Noble Hero liberates some Afghanis from their horrid lives.

[Audley Strange]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17330205

[Gawdzilla Sama]

"Nervous breakdown."

[Audley Strange]

on the bright side, they're with Allah now.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

"Going postal" when there are so many weapons readily available...

[Drewish]

[Tero]

If you recruit volunteers, they are ready to go out there and kill people, no problem. If you draft people and send them overseas and make them carry guns, they will kill to defend themselves.

The problems of a pay army.

[tattuchu]

So when President Obama apologizes for this, as he must, with the Repugnants view that as a sign of weakness yet again? One Muslim apologizing to another Muslim?
The thing is, an apology doesn't even begin to cut it. How in god's name do you make amends for something like this?

[Gawdzilla Sama]

If you recruit volunteers, they are ready to go out there and kill people, no problem.

Hardly "no problem". Getting people to kill other people without being angry or deathly afraid is a challenge military men have always faced. We don't want people who can casually kill other people, they're psychopaths.

If you draft people and send them overseas and make them carry guns, they will kill to defend themselves.

True, just as a civilian will kill to defend themselves in some cases.

The problems of a pay army.

Mercenary armies frequently changed sides when they got a better offer. Relying on them usually leads to regret.

[Warren Dew]

If you recruit volunteers, they are ready to go out there and kill people, no problem. If you draft people and send them overseas and make them carry guns, they will kill to defend themselves.

The problems of a pay army.

'Cause My Lai was just a case of draftees "defending themselves", eh?

Fact is, this is what happens when the troops are given a job that is cynically unachievable.

[Warren Dew]

So when President Obama apologizes for this, as he must, with the Repugnants view that as a sign of weakness yet again? One Muslim apologizing to another Muslim?

Well, here's Gingrich's take on Afghanistan:

Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich says he thinks U.S. involvement in the region around Afghanistan may be risking the lives of young troops in a mission that "may not be doable."

http://www.mercurynews.com/presidentele ... le-mission

It should be obvious to everyone - except maybe Obama - but Gingrich seems to be the first who is willing to say it publicly.

The thing is, an apology doesn't even begin to cut it. How in god's name do you make amends for something like this?

You can't make amends. The best you can do is court martial the soldier or soldiers involved and execute them as quickly as possible.

[Rum]

America exports?

[JimC]

If you recruit volunteers, they are ready to go out there and kill people, no problem. If you draft people and send them overseas and make them carry guns, they will kill to defend themselves.

The problems of a pay army.

'Cause My Lai was just a case of draftees "defending themselves", eh?

Fact is, this is what happens when the troops are given a job that is cynically unachievable.

I tend to agree. It is a total disaster all round - a corrupt allied government, allied troops with itchy trigger fingers when Afghan soldiers (supposed allies) are around, given that several times they have gunned down unsuspecting US, British, French and Australian troops. Not that it excuses this latest shooting, simply that it is an untenable mess, and we should get the fuck out.

[sandinista]

If you recruit volunteers, they are ready to go out there and kill people, no problem. If you draft people and send them overseas and make them carry guns, they will kill to defend themselves.

The problems of a pay army.

'Cause My Lai was just a case of draftees "defending themselves", eh?

Fact is, this is what happens when the troops are given a job that is cynically unachievable.

I tend to agree. It is a total disaster all round - a corrupt allied government, allied troops with itchy trigger fingers when Afghan soldiers (supposed allies) are around, given that several times they have gunned down unsuspecting US, British, French and Australian troops. Not that it excuses this latest shooting, simply that it is an untenable mess, and we should get the fuck out.

funny how it seems to take a so many people a decade to realize what a LOT of people have been saying since day 1. This invasion and occupation will achieve nothing and be a huge, colossal waste of tax payers money. The only objective ever was to line the pockets of the military industrial complex, that's it. I've never heard once the reason for invading Afghanistan or what the definition of victory was.

[Warren Dew]

funny how it seems to take a so many people a decade to realize what a LOT of people have been saying since day 1. This invasion and occupation will achieve nothing and be a huge, colossal waste of tax payers money. The only objective ever was to line the pockets of the military industrial complex, that's it. I've never heard once the reason for invading Afghanistan or what the definition of victory was.

The original reason for invading Afghanistan was to break up Al Qaeda training camps there to prevent a repeat of the World Trade Center attacks.

Victory was never defined well, I'd agree. The Al Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan were essentially inoperative within the first year or two.

[sandinista]

funny how it seems to take a so many people a decade to realize what a LOT of people have been saying since day 1. This invasion and occupation will achieve nothing and be a huge, colossal waste of tax payers money. The only objective ever was to line the pockets of the military industrial complex, that's it. I've never heard once the reason for invading Afghanistan or what the definition of victory was.

The original reason for invading Afghanistan was to break up Al Qaeda training camps there to prevent a repeat of the World Trade Center attacks.

Victory was never defined well, I'd agree. The Al Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan were essentially inoperative within the first year or two.

The reason your pointing out is nonsense. Who thinks you need "training camps" in Afghanistan to plan terrorist actions? That whole notion is ridiculous. Besides the obvious fact that "training camps" can be simply moved somewhere else.