Posted on 02/02/2015 4:46:55 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Despite what some people think, hero is not a synonym for competent government-hired killer.
If Clint Eastwood's record-breaking movie, American Sniper, launches a frank public conversation about war and heroism, the great director will have performed a badly needed service for the country and the world.
This is neither a movie review nor a review of the late Chris Kyle's autobiographical book on which the movie is based. My interest is in the popular evaluation of Kyle, America's most prolific sniper, a title he earned through four tours in Iraq.
Let's recall some facts, which perhaps Eastwood thought were too obvious to need mention: Kyle was part of an invasion force: Americans went to Iraq. Iraq did not invade America or attack Americans. Dictator Saddam Hussein never even threatened to attack Americans. Contrary to what the George W. Bush administration suggested, Iraq had nothing to do with the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Before Americans invaded Iraq, al-Qaeda was not there. Nor was it in Syria, Yemen, and Libya.
The only reason Kyle went to Iraq was that Bush/Cheney & Co. launched a war of aggression against the Iraqi people. Wars of aggression, let's remember, are illegal under international law. Nazis were executed at Nuremberg for waging wars of aggression. With this perspective, we can ask if Kyle was a hero.
Defenders of Kyle and the Bush foreign policy will say, "Of course, he was a hero. He saved American lives."
What American lives? The lives of American military personnel who invaded other people's country, one that was no threat to them or their fellow Americans back home. If an invader kills someone who is trying to resist the invasion, that does not count as heroic self-defense. The invader is the aggressor. The "invadee" is the defender. If anyone's a hero, it's the latter.
In his book Kyle wrote he was fighting "savage, despicable evil" — and having "fun" doing it. Why did he think that about the Iraqis? Because Iraqi men — and women; his first kill was a woman — resisted the invasion and occupation he took part in.
That makes no sense. As I've established, resisting an invasion and occupation — yes, even when Arabs are resisting Americans — is simply not evil. If America had been invaded by Iraq (an Iraq with a powerful military, that is) would Iraqi snipers picking off American resisters be considered heroes by all those people who idolize Kyle? I don't think so, and I don't believe Americans would think so either. Rather, American resisters would be the heroes.
Eastwood's movie also features an Iraqi sniper. Why isn't he regarded as a hero for resisting an invasion of his homeland, like the Americans in my hypothetical example? (Eastwood should make a movie about the invasion from the Iraqis' point of view, just as he made a movie about Iwo Jima from the Japanese point of view to go with his earlier movie from the American side.)
No matter how often Kyle and his admirers referred to Iraqis as "the enemy," the basic facts did not change. They were "the enemy" — that is, they meant to do harm to Americans — only because American forces waged an unprovoked war against them. Kyle, like other Americans, never had to fear that an Iraqi sniper would kill him at home in the United States. He made the Iraqis his enemy by entering their country uninvited, armed with a sniper's rifle. No Iraqi asked to be killed by Kyle, but it sure looks as though Kyle was asking to be killed by an Iraqi. (Instead, another American vet did the job.)
Of course, Kyle's admirers would disagree with this analysis. Jeanine Pirro, a Fox News commentator, said, "Chris Kyle was clear as to who the enemy was. They were the ones his government sent him to kill."
Appalling! Kyle was a hero because he eagerly and expertly killed whomever the government told him to kill? Conservatives, supposed advocates of limited government, sure have an odd notion of heroism.
Excuse me, but I have trouble seeing an essential difference between what Kyle did in Iraq and what Adam Lanza did at Sandy Hook Elementary School. It certainly was not heroism.
libtard tripe..... how quickly they seem to foget there was a bipartisam support for iraq.... UNLIKE OBAMA’S TREASONOUS ACTIONS in libya, syria, ukraine and gitmo....
Supporting groups we are at WAR WITH THE USA.... THE WAR ON TERROR..
al queda, isis, taliban.... ALL FINANCIALLY SUPPORTED BY OBMA THRU SECRET LAUNDERING OF FUNDS VIA QATAR, WEAPONS VIA TURKEY AND OUT RIGHT GIVEAWAYS RELATED TO RETRIEVEING A TRAITOR AND RELASES FROM BITMO...recently he admitted to causing/supporting the civil war in the ukraine...
