Reality Check
Published May 02, 2004
There has been a lot of conversation on the net over the abuses that some American military personnel committed on Iraqi prisoners. People are using this as an example of why the United States should not be in Iraq. As if Americans abusing Iraqis has some sort of political reason behind it.
Quite simply, that is a load of horseshit.
War is war. Depending on what religion you subscribe to, man was given dominion over the animals, yet if you observe the history of the human creature, no other animal destroys itself or commits atrocities on it own kind to the extent that man does. If anything, the scandal in Iraq proves that it's wrong to think that any power is 100% wrong or 100% right as that power comes from the collective of individuals coming behind an idea. Fortunately, and unfortunately, because a collective is made up of a group of individuals, you are bound to find bad eggs.
What happened in Iraq with the American solders is not typical behavior of Americans, or the American military. What happened in Iraq is typical behavior of some men and women who have a cruel streak in them. Atrocities are not limited to the Americans or just the Iraqi war. We can scroll back in time and look at every war and see examples of people not doing the job they were expected to do but instead fulfilling personal perversions under the mantle of "contributing to the war effort."
Now, I want you to understand - in no way do I condone what happened in Iraq. In no way do I even condone American troops being there. I will have to speak up however and go against this tide to use this example of some very fucked up individuals in the Army abusing the trust that was placed in them. To say that this is normal or not normal is hard to say. In this day and age, digital cameras and camera phones abound. Everything is documented so much more. It is just the law of averages that we should see more examples of the abuses that go on during war when some men fall into their baser impulses. This is not an American thing. This is not and Iraqi thing. This is a human thing. Anywhere you go into the world, you will find man engaged in blacker activities. The thing is that some situations lead to places where it makes it easier to engage in such pastimes with less scrutiny.
- Reality Check
- Published: May 02, 2004
- Type:
- Section: Culture
- Writer: Ms. Tek
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Comments on this articleComments
No doubt its the tip of the iceberg. This doesn't mean that these actions are typical of Americans, British, Italians, etc.
Bad people get in put in uniform. If you are not watching what is going on, they are bound to start doing bad thing. This shows a real fuck up in the chain of command and that perhaps this was not thought out as much as it should have been. It has no bearing however if the US should be in Iraq or not.
Mind you, I am AGAINST being in Iraq. I still don't think its right however to paint something in a way that is misrepresentive of what it is just to get your way. That is a fallacy and a lie.
I agree with your assessment, maybe not the part where this is being painted as misrepresentative, for the reason of achieving an objective, but I agree it's not typical of what Americans want and that it shows clear problems in the commanding of troops.
Good or bad, they are all trained to be good, mean green killing machines.Send them to this hell in Iraq, and am I suprised it brings out the worst in some? No. Reality check.
Doesn't mean it's not unacceptable, sheri.
The Pictures:
http://www.thememoryhole.org/war/iraqis_tortured/
The "60 Minutes II" story:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/04/27/60II/main614063.shtml
Feedback on the story:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/04/29/60II/main614799.shtml
It's good to hear someone from the anti-war side reason this way.
It makes me willing to be more receptive to Ms. Teks views in the future.
Being from a military family, I've heard just as bad if not worse. Acceptable? No.Surprising? No.
Excellent post, Tek: thoughtful, realistic, balanced, showing original thought. Thanks!
Yeah, I agree, good post.
Tek, just curious: I thought you wouldn't be posting here anymore? I'm not trying to drive you off or anything; you are of course encouraged to contribute.
Perhaps you had a change-of-heart? Or did I misread the "I've decided to make myself scarce 'round here" comment you made recently?
Dear RJ...
Reality check for you.... Last time I looked, you weren't part of the staff here. So far as I know, only Eric and Phillip are members. I don't need your approval or disapproval. You have about as much influence on me as ox flatulence might have on a macaw. In case that example is hard for you to understand, let me clarify:
I could give a rat's ass what you think or what your motives are.
Now, something else perhaps you should study in school ( and this has nothing to do with if I am a liberal, a commie, a pinko, or a slut/whore but the fact that I was taught the wonders of a good thesaurus and the use of idioms).
The definition of scarce is to be absent, rare. I don't post on this site even half as much as I used to. You'll just have to deal with the bits of me that you see. Or you can just do us both a favor and not even read it when you see my name. For the most part, I use that guidance with you and it seems to work swimmingly.
Have a pleasant evening. I know I will.
Geez. I was only asking a reasonable question. Like I said, I encourage you to post here. I don't want to see you (or any BlogCritic) leave.
But thanks for the clarification. :-]
Add your comment, speak your mind
(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/15302)
Hi Ms. Tek,
according to Amesty International, this is only the tip of the iceberg and they have uncovered widespread torture and abuse being committed by the coalition troops.