US Marine shares pictures from Iraq

[sHiZo963]

I was at work today and this guy came into the office, all dressed up in a suit. My co-worker recognized him right away and introduced me to him. They chatted a bit about what's changed since the guy left the office to serve in the Marines a few months ago. I noticed that the guy was a little weird (the way he talked and his subtle behavior bothered me) and, quite frankly, I kind of felt uncomfortable around him. I minded my own business while they talked, and then the guy took out a memory card and plugged it into one of our laptops. He invited me to have a look at some photos he brought back from his tour of duty in Iraq.

The first few photos were shots of him and his group at their base. He had a couple pictures from a "party" they had. So far so good - they all seem pretty happy.

He opened another folder. The first photo was kind of blurry around the edges because it had been taken through an opening in a fence. The platoon was observing "terrorists," as he called them, having a meeting in a parking lot. There were three men there and a couple beat-up cars in what looked like a very poor neighborhood. "See those black things they're holding in their hands - those are those masks that they put on," he said. This was the BEFORE picture.

The next photo was dominated by fire and explosions.

I wasn't expecting to see what he showed next: the AFTER pictures. A charred-black burnt body, teeth showing, his leg still on fire. Another corpse was a bloody mess, with an accompanying pool of blood. The third corpse had his head literally blown off - "That's the first guy's nephew," the marine said, as if satisfied. He had taken a few close-up shots of the headless guy - apparently this was his favorite. Throughout this whole "presentation," the marine guy was laughing and making comments like, "Haha - got ya now, Muhammad" and other, less-appropriate remarks I dare not share here. I was shocked. I remember mumbling something to the effect of, "that is horrible!" and him replying, "what are you kidding? THAT WAS FUN!"

The next set of photos featured a cache of weapons they had found at the site. There were many semi-automatics, RPG's, ammo clips, and what looked like bombs. The marine guy told us that they had been tracking this terrorist group for quite a while. He said that he, himself, worked "undercover" and often "infiltrated" the town at night to collect information about said group (he does look a bit Middle Eastern and apparently speaks Arabic). This bloody finale was a culmination of his work.

After the initial shock, I managed to get in a few questions before he left. I asked whether this group was the Shiites or Sunnis. He said Shiites, he thought. Then I asked whether this group was involved in killing American troops or were they the ones fighting the civil war. His answer was, "Yeah, they kill each other." He added, "But after we kill the Shiites, we'll have to get the Sunnis, too. Doesn't matter - they're all f&%#ing Muslims!" He went on ranting some more blatantly racist and derogatory remarks. Didn't think a simple question could trigger such a response. I shut up after that one. I've seen and heard enough.

He left. My co-worker came back and we looked at one another. I said that that was a little weird. "The war does that to people," he said rather indifferently. "Those were REAL dead people he showed us, and he was laughing," I said. My co-worker responded, "So? I've seen worse stuff in movies."

I couldn't respond. My co-worker wouldn't hurt a fly, it seems - one of those nice guys that goes out of his way to help other people out - and here he was telling me that what we just witnessed was no big deal.

It occurred to me at that point that certain Programming and Desensitization, also known as Ponerization, was indeed pretty much complete in mainstream America.

 

[mamadrama]

Yikes, what a gruesome story but thanks for sharing it, shizo. I just "adopted" a plattoon of 20 soldiers in Iraq and will be sending them care packages several times a month. I can't imagine anyone communicating this sort of thing to their so to speak "den mother" but who knows, I may get correspondence like this as so many have been screwed up and ponerized by war. That your co-worker was so disassociated from reality and could or would not distinguish between movie horror and real life horror documented in photos is discouraging. But it does indicate how desensitized the average person has become or at least how easily they can lump "visual" violence into a separate compartment from reality. This is of course one of the mind's defenses when faced with the unthinkable, to disassociate from the horror to enable the mind and body to continue to function in some way.

 

[Joe]

Yikes, what a gruesome story but thanks for sharing it, shizo. I just "adopted" a plattoon of 20 soldiers in Iraq and will be sending them care packages several times a month.

Hi mamadrama, I was wondering how you justified or rationalized sending care packages to US soldiers who are engaging in the murder of innocent Iraqi civilians, or are you not aware that this is what they are doing?

Joe

 

[Joe]

Hi Shizo, the fact that your work mate stated that he had "seen worse things in movies" is pretty shocking when we think about it. Basically he was showing that he was incapable, at least in the spur of the moment, of discerning between real life and movies. If he saw someone in the street outside your office get their heads blown off by a bomb, we assume that he would say the same.

Joe

 

[kenlee]

Yikes, what a gruesome story but thanks for sharing it, shizo. I just "adopted" a plattoon of 20 soldiers in Iraq and will be sending them care packages several times a month.

Well, this care package and "adopting" may very well be seen by the soldiers as a loving embrace and this will just reinforce their determination to continue. Seems to me our only chance is for the mothers to insist (in no uncertain terms) that their sons and daughters will NOT go to war.

