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Friday, March 02, 2007

What have we created??

http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/48601/

I am currently reading the book, 'From Baghdad, With Love' about a Marine's rescue of a hapless pup. And it's full of warm fuzzies (however illegal), but it's the underlying story that brings a chill of horror to me.
The Lt Col explains how 'killings' have changed over the course of time. That during WWII, only 15% of the soldiers ever fired their guns.. because they had compassion for their fellow man. The Marines decided to train them harder to shoot 1st, & think later.
Vietnam was a partial success for that training. The soldiers killed any & everything, but came home mentally wounded; most for a lifetime.
How to get past that pesky post-traumatic-stress-syndrome? They began training w/ video games.. making the kills 'fun', & not at all attached to real life.
Therefore, no residual guilt for the most part.
This war has become robotic for a lot of soldiers.
The Lt Col spoke of how nothing seemed important when he'd get home from a tour of Iraq.. so he went back 3 times. Killing was his buzz.. & he couldn't get that on the streets in the US. Granted, he regains a little of his humanity when he finds the pup to rescue. (against the rules of the Marines).. but how many soldiers are getting the 'cute puppy therapy' ??
Too many men & women are coming back damaged beyond all physical/mental constraints.. & the saddest part of all, is the fact that they may not even be aware of their illness.
The Marine corp has trained them to think it's all a 'game'.. get over it. Hoo-ruh.
Comments:
That must be such difficult reading..
My God, what have we created?
 
It's my radical opinion that if the military continues down this route, within a generation or two they're going to need to introduce some laws restricting soldiers.

You can't break these guys down, and then rebuild them like this and expect them to function in "normal" society. If the government keeps this up, they will need to do a few things:

1) Make enlistment "for life".
2) No marriage.
3) No breeding.

It's all insane. If the military were a scientist, (s)he would never EVER get funding for her/his research - we'd deem it cruel to screw with the human psyche like that, and we'd cut funding in a heartbeat.

God bless America.
 
Here's another interesting 'deed' the Marines are carrying out. When one of their canine corp (who dedicate their lives to saving others!) reaches the age of 10 or so (or the war ends.. whichever comes 1st).. they are euthanized, because 'war' is all they know. The Marines fear they will destroy little children on playgrounds if they're brought back home.
How long will it be until the usefulness of a career soldier is deemed the same way. Isn't it all 'collateral damage' according to Bush?
It won't be long until war-games will all be 'private-sector', mercenaries that only know killing.
And then 'robots' that will enter the fray, so the 'guilt' factor will be greatly reduced.
We are a shameful country!
 
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