Endangers troops what does deliberately killing Muslims for sport do?
US soldiers 'killed Afghans for sport' (http://www.smh.com.au/world/us-soldiers-killed-afghans-for-sport-20100919-15hpd.html)
Seems like the good ole boys just can't get enough killing?

There are rogue soldiers everywhere - remember the My Lai Massacre?

Seems Australia has there own "good ole boys" also:

Australian death squads in Afghanistan | Direct Action (http://directaction.org.au/issue12/australian_death_squads_in_afghanistan)

Solomon Islander shot dead by Australian-led intervention forces (http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/aug2010/solo-a16.shtml)

Fortunately the US soldiers involved have been charged with crimes.

Second Question: if burning the Quoran endangers troops what does deliberately killing Muslims for sport do?Hello, clete:

I'm sure it pisses them off.. But, not as much as attacking a Muslim country that DIDN'T attack us, and killing about 100,000 of 'em, give or take a few. And, THAT'S just for starters. I don't know if you remember Abu Ghraib, rendition, torture, military tribunals, Gitmo, drones and UNLIMITED detention. But, I'm sure the Muslims do.

Shooting a few stray Afghan's pales in comparison to the above.

excon

Clete answer the question yourself. Did you see "spontaneous" demonstrations/rioting over this news as you did over the depiction of Mohammed in cartoon form ?

Maybe it says something about what value "they" place on human life that the hearts and minds would be stirred up more by the burning of a Koran or a cartoon of Mohammed than murder .

And make no mistake .These soldiers are cold blooded murderers and will be treated as such.

They certainly won't be treated as hero's with their names on streets or on schools to celebrate their misdeeds as happens in Palestine.

Maybe the Muslim in the street will see the competing way that random murderers are treated and find some merit in the values we promote.

Maybe the Muslim in the street will see the competing way that random murderers are treated and find some merit in the values we promote.

I think that is a falorne hope Tom, they just add it to the pile of evidence that the West is at war with Islam and therefore a reason to continue their efforts. Killing a muslim seems to be something that is localised in their psyche whereas insulting their religion appears to be a personal insult to all muslims. But this case and the other cases of abuse like it suggest that the soldiers are not adapted to the stresses and have to find an outlet. Fighting an ellusive enemy adds a fresh demension

Don't over analyse .What you have here are pyschos who joined the military because they would be issued guns and targets. Add to that some drugs that people think should be legal and what you have is a toxic brew. These homicidal maniacs disguised in soldier uniforms deserve the death penalty for their actions if they are found guilty... not because it would sate the Muslim sensibilities... but because it's the just thing to do.

Don't over analyse .What you have here are pyschos who joined the military because they would be issued guns and targets. Add to that some drugs that people think should be legal and what you have is a toxic brew. These homicidal maniacs disguised in soldier uniforms deserve the death penalty for their actions if they are found guilty ....not because it would sate the Muslim sensibilities ....but because it's the just thing to do.

Now Tom I agree with the death penalty for murder but don't you think the responsibility rests with the military to identify and weed out these antisocial elements or do the US just accept anyone into the National Guard or army. If the military is composed of homicidal maniacs, and good ole boys who think they are on a shoot out, you aren't going to get the job done.

I think all of this comes down to gun psychology and the environment created by freely available weapons. It breeds the idea that you can do whatever you like because you have the right. The days when the ordinary US citizen needs to protect themselves against the threat of imminent invasion have long gone and so has the need to have weapons by your side

Does that analysis applies to the Aussie soldiers linked above by tkrussell ? Or would you say in that case it is isolated and doesn't represent the Aussie military ?

I think all of this comes down to gun psychology and the environment created by freely available weapons. It breeds the idea that you can do whatever you like becuase you have the right. The days when the ordinary US citizen needs to protect themselves against the threat of imminent invasion have long gone and so has the need to have weapons by your side

I cannot disagree more. The concept of the "sovereign citizen" is downplayed in the Commonwealth but is fundamental to the American system. As well say chainsaw availability means we prefer deforestation.

I do agree, however, about the viewpoint of individual murder being blase' versus religious insult being personal.

As far as our troops, these cretins' enlistment says a great deal more about the decadence of Western Society than any hemline.

Why go through the expense of trying, imprisonment, appeals etc of murderers or potential murderers, if the homeowner can settle it on site? Dead perp on the door sill is good enough for me.
With all due respect to the military (I was one), they take what they can get nowadays. I agree with you--military should have access to the best and the brightest--but the fact is-they don't! I predict some type of draft reinstated within 2 years.
Generals who go on worldwide video displaying their fear of the enemy we can certainly do without.

Homeowners no longer have to protect themselves and their families? Poppycock- not even deserving of a reply.

Does that analysis applies to the Aussie soldiers linked above by tkrussell ? Or would you say in that case it is isolated and doesn't represent the Aussie military ?

A big difference between being accused and being charged Tom. I don't doubt many troops are accused of targeting civilians, but whatever the unit, it is deplorable if command can't keep it together well enough to prevent unnecessary killing. I still think culture is an issue that has shown up a number of times. As to whether it represents the Aussie military, the number of incidents is a pointer, but there is a difference, our troops in theatre are professional soldiers, some who have had more than one tour

I'm sure it pisses them off.. But, not as much as attacking a Muslim country that DIDN'T attack us, and killing about 100,000 of 'em, give or take a few. And, THAT'S just for starters. I don't know if you remember Abu Ghraib, rendition, torture, military tribunals, Gitmo, drones and UNLIMITED detention. But, I'm sure the Muslims do.

Then this news is for you, not only do 58% of middle eastern Muslims oppose the Victory mosque, when asked if the U.S. was a "tolerant" or "bigoted" country, tolerance won out 63% to 37%.

Islam's Encounters With America (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703743504575493711825224290.html?m od=rss_opinion_main)

And my favorite quote from the column:


Again, from Elaph, here are the thoughts of an Arab writer, Ahmed Abu Mattar, who sees through the militancy of the religious radicals. He dismisses outright the anger over the "foolish and deranged" Pastor Terry Jones who threatened to burn copies of the Quran. "Where is the anger in the face of dictatorships which dominate the lives of Arabs from the cradle to the grave? Would the Prophet Muhammad look with favor on the prisons in our midst which outnumber the universities and hospitals? Would he take comfort in the rate of illiteracy among the Arabs which exceeds 60%? Would he be satisfied with the backwardness that renders us a burden on other nations?"

Doesn't sound quite as cut and dry as you make it, ex.

A big difference between being accused and being charged Tom.
For the moment ;that is all we are talking about in both incidences . Our troops deserve the same presumption of innocence as you are granting the Aussie troops.

Then this news is for you, not only do 58% of middle eastern Muslims oppose the Victory mosque, when asked if the U.S. was a "tolerant" or "bigoted" country, tolerance won out 63% to 37%.

.

Interesting take on some obscure statistics, all it indicates is that Muslims think anything goes which is the other side of tolerance

For the moment ;that is all we are talking about in both incidences . Our troops deserve the same presumption of innocence as you are granting the Aussie troops.

Tom, I didn't grant anyone the presumption of innocence. In one instance the military found they didn't have a case to answer and in the other it did. Things happen in a theatre of war that don't happen elsewhere most of the time, that someone got killed is true in both instances, but the question goes to motive and justification.

interesting take on some obscure statistics, all it indicates is that Muslims think anything goes which is the other side of tolerance

Clete, you are one confused and confusing dude.

Clete, you are one confused and confusing dude.

What? You don't like curved balls?

what? you don't like curved balls?

I don't mind curve balls, but that was more like a knuckler.