This is the first time I've posted a reply to one of the many VA and damn our vets are awesome threads. The reason is I am not one of those who think that our troops are awesome. I think our troops are psychopaths and bloodthirsty sadists.
Those troops who were already in when 9-11 happened I can offer some sympathy for. However, those who enlisted after that time, not so much. Especially those who enlisted after 2005. They knew the war was illegal, everyone did, and they joined anyway. We can talk about the poor economic opportunities that existed. We can talk about the pathetic job market. We can talk about those who had delusions of a college fund. What we can't do is ignore that by 2005, everyone knew that Bush Co. was a liar and that all the excuses were at best lame. That was nearly a decade ago now.
Anyone who joined since 2005 hasn't joined to protect the nation, we needed no protection from Iraq. They aren't defending the weak and doing the right thing. Talk to them, not family members, the troops you see downtown. They'll talk if you're willing to listen. Listen to the stories of the atrocities, listen to the stories of the lies, and then ask them why they are still in. They never have a good reason, the reason you're left with is simple. They wanted to go out and kill bad people. They forgot that bad people if that's what they are, can kill you too.
I've mentioned the atrocities above. Every single veteran I've talked to, and that is well over two hundred here outside of Fort Stewart, has been willing to talk about at least one atrocity or war crime with minimal prompting. I tell them that a friend who was in felt bad about X, and I can only imagine how they felt. They admit that something like X happens, but you do what you have to.
In case you're wondering, X is planting weapons on people to make sure they look like combatants when the officers show up. Apparently it's easier to lie about the situation than defend yourself against murder charges.
Yes, everyone knows it's going on, and nobody cares, and nobody does a damned thing about it. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/07/14/1223499/-Prince-Harry-witnessed-a-war-crime-in-Afghanistan#
The investigation of Soldiers and war crimes is even more a paperwork effort than the investigation of police brutality.
So I honestly am not all that concerned that the Veterans are getting benefits similar to the kind of help that the survivors of their rampage got. Nobody cared about the Afghan Civilians, and nobody cared about those wounded and maimed in Iraq. Nobody shows up to give the children who are maimed physical therapy. We lie to pretend that nothing of the sort happened. Well the atrocities happened. They are still happening, and I'm not the least bit upset that those who performed the atrocities are now ignored by the same Government that ignores the atrocities in the first place. Perhaps if all the psychopaths who wanted to join up and do these kinds of things are maimed, the world will be a better place.
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