 

[anart]

"Those were REAL dead people he showed us, and he was laughing," I said. My co-worker responded, "So? I've seen worse stuff in movies."

I couldn't respond. My co-worker wouldn't hurt a fly, it seems - one of those nice guys that goes out of his way to help other people out - and here he was telling me that what we just witnessed was no big deal.

Woah - talk about a disconnect. I'm not sure if I would have been able to refrain from saying "but, the pictures were NOT a movie - they were real life - movies are make believe, did you know that?" - unreal - whether he would hurt a fly or not, he's clearly not reacting to that situation in the way a normal, complete human being would. Maybe that's why he was so into talking to the Marine in the first place, maybe he's that type of humanoid as well - dressed in a 'wouldn't hurt a fly' exterior.

 

[henry]

"The war does that to people," he said rather indifferently. "Those were REAL dead people he showed us, and he was laughing," I said. My co-worker responded, "So? I've seen worse stuff in movies."

Count me in as another who was left dumbfounded by this remark. It brings to mind the following remark of the C's:

August 9, 1997

[...]
A: Prelude to the biggest "flap" ever.
Q: And where will this flap be located?
A: Earth.
Q: When is it going to begin?
A: Starting already.
Q: Is this biggest flap going to be just a flap, or is it going to be an invasion?
A: Not yet.
Q: Not an invasion?
A: Yes.
Q: So, it will just be inciting people to frenzies of speculation...
A: Invasion happens when programming is complete...

Seems to me that when people are unable to distinguish between movies and reality, the programming is near completion...

 

[mamadrama]

I was wondering how you justified or rationalized sending care packages to US soldiers who are engaging in the murder of innocent Iraqi civilians?

Hi, Joe, the short answer to your question is compassion, and I don't think compassion needs justifying or rationalizing. Most of the soldiers are kids themselves, I believe the average age is 19 years old and most of them have found themselves in an aborrent situation which was not of their own making nor was it often of their own choosing. Many were pressured and/or misguided in their choice and many see it as their duty. They are the sons and daughters of this country and I would consider many of them to be victims of this atrocious war and our pathocratic government, too just as the innocents of Iraq are. I am making this small effort of love together with my children who need to know that while we are adamantly against the war, any war, we can offer love and support to those who are suffering because of it. You may find it interesting that one of the most requested items for the care packages is hard candy to give to the Iraqi children.

Basically he was showing that he was incapable, at least in the spur of the moment, of discerning between real life and movies. If he saw someone in the street outside your office get their heads blown off by a bomb, we assume that he would say the same.

This is a huge assumption, Joe. I would not make that assumption myself.

Laurel

 

[mamadrama]

Well, this care package and "adopting" may very well be seen by the soldiers as a loving embrace and this will just reinforce their determination to continue. Seems to me our only chance is for the mothers to insist (in no uncertain terms) that their sons and daughters will NOT go to war.

kenlee, I doubt very seriously that many soldiers of this war would opt to continue this fight for any reasons much less because somone was offering them love and compassion. You can be sure that as a mother, I would use every ounce of persuasion I have to keep my children from going to war, but in the end, if it is their path, then it is their path for it is their life not mine. We can offer information and argument, protest and advice, to be heard or not, to be followed or discarded, but then no matter what, in the end all we can continue to do is offer is love.

 

[CarpeDiem]

This is of course one of the mind's defenses when faced with the unthinkable, to disassociate from the horror to enable the mind and body to continue to function in some way.

i don't think it's 'a mind's defence' but a complete mindlesness, serious lack or absence of conscience. That person was very well-worked on or US army makes a positive selection for born without conscience types, encourages such behaviour and grants 'promotions'. Uffffs That really proves how far Amerka went into zombyfiying 'an average John'.

Most of the soldiers are kids themselves, I believe the average age is 19 years old and most of them have found themselves in an aborrent situation which was not of their own making nor was it often of their own choosing. Many were pressured and/or misguided in their choice and many see it as their duty. They are the sons and daughters of this country and I would consider many of them to be victims of this atrocious war and our pathocratic government, too just as the innocents of Iraq are.

so, these guys are 'just kids', they can kill, torture, rape and enjoy THAT and then society gives them an excuse that they are 'just kids', so let them continue their 'diviertimento' and send them unumbiguous signal of support of what they DO by sending 'parcels from homeland'. ufffs that stinks

 

[anart]

I was wondering how you justified or rationalized sending care packages to US soldiers who are engaging in the murder of innocent Iraqi civilians?

Hi, Joe, the short answer to your question is compassion, and I don't think compassion needs justifying or rationalizing.

Joe didn't say that compassion needed justifying or rationalizing - your short answer comes up short. What about compassion for hundreds of thousands of dead, dying, raped, orphaned and brutalized Iraqi's?

Most of the soldiers are kids themselves, I believe the average age is 19 years old and most of them have found themselves in an aborrent situation which was not of their own making nor was it often of their own choosing.

Actually - yes it was of their own choosing to an extent. They chose to be in the military. They chose to spend their life killing other people - that is what the military does. I get this sense that you think they are sitting around in the desert playing cards instead of killing innocent men, women and children and, all too often, raping them first just for the fun of it.

