Originally Posted By skinnerbox <<It's now beng reported that the soldier in question had previously suffered a brain injury and had marital problems. This was his fourth tour of duty in ten years. Three in Iraq and one in Afghanistan.>> What a surprise. Not. What the hell is a BRAIN INJURED soldier doing back in a war zone???? And with the added complication of having marital problems back home? Stop loss needs to be ended NOW! Reinstate the effn DRAFT if this war is so desperately needed for our security.
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder "Understood. So does that make it open season on locals? Again, how would you feel if he had done the same thing in the U.S.? I mean I realize Afghans aren't as worth as much as Americans, but just how far do you want to take that?" Wait a minute, I've said nothing either way on this. My two contributions to this thread were to say I didn't think he would be handed over to the Afghans, and apparently there IS a precedent for that, and to also say apparently he's had these issues. I forgot to put the link but I saw it on Yahoo news. I don't know what to think about this incident yet. It's horrible, of course, but beyond that, I don't know.
Originally Posted By skinnerbox Thanks, wahoo. I appreciate it. This whole situation is beyond tragic. I really hope readers in this thread recognize how badly I feel for those civilians who were killed. But turning over this brain injured and mentally unstable soldier will not "serve justice" in any way, shape, or form. If we turn him over, the hatred for Americans will be fueled by making him a scapegoat to protect the morally bankrupt regime under Karzai and/or the morally bankrupt regime of the Taliban. If we don't turn him over, the hatred for Americans will be fueled by the perception that we are truly infidels with no moral compass as demonstrated by our "protection" of this soldier with his return to U.S. soil. Either way, the US is further screwed with regard to our continued presence in this region. We need to just get the hell out.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Once again, it's all-or-nothing, black-or-white thinking for you: >> Sorry babe... either it's wrong to kill innocents or it isn't. I guess it is black and white to me. Mental illness can legitimately be used when determining guilt or punishment, but it should have nothing to do with having to face the legal system you violated. And yes, we DO need to GET THE HELL OUT. But that is a whole different issue.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Wait a minute, I've said nothing either way on this.>> SPP... that part of my response was not directed towards you.
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder Here's the link that I left out. <a href="http://gma.yahoo.com/soldier-held-afghan-massacre-had-brain-injury-marital-061722796--abc-news.html" target="_blank">http://gma.yahoo.com/soldier-h...ews.html</a>
Originally Posted By Tikiduck Okay, so we take him back to America, and put him in an asylum, and he can relax, watch television and have long conversations with mollycoddling therapists for the rest of his life. Hell, he may even be released into the general public after a few years. How many soldiers are going to be killed in retaliation of this monstrous act, especially if we take him home, without giving the victims any justice at all? Do they deserve to be sacrificed because of this cold blooded murderer? A concussion is a "brain injury", and despite his personal "issues", I cannot generate one iota of sympathy for this lump of feces.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan >>How many soldiers are going to be killed in retaliation of this monstrous act, especially if we take him home, without giving the victims any justice at all?<< That's for sure. I'm sure President Obama's critics would come (even more) unglued if somehow this person were turned over to the Afghanistan justice system, but I don't know that it's such a bad idea considering the lasting implications of whisking him off to a US military prison.
Originally Posted By Autopia Deb Either way we're screwed as far as Afghan public opinion is concerned, but I think we are slightly less screwed if he's turned over to local authorities. It's a no win situation and like many Americans I've been wondering why we're still there after all these years. And as the mother of a teenage boy, a mandatory draft is the LAST thing I want to see.
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder Well, the military draft is a thread topic unto itself, but in my opinion, this country and possibly by extension the world would today be a markedly improved place had we not discontinued it.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<"If you don't want the soldier turned over to Afghan officials, then you must think that Afghans are lesser human beings.">> I NEVER posted that. To make up a quote and attribute it to someone else is one of the most reprehensible things I've ever seen on these boards. Unfortunately the fact that YOU would do it doesn't surprise me one little bit.
Originally Posted By mawnck >>To make up a quote and attribute it to someone else is one of the most reprehensible things I've ever seen on these boards.<< It seems to be going around. I just recently found out that I think conservatives are gaining support instead of losing it. ;-)
Originally Posted By skinnerbox <<I NEVER posted that. To make up a quote and attribute it to someone else is one of the most reprehensible things I've ever seen on these boards.>> Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot. You take most things literally. I wasn't implying that you actually wrote that statement. Obviously, you didn't. I was suggesting that this would be a statement that you would possibly make, based on your actual quote suggesting that I believe Afghans aren't worth as much as Americans.
Originally Posted By skinnerbox <<Unfortunately the fact that YOU would do it doesn't surprise me one little bit.>> Of course it wouldn't surprise you, because you always want to believe the worst in people. I made a stupid compositional error. It happens. Everyone does it. And if I had it to do over, this is what I would have written: "That comment crossed the line and was completely uncalled for. No one here stated anything about Afghan citizens not being "worth as much as Americans." Is this what you're suggesting, regarding how I view this situation: 'Skinner, if you don't want the soldier turned over to Afghan officials, then you must think that Afghans are lesser human beings.' Is that what you believe? That's the way it's coming across, RT." There. That's more precise. I'll remember to be as exactingly and exceedingly precise and detailed in the future, so misunderstandings like this happen less often.
Originally Posted By skinnerbox <<I just recently found out that I think conservatives are gaining support instead of losing it. ;-)>> Well, for the uninitiated, that's the way it appears. You're so certain that Rush losing sponsors isn't going to affect him or conservative talk radio one little bit, it sounds as though you're defending the guy and the conservatives who kiss his fat white butt. At least to me.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 Didn't come across that way to me. To me, it was like saying "regrettably, I don't think this will hurt him long-term, based on my knowledge of how radio ad buys work."
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Originally Posted By skinnerbox Different strokes, I guess. As for Rush... the count for sponsors bailing continues to rise; I don't see this ending anytime soon. And to add insult to injury, conservative politicians and pundits continue to make stupid sexist statements regarding reproductive issues, which are driving away Republican women and their support for the GOP candidates. I don't understand how any of these clowns can believe the November elections are theirs to win with their continued bashing of half the country. Women do vote. I guess they're too stupid to realize this.
Originally Posted By skinnerbox <<Cut the BS skinerbox. You'll say ANYTHING to go after someone you disagree with. I had not made ANY personal comments in then thread. Then I was presented with this: <<To hell with you, RT. And the Moral Superiority horse you rode in on.>> Bitch.>> That's my cue.
