Article

2011-05-01 Afghanistan

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by phil_b 2011-05-01 07:35|| || Front Page|| [2 views ] Top

#1 Reading about this story, reminded of something that my aunt told me about her brother, after he returned home, after serving with the U.S. forces in Germany at the close of World War 2. My uncle told his sister that he had to kill a teenager; about 15 years old he came across during a mission.

My uncle told his sister, "It was either me or him". It effected him for the remainder of his life. From what I read about World War 2 history, when the allies were approaching Berlin from the West and the Russians on the east, the leadership and anyone who could, fled to safety. However, before they left, any teenagers and members of the Hitler youth left behind, were handled rifles and told to kill Americans, their allies and the Russians.

My understanding of history afterwards including Korea and Vietnam, and more recently in Iraq and Afghanistan soldiers are still faced with the same horror of deciding to kill a youngster to protect themselves or their comrades.

I had read elsewhere, that this is a sign of desperation and cowardice, they these folks find it necessary to use children, women and IED's to carry out these attacks since they are unwilling to face our soldiers directly.

Forgive my rant, but this kind of stuff really hit a nerve after reading this story.

Posted by Delphi 2011-05-01 12:26|| 2011-05-01 12:26|| Front Page Top

#2 This is one of life's choices that is difficult. We in the West bend over backwards to protect children. We have a set of laws for juveniles and another for adults. Occasionally, juveniles are tried as adults in crimes which are horrific. We have child labor laws which protect children. We have laws which protect children from sexual exploitation and pornography. We try protect children from child abuse. When a 12 year old comes along who has been brainwashed and used by a ruthless enemy, most people have trouble with a decision to kill that child because of our Western ideas. However, if you want to come home and enjoy your family at the end of a tour you have no other choice unless you don't mind being killed. As Patton said: Let the other SOB die for his country [or religion or whatever cause he wants to die for]. I for one, don't think some little slackjaw a$$hole has the right to take your life.

Such choices also exist in the U.S. It is not uncommon to have 12-15 year old gang-bangers try to earn their chops with a gang initiation murder. Recently, two British tourists in Florida were murdered as the result of a gang initiation ritual. So if one wants to come home to his/her family, they'd best be prepared for these murderous young thugs.

Posted by JohnQC 2011-05-01 15:18|| 2011-05-01 15:18|| Front Page Top

#3 Thank you JohnQC for your comments.

You are absolutely correct about how we go out of way to protect our children, in comparison to those that preach that it is more important to love death, more than life. As as result, place a lower value on it. Nadel Malik Hasan, the Fort Hood killer had on his the Powerpoint presentation the same quote, slide number 48 - "We love death more than you love life!".

Your second example about the two tourist killed as a gang initiation was appropos as well. The value on human life here has declined over the years. Partly due to moral decline and the other, I place on the lack of citizens ability to protect themselves or their families via firearms. These gang bangers are often better armed than even the police.

Posted by Delphi 2011-05-01 16:45|| 2011-05-01 16:45|| Front Page Top

00:00 Spimble tse Tung2768
23:59 Silentbrick - Lost Drill Bit Division - Halliburton
23:56 Water Modem
23:54 PBMcL
23:52 JonC
23:50 European Conservative
23:48 JosephMendiola
23:45 Old Patriot
23:45 Secret Master
23:43 Steven
23:37 RandomJD
23:37 European Conservative
23:37 swksvolFF
23:33 Gloria
23:32 Zebulon Thranter9685
23:29 European Conservative
23:27 European Conservative
23:26 JosephMendiola
23:24 Gloria
23:23 European Conservative
23:22 JosephMendiola
23:20 Besoeker
23:19 Zhang Fei
23:19 Frank G