“As for everyone else, unless you have been shot at by the Taliban, shut your mouth, war is hell.” Thanks for the words of wisdom, Allen West. For those of you in a deeper cave than Bin Laden was, Allen West is an ex-Army Lieutenant colonel who insists that the video captured of four U.S. Marines urinating on Taliban corpses is justifiable. Really?
Sorry but, what world are we living in that justifies defacing a corpse and calling it glory? I completely understand that civilians cannot fathom the nature of war and shouldn’t “judge” our soldiers’ actions. However, let’s stop being overly righteous and think about the obvious and inevitable repercussions WE could face because of their immature, hateful actions.
War is already devastating — on both ends. It’s not fair or logical to say otherwise. Therefore, why would those Marines add even more fuel to an already raging fire? Think about it, they were caught on video urinating on Taliban corpses for the entire world to see — even the enemy. What does this mean for Americans? Those irreversible actions put our country, our soldiers and our reputation in danger. Was it worth it?
You know, the argument has been made that the media is to blame for broadcasting the video. I took that viewpoint before I actually sat down and thought hard about crucifying them for making us, Americans, look like savages. I have come to the conclusion that no, the media was not wrong for showing us what happened. Because it did happen. The point of good journalism is to tell the truth without personal bias and that is what they did, even though it pissed many people off.
They showcased stupidity at its finest, even though it was at our expense. It is no fault of anyone but those Marines and their actions are inexcusable and it isn’t right for them to make their comrades, the U.S. Marines and America, look like imbeciles just because they were upset.
Acting foolish because we’re angry just leaves us looking like fools. Plain and simple. We need to be bigger than that, smarter. Which is why I am so disappointed in those four Marines and the backlash the U.S. armed forces will receive both at home and abroad for it.
No, I don’t know the horrors of war or what soldiers go through — because I’m not a Marine and I wasn’t there. But, I am an American who is worried about our soldiers overseas who will face the consequences of those Marines’ actions from enemy forces.
Be smart, not hateful and don’t make war uglier than it already is.
