These five marines

[ewerk 30677]

So its "go and put your life on the line, and if you fuck up for any reason you'll be judged by those who wouldnt dream of doing what you volunteer for, and then jailed".If you ask me thats as morally wrong as leaving someone to die whos just attacked you, whilst you are out defending the rights of those who are doing the judging. Lifes not fair, and it wasnt fair for the insurgent either. But I know who's side am on.

 

It's a court martial so the people judging him will be officers, they won't be civilians with zero experience of life in a war zone, they'll understand the reality of the situation.

 

And there's fucking up and then there's clear breaches of the rules of engagement. You seem to think that all soldiers should be beyond reproach. I'm saying that is morally wrong and in reality is completely fucked up.

[PaddockLad 17290]

It's a court martial so the people judging him will be officers, they won't be civilians with zero experience of life in a war zone, they'll understand the reality of the situation.

 

And there's fucking up and then there's clear breaches of the rules of engagement. You seem to think that all soldiers should be beyond reproach. I'm saying that is morally wrong and in reality is completely fucked up.

 

Aye, until you've walked a mile in their boots...

 

In reality it is the politicians who sent them there who are ultimately hanging these lads out to dry, thats what I was getting at. And people expressing a very black and white opinion on them in a free world made possible by their courage. As I said, its the old "a few good men" argument.We can say they should be prosecuted because of their actions, whether you agree with them or not. I think its a very, very grey moral area.

[Happy Face 29]

A free uk, not a free world. Since we invaded Afghanistan all citizens are game for hunting.

[ewerk 30677]

Aye, until you've walked a mile in their boots...

 

In reality it is the politicians who sent them there who are ultimately hanging these lads out to dry, thats what I was getting at. And people expressing a very black and white opinion on them in a free world made possible by their courage. As I said, its the old "a few good men" argument.We can say they should be prosecuted because of their actions, whether you agree with them or not. I think its a very, very grey moral area.

 

All of which is why I'm happy to let the Court Martial decide whether they're guilty of any crimes.

[Toonpack 9478]

Yey, pillaging and rape all around. No thanks.

 

I would rather our troops were deployed to Africa to prevent women having their lips cut off

 

I work with a Registrar who has a house in Baghdad. He reckons Iraq is ten times a worse place to live now than when Saddam was in charge. He has to use mirrors to check under his car each morning when hes back home. The nutters have free reign now

 

I would prefer our troops to be deployed no-fucking-where outside of the UK unless our citizens are under threat.

 

As for Iraq, I firmly believe there are places on the planet where nothing but an "evil despot" can keep a lid on it, western values do not sit well in tribal/ethnic culture. (see what was Yugoslavia as a nearer example).

 

As for the Marines, if they've trangressed military law, I expect the military to deal with it with due consideration of the context of the theatre of operations. There should be a news blackout though, so agenda driven "points scoring" interests don't get involved.