Originally posted by RT and his SE: It's war! It's not pretty, it's not fun and it's played by a set of rules that there is almost no way to enforce on the battle field or in a POW camps except by the honor system. If naked hog piling is the worst that happens to these guy's and they have to go home with they're head hung in disgrace such are the fortunes of war. It could be worse. Terrorist's know this war like the Vietnam war has a weapon that can bring the war home to America. It's TV! Most American's don't have the stomach for war especially in their living room in full color high def and surround sound. The Viet Cong knew this and you better believe that the Iraqi resistance knows this as well. They can't beat us but by using TV and our own outrage they can help us to beat our self's!
By most accounts, there was a lot more going on in Abu Ghraib than piling people up into pyramids. Anyway, enough with that issue. It's being investigated, it will be dealt with.
I dont think this war bears comparison with Vietnam. People wont turn on the troops the way they did then. I worked with a Vietnam vet a couple of years back and he still felt very bitter about the way he was treated when he got back Stateside. People may turn on the President for invading Iraq and sending the troops over there but the troops wont be blamed and rightly so.
No, we don't have the general public turning on the troops, but we do have a war that is prosecuted by micro-management, from the Sec. of Defense (who was here today, I got pics will post when I get a chance) on down. There are strict rules governing off-limits areas (Cambodia/Laos in Veitnam, mosques here) that limit our ability to ferret out the enemy. The parallels go on and on.
Point taken. I don't know how or if that can be fixed.
Originally posted by Sandman333: Granted, but there should be at least of modicum of understanding in the world that these were the acts of a few who did not follow their training and do not in any way represent what the US is trying to accomplish in Iraq.
Yes. I'm not sure how that sentiment can be portrayed though or even if anybody would be willing to listen.
Bless our servicemen & women overseas.
L.Cpl Ian Malone, 1st Battalion Irish Guards, R.I.P.