Many were pressured and/or misguided in their choice and many see it as their duty. They are the sons and daughters of this country and I would consider many of them to be victims of this atrocious war and our pathocratic government, too just as the innocents of Iraq are.

On this, I would agree with you - due to the ponerizing of our nation, millions of low income and disadvantaged people join the military because they have no other choice. But, guess what? They are still adult human beings - and as such are responsible for their actions and behavior. There are soldiers who have said no and paid the price for it - and then there are soldiers who plot and execute the rape and subsequent murder of innocent Iraqi civilians. Which ones have you 'adopted'?

I am making this small effort of love together with my children who need to know that while we are adamantly against the war, any war, we can offer love and support to those who are suffering because of it.

Then send money to the Palestinian government or relief agencies, or to Iraqi relief agencies - or to anti-war or disabled veteran rehab organizations. I find it very telling that instead of those options, you are sending support to the aggressors - that is what we are, Laurel, the aggressors.

You may find it interesting that one of the most requested items for the care packages is hard candy to give to the Iraqi children.

omg - where did you read that? You believe this? Seriously - think about that for just one second and then ask yourself if you are paying attention to what is going on around you. I would laugh, but I'm too shocked that you would actually say that.

Basically he was showing that he was incapable, at least in the spur of the moment, of discerning between real life and movies. If he saw someone in the street outside your office get their heads blown off by a bomb, we assume that he would say the same.

This is a huge assumption, Joe. I would not make that assumption myself.

No, it's not a huge assumption, not at all. Perhaps you would not make that assumption yourself because you are having difficulty looking at the REALITY of these situations. You are seeing them through a filter that is skewing your perception to an astonishing degree. It's way past time to wake up and see things as they are - not how you want them to be.

 

[Peto]

Most of the soldiers are kids themselves, I believe the average age is 19 years old

Those kids are killers. Their age doesn't change the fact that they are killers.

... and most of them have found themselves in an aborrent situation which was not of their own making nor was it often of their own choosing. Many were pressured and/or misguided in their choice and many see it as their duty.

Unlike many other countries, participating in the military in the US is voluntary so I can't agree that it is not their own choosing.

They are the sons and daughters of this country and I would consider many of them to be victims of this atrocious war and our pathocratic government, too just as the innocents of Iraq are.

Your "victims" kill, rape, torture, take photos of their acts and show them later.

Hi, Joe, the short answer to your question is compassion, and I don't think compassion needs justifying or rationalizing. [...]
I am making this small effort of love together with my children who need to know that while we are adamantly against the war, any war, we can offer love and support to those who are suffering because of it. You may find it interesting that one of the most requested items for the care packages is hard candy to give to the Iraqi children.

It is strange that your compassion and support go only to the party who needs it the least. Have you compared the two groups of victims: the kid soldiers and the Iraqi people? Do you think that Iraqi children only need hard candies?

 

[mamadrama]

Anart and Hoangmphung, you have made some assumptions without any facts. Please tell me how you have decided that I am "only supporting the party that needs it least" or that I don't "send money to the Palestinian government or relief agencies, or to Iraqi relief agencies - or to anti-war or disabled veteran rehab organizations?" And to then conclude that you "find it very telling that instead of those options, (I am) sending support to the aggressors - that is what we are, Laurel, the aggressors." You do not know if I am doing this or not. But you have hastily assumed that I am not and you are wrong.

 

[anart]

Anart and Hoangmphung, youl have made some assumptions without any facts. Please tell me how you have decided that I am "only supporting the party that needs it least" or that I don't "send money to the Palestinian government or relief agencies, or to Iraqi relief agencies - or to anti-war or disabled veteran rehab organizations?" And to then conclude that you "find it very telling that instead of those options, (I am) sending support to the aggressors - that is what we are, Laurel, the aggressors." You do not know if I am doing this or not. But you have hastily assumed that I am not and you are wrong.

I can't speak for Hangmphung, but, for myself, I am simply addressing what you have mentioned. You said that you recently 'adopted' a platoon of 20 soldiers in Iraq. Since you later stated that these are the 'sons of our country', that would indicate these are U.S. troops.

I never said you didn't send funds or support to any other organization, I just suggested that if you wanted to, as you put it, 'send love to those who are suffering' that these options might be a better way to go about it -wanting to help 'those who are suffering', as opposed to those who are causing the suffering.

I do know that you are sending support to the aggressors because you stated that you are sending care packages several times a month. I do not know, nor did I state that I knew, that you were or were not doing anything else, although the purpose of sending care to both those who torment and those who are tormented does escape me at the moment.

 

[mamadrama]

I never said you didn't send funds or support to any other organization

What you said was:

I find it very telling that instead of those options, you are sending support to the aggressors - that is what we are, Laurel, the aggressors.

And as I said before, you have made an assumption without any facts. You have assumed that instead of sending support to other peace organiztions, etc., I am sending support to U.S. soldiers. And this is not the case.