Iraq Vet on What He Wishes He Had Not Done

[davidswanson]

Run time: 24:34 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5SXQr5fLzQ   Posted on YouTube: March 18, 2011 By YouTube Member: davidcnswanson Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: March 18, 2011 By DU Member: davidswanson Views on DU: 915

 

[pacalo]

1. Bookmarking for later. Thank you.

[Atypical Liberal]

2. Disgusting, but not surprising.

History is replete with examples of people engaging in atrocities while believing they were doing something noble. Hell, look at the Crusades.

Frankly, I'm a little skeptical of the "everyone else did the bad stuff but I didn't because I knew better" line. But then, I wouldn't expect someone to get up in front of a group of people on tape and say, "Yup, I helped destroy the lives of innocent people in an unjust invasion."

As I posted earlier today, this is one of the problems with having a volunteer army. The people who sign up for this stuff are, by and large, true believers in the cause. There are few skeptics, few people who question the wisdom of what they are being told to do. They are in it either as a way out of poverty, or they believe in the cause.

[pasto76]

6. Are you a veteran?? Nothing could be further from the truth

"the people" huh.

Just as freeper types who "know" shit shouldnt try and project their opinions on us, neither should you.

I dont know a single "true believer" from my army days - which enveloped much of this iraq war.

The STRENGTH of this volunteer army is that we all know, even the most dumb of us, what we are signing up for. And it gives civilians like yourself a way to say "no thanks".

Every troop knows that their fates blow on the winds of politics and the petty personal baggage of the extreme elite and powerful. I signed up to serve our country. I was hoping that if I was ever sent to war, it would be for something good.

If it wasnt for "the people who sign up for this stuff" you would be living a VERY different lifestyle right now.

Having just re-read your post, your head is full of the DUMBEST bullshit I have ever seen on DU. Troops are not, as you suggest, one dimensional.

I grew up in whitebread suburbia. Never wanted for a thing. My single presence in this Army blows your opinion right out of the water.

SGT P

[Leonardo Da Biker]

3. David,

Why did you choose to join the marines? Coming out of high school, you could have gone anywhere and done anything.
Why the marines?

[AnneD]

4. When you live in a small town...

Your family is suffering from a poor economy and you don't want to burden them, and your grades were ok but not scholarship material, the military seems a good choice. You may not be aware of other options. The military has been a historical means of raising yourself up.

[peace13]

7. He says that he joined for selfish motives.

He wanted all that comes with being a Marine. As you say, coming out of high school. He was a young man who got caught up and couldn't turn back for fear of embarrassing himself and his family. Makes sense if you are 19...believe me. The mission was wrong, set up by war mongers. If you want call out someone look toward Shooter and * where the thrill of the kill and the money to be made drove us all to moral bankruptcy!

[pasto76]

5. Yikes! I applaud bringing stuff to light, But bro, you sure the statutes of limitations are up?

We were all put in the hard spot. I wish he would be more vague. "I was an accomplice" is a statement of pure honor and integrity. I worry what manner of trouble he could get into.