I, and every Sailor I've talked to over tha past days since this story broke, are absolutely DISGUSTED by the conduct of those yahoos that were supposed to guard those prisoners. It has shamed us all, and has brought great disgrace upon those of us who wear our uniforms with pride, and attempt at all times to carry ourselves with dignity.
I does not matter WHAT Saddam's toadies did before, or what the enemy does to us. You do NOT justify vile behavior in our troops by pointing to that of others. WE are the ones who are SUPPOSED to be different...the honorable ones, the strong who nonetheless use our strength to protect.
You all know me as a STRONG supporter of the Terror War, and those who continue to fight it. I know the same about you. Please listen to me on this. NO GOOD comes from trying to excuse or explain away what these vermin did. The damage they have done to our morale and standing with the American people is incalculable. When someone in a uniform does something rotten, then we ALL are tarred with that brush.
Another point: THIS WAS TORTURE. Some of the exact same things were done TO ME when I attended the Navy's Survival, Escape, Resistance, and Evasion scool, where we were taught through VERY rough experience that torture can be both MENTAL and PHYSICAL. Both are equally damaging and brutal. All the more so here, as there was absolutely no point to it, other than some yahoos getting their jollies.
These prisoners had no time-critical intel to impart. There weren't even any reports suggesting that they were being unruly. If they were carrying important intel, they would have been interrogated with drugs, far from cameras or laughing jerks in some perverse peanut gallery. If unruly, they would have been isolated. This was nothing more than some brutal, vicious REMFs getting their rocks off, while their superiors looked the other way. Christ, their top sarge was a prison guard in civilian life! He knew fully well that what they did was wrong.
You can say that the media is blowing this way out of proportion. So what? That's what they do, and it is only all the more reason that these jerks were stupid...they gave the Leftist media exactly what it wanted. Like it or not, the press has been on a hunt for another Me Lai since the start of the war. How stupid do you have to be then to do this, take pictures of it, or to ignore it if you are in command? Now the Left has what they want, and those idiots gave it to them on a silver platter.
Fraternity pranks? I was in a fraternity, and no such pranks were EVER played on ANY person in it. If they had been, I would have quit on the spot. Those prisoners, however, could not, nor could they go to a college administration with complaints about abuse, which can happen to ANY fraternity that doesn't watch its ass.
Anyone who thinks that this "wasn't so bad" is invited to spend two weeks in SERE school, and tell me again at that time.
The bottom line here is that anyone who puts on a uniform of the United States Armed Forces has a charge to keep. We are ALL taught about the Geneva Convention and the UCMJ regarding not only our own conduct if taken prisoner, but the treatment of others. We are also charged with conducting ourselves at all times in a dignified, honorable manner, and to not bring disgrace upon our Brothers or our Country. The morons who did these acts failed, in every respec, as did their commanders.
Yes, our enemies often act like savages. No, they do not recognize Geneva. However, as Americans, we are held to a much higher standard, both by the world AND the Americans we protect, as we should be. How many Americans now will look at EVERY returning Soldier as some ticking time bomb? How many will wonder, just a bit...
You guys have been my FRiends now for over three years. I've shared a great deal with you, and I hope I've earned your trust. If I have at all, please, trust me on this: Keep supporting the troops as you do. But DO NOT assume that those fools involved in this disgrace are worthy of that same support or respect that you shower us (thankfully) with. To condemn acts of barbarity is NOT to withdraw all support; it is in fact strengthening it for those who truly deserve it...those Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines who do their difficult and dangerous jobs with Honor, Courage, and Commitment, and who conduct themselves with the highest standards of decency in the defense of Liberty, as befits an American Fighting Man.
There is much sadness and shame in the ranks today. The hatred we feel for these animals is palpable for what they have done to us. We don't blame the press, or even the Liberals for this one. We blame those who DID IT, and we also realize that all of us will have to carry a portion of the shame, possibly for a long time to come.
Thak you all once again.
Your complete post Long Cut is well put, well said. But let me inform you and please relay this to all your fellow military comrades, there is no need for you or any of the others to be ashamed. Think of and always remember all the good that you guys and girls have done.
The last paragraph of your post is the most sensible and true statement that I have heard since this mess has been in the media. We often times missed the truth or just refuse to accept the truth because we are too busy pointing fingers.
Again thank you for your service and please pass it on to others that the American people stand behind you guys 100%. Some of us our mature enough and understanding enough to know that there are some bad apples in just about every bunch.
I think the world of all of you guys and it's a shame that a few miscreants can cast such a bad light on so many who don't deserve it. (The media has been helpful in that as well.)
Stay safe and keep fighting the good fight!