Quote:
Originally Posted by Rockstar
I view Abu Grahib as a serious screw up, absolutely uncalled for, no reason for it, a total breakdown of good order and discipline. However Chief Gallagher case is IMO something different. He was charged and found not guilty of war crimes. But it appears the pictures he took was looked upon by some as something unbecoming of a trained killer of his fellow man, a result of combat action. We expect him to do our dirty work and sent him overseas to a foreign land to kill another. He did what some here would outright refuse or soil themselves if confronted. He did what we asked of him but he is not some kind of robot. There will be internal conflicts, psychological damage and mental derailment. If not helped he will all on his own find a way to deal with the things he's done. IMO Trophy photos was one of those ways maybe an attempt to dehumanize those we expected him to kill by his own hand. Easy for some to judge but I think he deserves at least an ounce of respect and a ton of professional help from trained professionals and his peers. Not jail time nor condemnation for doing something we ourselves are afraid to do.
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Difficult to judge from a distance, but pretty much of what you say was on my mind as well (I was psychologist, mind you). However, I came to different conclusions than you, and I also think here regarding the function of a precedence. Trophy shots with enemy cadavers maybe are explainable on a psychological (though derranged) or deep-rooting archaic level, but there is also the need to maintain and hold up the cool professional level of discipline and executing military tasks that by behaviour like this get eroded. If this example becomes common, than determination in the military effort easily will turn into outright cruelty as a self-purpose, or worse: cruelty as a duty and goal to strive for.