Following the Haditha murders, US commanders have recognised deficiencies in the training of their soldiers, and have announced extra training. This will focus on the “legal, moral and ethical standards on the battlefield”, according to Gen Peter Chiarelli, operational commander in Iraq. Interesting comments in the same article about Australian soldiers disbelief of the willingness of US forces to shoot first, ask questions later.
The month long training will emphasise “professional military values and the importance of disciplined, professional conduct in combat”. In other words, soldiers are being taught how to be professional soldiers, and fight in a civilised manner (at least in as civilised a manner as war can be fought) after they’ve been in the combat zone already. Seems arse-about to me!
I wonder how much of the attitudes and behaviour of some elements of the US forces in Iraq is driven by the crazy American gun culture, and also comes from a complete lack of respect for the Iraqi civilian population. Beats me every time how a civilised country can have so many people stupid enough to believe they have some god given right to arm themselves, and that this is constitutionally protected forever. And a gun lobby so powerful that few politicians in the US are willing to take it on. Does anyone ever stop to think that all the stuff about right to bear arms and a well regulated militia may have been relevant in the context of a new and growing nation in the 1700′s, but is completely out of touch with today’s realities?
Technorati Tags: Iraq, Haditha, military training, gun culture, Second Amendment, right to bear arms
It is pretty amazing that the Australian Soldiers in the south of Iraq have not fired in anger in past two years. Maybe if the whole country was occupied by Australians, Iraq would not be such a mess.
It is pretty amazing that the Australian Soldiers in the south of Iraq have not fired in anger in past two years. Maybe if the whole country was occupied by Australians, Iraq would not be such a mess.
Perhaps if the Australians were occupying the whole country, there’d be more dead Australians. Lucky for them that they’re not the huge daily targets that the Americans are.American Marines are blown up everyday.
I pray that they are not guilty of what they are being accused of. Other Marines have been tried and found not guilty of similar things once the facts were presented. We don’t know the facts yet.
Perhaps you should hold your fire until all the facts are known.