subject: Are Us Troops Being Pushed Too Far? [print this page] The past decade has really been a rough time for US troops. There have been simultaneous wars going on in various hotspots in the world and US troops are being shuffled back and forth like gladiators being sent to fight various battles.
The pressure of combat may be too heavy on our troops which may be indicated by some of the recent atrocities that our troops have been committing. Americans have been pointing their rifles at innocent citizens and doing other things that are prohibited. One thing that I can attest to is that troops will find a way to do things that they are not supposed to so that is nothing new. The things that really concern me and show me that there is a problem is the accounts of US troops committing murders of innocents and defacing corpses. These things indicate to me that the situation in Afghanistan has gone too far.
I just believe that it is time for us to bring our troops back home. I know that it is not that simple and that the Obama administration is working to make it happen but if we dont make it happen really soon I am concerned about some of the other things that might begin to happen. The atrocities have taken on a whole new persona of devastation and destructiveness. This indicates to me that the prospect of war has become far too common to our troops.
Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales is accused of: drinking and then slipping out of his Kandahar province outpost and shooting to death 17 civilians in their sleep.
The frequency of suicide is increasing among Americans along with the divorce rate. Many of our troops are having to serve four or five tours of duty in Afghanistan and Pakistan which is not good at all. Now since the war has wound down the military is looking to downsize which means that many of the troops who served multiple combat tours will be out and having to readjust to life in the civilian world.
Afghanistan has seen many years of the hardships of war and the Afghan people are no strangers to the atrocities of war but the atrocities that we are beginning to see are causing a serious rift to develop between the Afghan government and the US. If we dont take some type of corrective action I believe that the rift will become deadly serious.
The Taliban and al-Qaeda are experts at using the negative incidents to incite propaganda but the US has been able to conduct a campaign to counter the negative propaganda.
Unfortunately the incident which has caused more trouble was an incident that we would not view as serious. When US troops accidentally burned some Qurans in Afghanistan it kicked off a wave of anti US sentiment and violence. There were many casualties caused by angry Muslim citizens. We simply cant afford any more incidents of this nature.
I am sure that Afghan citizens are watching to see just what type of punishment will be meted out to Sergeant Bales. There is also no doubt in my mind that if it doesnt meet their expectations that there will be widespread rioting and attacks on innocent Americans.
Bales had to be quickly removed from Afghanistan because the citizens of that country wanted to have him punished under Moslem law.
Our government will have to tread lightly in this situation which I am sure they are aware. The wrong move could kick off a powder keg of retaliation. Military Ring Express
