Looking at informed comments like these I wonder just who really are the ones making assumptions and jumping to conclusions in this matter. [/B][/QUOTE]

Whatta ya mean?

And yes, I was making generalizations about people I have heard first hand.

 

Any news agency that drew the conclusion that the "insurgent" was a prisoner.

 

That darn liberal media again... The United States military needs to watch out for its own troops first and foremost. Screw whoever we're fighting- we're fighting them for a good reason, and on the front lines there is no such thing as a "prisoner". Our troops react as they see is right, as far as I'm concerned, and we can't punish them for that.
And if they do need punishing for some reason, the United States military has provisions for that. Think Catherine Bell. (Ahh, Catherine Bell...) Should another, multinational party have any control at ALL over our military? NO! Over my dead body will ANY other country have and command over our military, or any other factor of our government. Actually, if any foriegn power attempts to get power over our forces, WE SHOULD SEE THAT AS A DIRECT THREAT and UNILATERALLY KICK TAIL!
They're OUR troops, WE'LL discipline them as WE see fit, and quite frankly WE care about our own INFINITELY more than we do about our ENEMIES.

Ahh, Catherine Bell...

 

I agree 100%! Those ,you-know-what's, have no problem beheading innocent civilians. Why are we supposed to be so sensitive? I say slaughter 'em all! Actually, he should have shot the cameraman.

 

It's a flippin' shame!

The whole world, and unfortunately a bunch in this country, are ready to condemn this soldier and the US for shooting an insurgent that could very well have been the one that planted the grenade that killed one Marine and wounded five more the day before he was shot. These fools need to get out of their dream world and try really, really hard to put themselves in the situation that Marine and many others are in every day.

When those pieces of dung shoot people in the head and cut their heads off on camera, people just shake their heads and say "Man, that's real bad, those must be some really bad a** people". These people are killed when they're tied and blindfolded, and not even in a battle situation. The guy may have been wounded, but the whole situation was different. Now, it looks like they have even killed a woman that has spent 30 years helping the Iraqi people. This brave Marine shot the bad guy in the mist of a situation that most of us can only imagine. IF he made a mistake....so be it....retrain him and let him go back to doing his job.

I have tried and tried to understand how militant Muslims think. I have come to the conclusion that they don't think. People that I know that have lived in the Middle East and fought in Iraq all say these these idiots are nothing but a bunch of outlaws that don't want anyone in charge and only use Islam as a way to keep the people stirred up. Evidently, the people are so ignorant that it works.

We over here sometimes have a short memory when it comes to remembering 9/11, and the people in Iraq have already forgotten the dastardly deeds of Saddam and his sadistic sons. I don't understand that from people over here, and I sure don't understand it from the Iraqis. I guess if it doesn't effect someone directly, they put it in the back of their mind and don't worry about it. Are the people over there too afraid or too stupid to see that all would be better off with the "outlaws" gone? You would think that rational people would be the first to help get rid of the bad guys and get on with the rebuilding with the BILLIONS of dollars the world is ready to give them.

I know I worry about this crap way too much, but I just can't understand ignorance and complacency.

 

The tape I saw, which I'm assuming is the same one everyone else saw, the Marine shouted "he's faking dead" at that moment he felt he and his squad were in danger and was well in compliance with the rules of engagement to shoot that man right then. Listen to the tape this Marine didn't shoot this terrorist in cold blood he was fearing for his squad and himself. I am a firm believer this brave Marine will be found not guilty of any wrong doing. These terrorist are reaping what they sow. God bless the US military!

 

I agree with Barry, that Marine did the right thing. I would have done the same. What if that Terrorist had a grenade in his hand and was ready to pull the pin? Or a booby trap was under him? I rather be tried in a Military court than to have half my squad wiped out.

MikeyB

 

Absolutly! He did the right thing. He walked into a confined space where just minutes before they were being shot at. No white flag, no hands in the air, and someone moves? You shoot to protect your buddies and yourself!

Just because a camera caught it on tape does not make it wrong.

It is common pratice to put a round into every "body" in a situation like that to make sure they are dead. What if they are all faking and you let your guard down? You are dead!

In a previous post someone said 100 Iraqi's are not worth one soldier. For me you can up the anity to the whole country is not worth one of our finest. Nuke the city next time and have done with it, no more urban fighting. Not one American life is worth the whole country of Iraq. The more we kill the quicker they come home.
Lets Roll...........

 

A guy I work with was in Afghanistan 1 month after 9/11. He was in the 101st Airborne. He says a few weeks before they left for Afghanistan the military authorities came into the barracks and took the soldiers' TV's, modems, newspapers, etc to PRESERVE the integrity and security of the mission.

"Do you know whether the military asked NBC to keep this secret? No, you don't..."

In response to that: I asked this co-worker of mine if he thinks the missions in the Middle East are being compromised by the media showing and saying what's going on. He says hell yeah...the media shouldn't even be there.

And I DO wonder who is my friend and who is my enemy.

Didn't Bush say he would hunt down each and every terrorist to the very last one? That's what that Marine did...he was hunting for terrorists...and the human being is the most dangerous game. You protect your own butt at all costs. Heck, if it's a fellow Marine who has gone crazy and intends to shoot you right there, what do you do??? You shoot him first. At least you're not the crazy one.

 

"make the other poor dumb bastard die for his country!"

 

It astounds me that people are so stirred up about this situation. The man was faking dead, most likely he was going to wait until the soldiers back was turned and then shoot him in the back.

The man was an insurgent (terrorist for those with common sense). I think its funny that folks talk about this terrorists right to live yet the very thing he is fighting for is an organization that takes life, innocent life at that.

God bless all of our soldiers and especially the one involved here.

 

Here is an open letter from the camerman who shot that footage of the marine (found it on MSNBC). Interesting reading.Click Here

~Rob

 

If the Marine was found innocent by an internal investigation, it would only "seem funny" to the same people that jump to conclusions and believe everything they hear from the media. Sure, it's just an assumption when thinking the media is probably not providing the full story. But, with their track record, it's the safer of two assumptions. Most professionals would not condone and try to cover up for somebody doing a criminal act. They take pride in their work and would not put up with somebody making them look bad. They would make a serious investigation. I feel the actions warrant investigation wether the marine is right or wrong. If proven wrong, the investigation should determine wether training and leadership was appropriate, and offer future preventive measures. If he is wrong, people need to remember these guys are trained and paid to take ground. Some "police" training is provided, but not enuff to be considered 2nd nature. I don't mean to excuse anybody completely by this. The reporter has a reasonable concern, but is not exactly trained enuff to have final say. Unfortunately, the Marine is gonna have to do some serious articulating to explain what led him to pull the trigger.
WaitingforPaulHarveytotelltherestofthestoryDon

 

I think the report from the cameraman is interesting- and good insofar as he clearly states that this is his personal observation and his personal opinion. Naturally it's a one sided story without the marine's comments.
Personally I'd be very afraid if tapes like these would be censored.

AlpineRAM