonb]

The people we are killing barely (if that) deserve the title of "human being", so fuck them. Outrage not found.

That's the problem. Thanks for bringing it up. When you demonize your enemy to the point where the masses don't even consider them "human beings" then you are allowed to do whatever you want to these human beings.

Much like certain people throughout history have done to others.

 

[Beev]

That's the problem. Thanks for bringing it up. When you demonize your enemy to the point where the masses don't even consider them "human beings" then you are allowed to do whatever you want to these human beings.

Much like certain people throughout history have done to others.

Yeah, sorry, just because they're shitty humans doesn't mean you can act like they aren't human.

I prefer to just treat everyone equally shitty

 

[rivan]

Considering this keeps happening, it seems like high command would issue a "no photos" directive.

I'm surprised there hasn't been one long before now.

 

[Platypus]

When you demonize your enemy to the point where the masses don't even consider them "human beings" then you are allowed to do whatever you want to these human beings.

Yup, people never learn from history.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Why is this news? Yes war is brutal. Those dead body parts are people who want to destroy the rest of the world. Leave the soldiers alone and encourage them for what they're doing (fighting terrorism, specificly) instead. Sure it may be immature of them, but they're in harsh conditions and that's about the only fun they can find considering they're being shot at anywhere they walk.

 

[SandEagle]

P&n. ------>

 

[unokitty]

In Jan '70, the average age in my Basic Training Company at Fort Campbell was 18 years and two months.

You send children to a foreign country where everyone hates them and some try to kill them...

And then, you act surprised when they don't show the discretion that you think is appropriate?

You can all get off of my lawn.

Uno
Sentry Dog Handler,
US Army
'70 - '71

 

[mikeymikec]

Why is this news? Yes war is brutal. Those dead body parts are people who want to destroy the rest of the world. Leave the soldiers alone and encourage them for what they're doing (fighting terrorism, specificly) instead. Sure it may be immature of them, but they're in harsh conditions and that's about the only fun they can find considering they're being shot at anywhere they walk.

Leading on from what brandonb said about demonising your enemy, what do you suppose the people fighting American forces are saying about them (hint: probably the same sweeping generalisations that you're making)?

Before long, you'll have the armed forces thinking about the nationality of the opposing force as "oh, they're all the same" (or some similar sweeping generalisation), and then you've got "the good guys" raping and pillaging those they're meant to be defending.

NFS4 also hit the nail on the head.