SKS Assault Rifle
- Thread starter Sidewindr
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Errr... I have to ask this:
Have any of you fellows seen someone killed, up close, in real life? Or actually done it yourself?
My understanding is that those who have are sickened by it, and become much less keen on warfare. Unless they're genuine psychopaths, incapable of empathy.
I'm prepared to be contradicted.
Have any of you fellows seen someone killed, up close, in real life? Or actually done it yourself?
My understanding is that those who have are sickened by it, and become much less keen on warfare. Unless they're genuine psychopaths, incapable of empathy.
I'm prepared to be contradicted.
Having been in the Navy, I was not right in the enemies face but that is the nature of warfare nowadays. With that said, you know what the potentiality is if you are an attack pilot or controller for a tomahawk cruise missile, the same result as if you were a sniper or infantry soldier but on a grander scale. You don't have to see it to be affected by it and I don't necessarily agree with the more you see the acts of war you are less keen on it, what about career soldiers? I have some buddies who have been on the ground in battle and you would be surprised at their demeanors. I would liken the mental state to a doctor who has to perform surgery on someone who was just hit by a bus, and then go home and have dinner with his wife and kids, there has to be a switch going on and off in the head. It does take a toll on some people but for some it is just another day at the office and it has to be that way. I also have buddies who are "professional soldiers", you would probably call them mercenaries, and they lead very productive and civil lives. They are professionals at what they do just like an orthopedic surgeon. Some of us would not want to see what a surgeon sees and yet many voluntarily do this kind of work day in and day out and it doesn't make them to want to do less surgeries. I guess it is just the nature of the business. But your point is taken. I think it is relative to the individual involved. I think that those who are affected by it obviously will not be making a career of it. I don't agree with you though about people being less keen on war by seeing it more.
Point taken, but the comparison wasn't to support or question taking lives or not but rather the mind set of the practitioners involved in warfare.
Besides haven't you heard of Dr. Kevorkian? And what about other medical professionals assisting people in dying in countries where it is legal? I guess it is relative to the culture. That makes for interesting discussion though.
True. And would the military people here care to share their views on the Iraq war, occupation of Afghanistan, etc. It would be interesting to hear.
Yes you are correct, but all I have to say is, when it has boiled down to enemy or me being home with my wife and daughter, I am home with them. If I didn't do what I was trained for, they would kill me just the same. Am I extremely proud of some of the things I have seen and done, no not necessarily, but I knew the possibilities of things when I signed that contract to Uncle Sam.
It's all justified in my opinion. The only reason there is a huge debate is because there isn't a country that exists called Al Queda or [SIZE=-1]Abu Sayyaf and the like. If there were, we would bomb those countries and occupy them and it would be easier to point the finger at someone. And you can make the case as to what is really a WMD (weapon of mass destruction).There are however countries that have no border restrictions for terrorists which are enemies to the United States and Britain. You fail to remember that attack in Britain not to long ago( I only say this because you are within Britain's borders). The fact is, this age of war involves fighting against a vast network of nomad terrorists or freedom fighters(depending on your view) with no home but all have a commonality in doctrine. Afghanistan is totally justified, the Taliban regime as I am sure you know have direct ties with Bin Laden from their freedom fighter days against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. Of course we were once friends with the Taliban but then they decided to put their gun sights on us.[/SIZE] I am also under the school of thought that believes war is not strictly for political or military gain but also economic gain. As globalization continues at the pace it is at, you will see more wars for economic reasons. You can always get an idea of where interests lie by where the military is(I will let you read between the lines.) If Hugo Chavez doesn't start piping down don't be surprised to see the overthrow of his government whether by the US or someone else. Oil is a hot commodity, he who controls it has power, and oil powers the military machine and helps drive the international financial markets. It's no surprise though. All major government officials are involved by default in the military-industrial complex. I will say that wars are not always fought for the right reasons from a public standpoint, then again there is always information asymmetry and we the people don't always have the facts. My comments are too long for this forum to go further.
But I would like to hear your view on the British occupation of northern Ireland.
That attack was carried out by British citizens, the guys who done it were born and bred in the UK, and no one has proved they've had contact with the talibans or bin laden or any of these terrorist groups.
Bin Laden was a saudi, and so is his entire multi-millionaire family. None of them are Afghans, and none of them have any ties with Afghanistan other than the fact that there are al qaida members who are also taliban. So why didn't the USA attack Saudi Arabia, that would have made most sense of all, Saudi Arabia is the biggest export of these lunatic wahabis, yet they're best buddies with the USA.
See that's what annoys not just me, but pretty much people all over the world. Its clear there are a lot of proud americans here, and I'm not against american people or in fact the political system itself which I can say is far more democratic than what we have here in the UK, but this sort of attitude of perceiving war as an economic necessity is what drives most people mad, and creates groups like al qaida. No one outside the US could give a fuck about what america wants and needs, the same way you dont really give a second though when dropping a bomb over afghanistan or iraq (or in the persian gulf, korea and vietnam). Its sad the world works this way, that innocent people have to die for the sake of a countrys economic needs. You may brush that aside, but it really is a serious matter. For me, I dont distinguish between the people you get in Iraq who take arms and those who dont, not because I support their stance against the troops, but because you cant blame them. No one likes to have their country occupied, Im sure you can understand how pissed off even the bush haters would be if someone came in and assassinated Bush. Add to that the intense nationalism of most Arabs in general (I'm persian and I know how nationalistic these fuckers can get in bashing Iran) and you've got a recipe for disaster.
Conclusion: fuck communism I like capitalism too much but then again I dont know what to think...
fuck it, its all bullshit. And to sort that out, all they need to do is hold a referendum and do what the majority want, no excuses.
Damn...living in america seems to be very dangerous.I have never needed a gun yet,except the one in my pants...
Haha.
To tell you the truth, I only carry a gun in the truck because I find myself off-road a good deal. Especially when I'm hiking, camping, fishing, etc. I'm not even much of a hunter. But when you're out of cell phone range in the middle of nowhere a handgun and shotgun are better to have than not have.
Whether they like it or not is a different matter, the fact is that historically, politically and geographically they're part of the UK. I'm not trying to suggest there isn't friction there.
To compare this with any occupation, or even to mention it in the same breath as the 'invasion' of Iraq is nonsensical, and that's the point I'm trying to make.
Yeah,maybe.
Don´t get me wrong: I think it might be kinda fun to shot a gun or a rifle on a range or something. But I think there is no sense in keeping a gun next to your bed because "you got to protect your family". I guess the chance that your child will shot itself with this gun is higher then somebody actually breaking into your house and threaten your family. I guess the reason for so many gun owners in the US is the same as the reason why everybody over there was so happy about losing civil rights by the patriot act. Don´t hate me -just my opinion. I do my best to fit into that left wing european cliche.:yin-yang:
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