tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362663422037727028.post3104100361399501371..comments2024-03-25T14:09:25.720-05:00Comments on The Old Jarhead: When is violence justified?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362663422037727028.post-23282684149172022072010-10-31T20:58:43.917-05:002010-10-31T20:58:43.917-05:00A few years ago, there was a Jihadist plot to blow...A few years ago, there was a Jihadist plot to blow up several airliners over the Pacific. It was uncovered by Philippine Intelligence, reportedly using methods the ACLU wouldn’t approve up. Doubtless the hundreds of people who lived through those flights feel badly that their lives were saved in such a way, but it apparently worked.<br /><br />Besides, all I did was ask the questions—I didn’t advocate anything in the piece.<br /><br />And I have never seen one episode, or one minute, of “24,” and guess I won’t, since I read in the paper it went off the air. Between my full time job, this blog, my family and the pile of un-read books that grows faster than I can cut it down, I have almost no time for TV, not even Fox News which readers of a leftist bent often accuse me of watching regularly. This weekend I saw about two plays of football while in a restaurant, but hope to watch some when I finish (I’m writing this Sunday night). But I always read a book, watch the replays for the good stuff. ~BobTartanMarinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05913604682407528722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362663422037727028.post-35846299350234204272010-10-31T18:56:17.699-05:002010-10-31T18:56:17.699-05:00Torture just makes victims say what they think the...Torture just makes victims say what they think their captors want to hear. It doesn't work. Stop watching "24" and look at the real world.<br /><br />Besides, <a href="http://areyoutargeted.com/2010/05/what-information-can-remote-neural-monitoring-pick-up/" rel="nofollow">there are much more effective methods of extracting information from people now</a>.Jeremyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10841842989085328333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362663422037727028.post-74252593673532641092010-10-31T15:31:27.054-05:002010-10-31T15:31:27.054-05:00Surviving Is a Predatory Act! Those who study anim...Surviving Is a Predatory Act! Those who study animals know that animals with eyes on the front of their head are predators. Look in the mirror. You see that you, like all humans, are a predator.<br /><br />Surviving Is Not Politically Correct because it requires taking any action whatever, no matter how violent, in order to do so.<br /><br />It seems to me that the question is not one of justification but rather of reality. Really, who would you be in that situation. Has your society transformed you into an expendable robot?Ben Cummingshttp://www.winningthearmyway.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362663422037727028.post-38501655687053768162010-10-29T05:58:27.396-05:002010-10-29T05:58:27.396-05:00It has always irritated me to hear people say that...It has always irritated me to hear people say that violence never solved anything, or that violence only results in escalation. The key is to use violence judiciously, but with enough severity that it not only leaves the opponent unable to retaliate, but also convinces the rest that screwing with you isn't worth the trouble. As Gen. James Mattis once said, "Be professional, be polite, and have a plan to kill everyone you meet."Jacobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16397160663092112079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362663422037727028.post-37168688305128284512010-10-28T21:55:03.207-05:002010-10-28T21:55:03.207-05:00I'm new here so I'll just express my appre...I'm new here so I'll just express my appreciation for your opinions and my intent to return to re-charge my emotional batteries.<br /><br />Bravo!Remohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00431607542722701491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362663422037727028.post-54732818689764768282010-10-28T20:07:17.795-05:002010-10-28T20:07:17.795-05:00Your examples one, two and three are different sit...Your examples one, two and three are different situations than the remaining examples. In those examples eminent danger is assured save my intervention (and I would intervene).<br /><br />The remaining examples assume that you have a prisoner in your possession (you don’t say how he got there).<br /><br />My problem with so many advocates of torture, especially those on talk radio, who never served a day in their lives. Is that they think being in favor of torture makes them a tough guy and give not one moments thought to the G.I. in the field who wants the battle or firefight to be over as soon as possible. If for no other reason than the quicker the fight is over the fewer people on my side will die.<br /><br />These tough guys who will never be put in a position of possible torture by an enemy, fail and fail miserably to understand that an enemy who believes he will be tortured is less inclined to surrender (and shorten the fight) than an enemy who knows he will not be tortured. A general policy of the acceptance of torture endangers our soldiers. I submit that the situation lastly described is much more likely than the examples offered in the question. Never-the-less, examples four, five and six are usually the examples proffered to excuse torture. And as we have seen, they have not been the situation extant when our side used torture.<br /><br />Lastly, (and I’m sure it’s not politically correct) I think anyone may have any opinion they wish, on any subject. But the only voices we should listen to on issues of torture are current and former soldiers who have actually and truly been in a position where capture and torture by an enemy was possible.<br /><br />Television commentators, talk show hosts and bar room heroes at the American Legion and VFW can still spout their claptrap about torture but their opinion should carry as much weight as mine regarding PMS.<br /><br />Vietnam 1968, 69, 70, and part of 71<br />589th and 577th Engineers<br /><br />ChipmunkAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362663422037727028.post-43959866733465797992010-10-28T19:08:43.076-05:002010-10-28T19:08:43.076-05:00Did the Wisconsin State Journal take snippets of t...Did the Wisconsin State Journal take snippets of this article out of context? I don't understand how anybody could disagree otherwise. Well, unless truly were a pacifist (aka hippie).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7362663422037727028.post-85820548312647672882010-10-28T17:57:05.378-05:002010-10-28T17:57:05.378-05:00Bob,
I had not read this before, but have thought...Bob,<br /><br />I had not read this before, but have thought about it. My answer is yes to all examples,<br />especially if my family and country are at stake.<br /><br />My daughters used to think I was crazy when we watched movies and I would yell, shoot the sucker. Not sure that was a good example for 9 and 12 year olds, but I tried to explain to them the situation. Hopefully today as adults they have a better understanding of my reasoning. I pray as individuals we will never be faced with these situations.<br /><br />Vietnam Vet. '67 -68'<br />Charlie Company<br />504th Military Police Battalion.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com