Comments on: Honor the Soldier, Betray the Veteran http://militarygear.com/asp/2008/09/23/honor-the-soldier-betray-the-veteran/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=honor-the-soldier-betray-the-veteran The Web’s Leading Military Blog Since 2004 Wed, 23 May 2012 16:34:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Steve Allen http://militarygear.com/asp/2008/09/23/honor-the-soldier-betray-the-veteran/#comment-44044 Steve Allen Thu, 25 Sep 2008 04:19:01 +0000 http://militarygear.com/asp/?p=3260#comment-44044 I understand the horror of the thought of our men in combat arms killing enemy soldiers under their direct control. Especially if those detainees are not armed and are under cover of our troops' arms at the time, it may seem especially heinous that violence is perpetrated on those detainees at the surface level of perception. However, if one is to regard the full dynamic of the situation, it is altogether far more complicated that one would expect. As an example, imagine that you have a family that is being threatened by assailants desiring to use deadly force against your loved ones, whether your children, your wife or husband, your brothers and sisters, or your parents. If you are armed and capable of defending yourself and your loved ones, and you "get the drop" on some of your enemies, then are called to continue your battle against other enemies, you have a decision to make. First, let us say that the situation is such that there is no one available to guard your captives, nor is there any way to guarantee their continued restraint in your absence. Secondly, you know that if these captives are freed or free themselves, they will continue to be a direct and very real threat to the lives of your family--their goal in life is to kill your loved ones. As soon as they find a way to free themselves, they will come looking to kill your children, your wife, your brother. In fairness to your family, will you not terminate the very real threat to them if you have no other choice? Anyone who has ever been in combat with a tight knit unit understands that the people within that unit consider themselves to be family, and they will do whatever is necessary to protect the lives of their brothers. Typically, the love and loyalty is so intense that they will risk their very lives for one another. Any person who would willingly allow the continuance of a direct threat to the lives of their loved ones, in the absence of a guaranteed permanent containment of that threat, is a person not fit to be a guardian of that family. Sometimes the situation demands that extraordinary measures be taken in defense of the family. Steve Allen Newman, IL 9/24/08 I understand the horror of the thought of our men in combat arms killing enemy soldiers under their direct control. Especially if those detainees are not armed and are under cover of our troops’ arms at the time, it may seem especially heinous that violence is perpetrated on those detainees at the surface level of perception. However, if one is to regard the full dynamic of the situation, it is altogether far more complicated that one would expect.

As an example, imagine that you have a family that is being threatened by assailants desiring to use deadly force against your loved ones, whether your children, your wife or husband, your brothers and sisters, or your parents. If you are armed and capable of defending yourself and your loved ones, and you “get the drop” on some of your enemies, then are called to continue your battle against other enemies, you have a decision to make. First, let us say that the situation is such that there is no one available to guard your captives, nor is there any way to guarantee their continued restraint in your absence. Secondly, you know that if these captives are freed or free themselves, they will continue to be a direct and very real threat to the lives of your family–their goal in life is to kill your loved ones. As soon as they find a way to free themselves, they will come looking to kill your children, your wife, your brother. In fairness to your family, will you not terminate the very real threat to them if you have no other choice?

Anyone who has ever been in combat with a tight knit unit understands that the people within that unit consider themselves to be family, and they will do whatever is necessary to protect the lives of their brothers. Typically, the love and loyalty is so intense that they will risk their very lives for one another.

Any person who would willingly allow the continuance of a direct threat to the lives of their loved ones, in the absence of a guaranteed permanent containment of that threat, is a person not fit to be a guardian of that family. Sometimes the situation demands that extraordinary measures be taken in defense of the family.

Steve Allen
Newman, IL
9/24/08

]]> By: SSgtJ http://militarygear.com/asp/2008/09/23/honor-the-soldier-betray-the-veteran/#comment-44014 SSgtJ Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:10:32 +0000 http://militarygear.com/asp/?p=3260#comment-44014 You are absolutly right Donna. But it is even worse than that. Some people distrust the military so much, that they can not even see much less understand the extenuating circumstances. That is one reason that RG needs to continue to tell some of these stories. Maybe someday, some of these people will learn something ... You are absolutly right Donna. But it is even worse than that. Some people distrust the military so much, that they can not even see much less understand the extenuating circumstances. That is one reason that RG needs to continue to tell some of these stories. Maybe someday, some of these people will learn something …

]]> By: Donna http://militarygear.com/asp/2008/09/23/honor-the-soldier-betray-the-veteran/#comment-43994 Donna Wed, 24 Sep 2008 02:20:48 +0000 http://militarygear.com/asp/?p=3260#comment-43994 How can anyone who wasn't there really second guess what should have been done in a combat situation?! I'm sure that all combat situations are different. That doesn't give anyone a license to do things that shouldn't be done but I think in combat situations soldiers should be cut some slack. How can anyone who wasn’t there really second guess what should have been done in a combat situation?! I’m sure that all combat situations are different. That doesn’t give anyone a license to do things that shouldn’t be done but I think in combat situations soldiers should be cut some slack.

]]> By: SSgtJ http://militarygear.com/asp/2008/09/23/honor-the-soldier-betray-the-veteran/#comment-43991 SSgtJ Tue, 23 Sep 2008 21:54:31 +0000 http://militarygear.com/asp/?p=3260#comment-43991 Interesting points RG. Interesting points RG.

]]>