Rogue Soldier kills Afghan civilians

Oberon · 03-11-12, 08:49 AM

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17330205

First thoughts?

Bugger.

Second thoughts?

My Lai Mk II

This will not do much for tensions in Afghanistan after the Qu'ran burning incident.

Hottentot · 03-11-12, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oberon

First thoughts?

Bugger.

Mine: a perfectly good head on his shoulders and he didn't manage to hit it. Provided that this goes like the press so far has covered it.

Torplexed · 03-11-12, 09:28 AM

This incident has been a double tragedy. Obviously, the deaths of innocents, but also the mental breakdown of a soldier. I wouldn't call it a "My Lai" as it was a lone wolf crazy following his own deranged orders, but it may not matter.

After the urinating incident, and the Koran burning incident we are in position where profuse (and desperate sounding) apologies from afar don't cut it anymore...if they ever did.

Schroeder · 03-11-12, 10:04 AM

Oh boy, here we'll go again....

Don't hands out weapons to mentally unstable people.

Dowly · 03-11-12, 10:09 AM

Skybird · 03-11-12, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schroeder

Oh boy, here we'll go again....

Don't hands out weapons to mentally unstable people.

Everybody has his breaking point. EVERYBODY. For some it is more upwards on the scale, for others it is somewhere lower. Expose any man long enough to war, and he finds his sooner or later.

This guy just found his.

Onkel Neal · 03-11-12, 11:24 AM

Turn him over to the Afghan legal system.

Gargamel · 03-11-12, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

Turn him over to the Afghan legal system.

Normally, I'd say let the military courts handle this. But no this time. This needs to be handled by the locals for multiple reasons. Their closure and international relations just to name a couple.

Torplexed · 03-11-12, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gargamel

Normally, I'd say let the military courts handle this. But no this time. This needs to be handled by the locals for multiple reasons. Their closure and international relations just to name a couple.

They simply can't do it. Recruiting would likely plummet like a rock if we started the precedent of handing our wayward soldiers over to local justice, no matter the crime.

Onkel Neal · 03-11-12, 11:36 AM

Possibly true, we should try it and see.

Jimbuna · 03-11-12, 12:47 PM

I'm beginning to think relations are so low they'll never recover now.

Skybird · 03-11-12, 12:49 PM

There is no clear info at this time. Was this a monkey trying to have "fun", a retarded bastard? Then hand him over to the locals. But early reports said he had a nervous breakdown, and his psyche was/is instabile. It is a reasonable guess to assume that this may be the results form mhaving seen too much, havingm lived in war conditions, stress, and having fear for too long. In this case, do not hand him over, but practice the military'S laws on him.

The negative consequences in Afghanistan should not be pointed out that much. Relations are already that bad, in cannot get any worse, I would say.

u crank · 03-11-12, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbuna

I'm beginning to think relations are so low they'll never recover now.

Sad but probably true. It's a no win situation and hard to imagine any good outcome. To bad.

Sailor Steve · 03-11-12, 01:04 PM

I was agreeing with Neal's comment until I read Skybird's comment. What is the correct course of action in a case like this? I have no idea.

Then I read u-crank's comment, and I'm reminded of Walt Kelly's Pogo, and his twist on a famous military statement: "We have met the enemy, and he is us."

STEED · 03-11-12, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbuna

I'm beginning to think relations are so low they'll never recover now.

Best thing get out fast.

03-11-12, 08:49 AM	#1
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	Rogue Soldier kills Afghan civilians http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17330205 First thoughts? Bugger. Second thoughts? My Lai Mk II This will not do much for tensions in Afghanistan after the Qu'ran burning incident.

03-11-12, 10:04 AM	#4
Schroeder Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Banana Republic of Germany Posts: 6,170 Downloads: 62 Uploads: 0	Oh boy, here we'll go again.... Don't hands out weapons to mentally unstable people. __________________ Putting Germ back into Germany.

03-11-12, 12:47 PM	#11
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,519 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	I'm beginning to think relations are so low they'll never recover now. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

03-11-12, 12:49 PM	#12
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,615 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	There is no clear info at this time. Was this a monkey trying to have "fun", a retarded bastard? Then hand him over to the locals. But early reports said he had a nervous breakdown, and his psyche was/is instabile. It is a reasonable guess to assume that this may be the results form mhaving seen too much, havingm lived in war conditions, stress, and having fear for too long. In this case, do not hand him over, but practice the military'S laws on him. The negative consequences in Afghanistan should not be pointed out that much. Relations are already that bad, in cannot get any worse, I would say. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

03-11-12, 01:04 PM	#14
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	I was agreeing with Neal's comment until I read Skybird's comment. What is the correct course of action in a case like this? I have no idea. Then I read u-crank's comment, and I'm reminded of Walt Kelly's Pogo, and his twist on a famous military statement: "We have met the enemy, and he is us." __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

03-11-12, 09:28 AM	#3
Torplexed Let's Sink Sumptin' ! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5,823 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	This incident has been a double tragedy. Obviously, the deaths of innocents, but also the mental breakdown of a soldier. I wouldn't call it a "My Lai" as it was a lone wolf crazy following his own deranged orders, but it may not matter. After the urinating incident, and the Koran burning incident we are in position where profuse (and desperate sounding) apologies from afar don't cut it anymore...if they ever did.

03-11-12, 10:09 AM	#5
Dowly Lucky Jack Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25,052 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0

03-11-12, 11:24 AM	#7
Onkel Neal Born to Run Silent Join Date: Jan 1997 Location: Cougar Trap, Texas Posts: 21,385 Downloads: 541 Uploads: 224	Turn him over to the Afghan legal system.

03-11-12, 11:36 AM	#10
Onkel Neal Born to Run Silent Join Date: Jan 1997 Location: Cougar Trap, Texas Posts: 21,385 Downloads: 541 Uploads: 224	Possibly true, we should try it and see.