HE SHOULD BE IMPEACHED AND TRIED FOR TREASON..... how much blood he has on his hands....
That's exactly what I have advocated for years for SHTF time here. Learn who will be GIVING THE ORDERS, where they live and work, their travel and recreation habits and level of protection. When they force the rebellion, they must have "accidents" or simply disappear. Cut off the head and the snake will die.
It was actually media scum that did this. Classic straw-man argument.
Not to mention seventeen U.N. resolutions.
Interesting question. Why isn't the sniper who sets up to kill anyone who tries to stop his boss (the man drilling a hole in a child's head to punish the child's father) just as much a hero as the man risking his life to protect the innocent child? Only a liberal would ask that question.
atheists
libertarian
political writer
Jews Left-libertarian anarchists
Jewish anti-Zionism
Jewish atheists
LEFT WING LIBTARD.......
WHAT I WOULD CALL THE COMPLETE BAG OF LEFT WING EXCREMENT
Madbury’s books on economics and government teach this along with other issues about libertarian econ. Many people use these books to teach their children those two highschool subjects.
Maybury’s books on economics and government teach this along with other issues about libertarian econ. Many people use these books to teach their children those two highschool subjects.
;-)
Look closely at V for Vendetta. Most people cannot see who changed things.
A great many libertarians are just liberals.
They hate just as much.
AWARDS AND CITATIONS . Silver Star See more recipients of this award Awarded for actions during the Global War on Terror The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Special Warfare Operator First Class Christopher S. Kyle, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as Lead Sniper while assigned to Naval Special Warfare Task Unit-RAMADI in direct support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM from 24 April to 27 August 2006. Petty Officer Kyle's heroic actions, professionalism and incredible sniper skills had tremendous impact in the success of U.S. and Iraqi Forces in routing the insurgency and seizing key areas of the City of Ar Ramadi, the epicenter of Al Qaeda and insurgent activity in Iraq. During 32 sniper overwatch missions, he personally accounted for 91 confirmed enemy fighters killed and dozens more probably killed or wounded. Petty Officer Kyle's efforts were integral to the success of four U.S. Army and Marine Corps Battalion Task Force operations, establishing U.S. and Iraqi Army combat outposts in previously insurgent-held areas. His engagements directly prevented casualties to U.S. and Iraqi Forces on more than 30 occasions, including enemy rocket-propelled grenade and mortar teams eliminated, five enemy snipers with scoped weapons eliminated, and dozens of insurgent fighters destroyed while actively engaging U.S. and Iraqi forces with small arms. By his bold leadership, courageous actions, and total dedication to duty, Petty Officer Kyle reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. Action Date: April 24 - August 27, 2006 Service: Navy Rank: Special Warfare Operator First Class Division: Naval Special Warfare Task - Ramadi
Looking at today's White House, I worry about the future this electorate will create.
And there was a bipartisan YES vote in Congress......
The late Marion Barry (Washington DC mayor and Ward 8 councilman) was a fine example of democracy in action; a perfect representative of his constituency.
I think one reason we need the NSA surveillance of all communications which has clearly been ramped up after 9/11 by Bush and Obama based on what you are saying is that we can’t “profile” terrorism suspects so the government goes for communications surveillance challenging the Fourth Amendment rights of all Americans as its alternative.
That's from UN Resolution 1441, isn't it?
Yup. UN Resolution 1441. Because Saddam was in violation of the treaty that kept us from stomping Iraq after we liberated Kuwait.
Not one American was killed in Kurdistan. I believe the Kurds are the largest nationality without a State. It used to be the Ukrainians, now under attack.
Thanks for the pics,
I’d say he’s emulating one of his iconic heroes...
Individuals like this make me wish there were a CWII...
This country needs an enema.
I’m a libertarian and I oppose open borders, amnesty, gay marriage, polygamy and all unconstitutional actions of government like drug and prostitution laws, subsidies of all kinds and 99% of business regulations. Scum, okay.
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