I agree. And not only that, but felt compelled to post the video on YouTube... Of course, I think the most humorous part of the write up in the Washington post was this:
I think the video is despicable. But I have a moral compass. If your group has been known to behead people with a pocket knife, I don't know that you have a leg to stand on when describing inhuman and despicable acts...
Crucify them sure... Im all for it. But serious damage has already been done. Less so here at home I'm sure, but certainly in the areas of the world where Al Jazera has major viewership.
Taliban might not have a leg to stand on with us, but to the rest of the world, they just gained another notch of legitimacy - all the more important, seeing as how they're coming to the negotiating table with the Afghan government. This just ups their position and they're going to squeeze every last drop of PR gold they can from this.
Not excusing or condoning their actions as I agree with folks above that the actions of a few are going to make it harder for The Good Guys and will lend legitimacy to the Taliban in the world arena, but neither Marines or Americans are imune to the dehumanizing effects of war.
I have never really bought into this notion. Sure it looks very bad to the so call "Arab Street" . Doesn't look so good to our western Allies either, but on levels that the ordinary man on the street in Egypt or Afghanistan will never get to. The reality is that none of those folks are going down to their local Taliban or AQ recruiter and signing papers. The folks that are motivated enough to take on a company of Marines with AKs and 4 weeks of amateur training or wear a suicide vest, are way beyond being pissed about some nobody Marine urinating on a lifeless body. We were attacked on 9/11 before Abu Ghraib, USS Cole was attacked before anyone was sent to Gitmo, the other presumptive recruiting tool. Claiming that any one thing is boosting recruiting for our enemies is all really about changing a policy, or causing more damage then is warranted. Closing GITMO may or may not be a good idea. Doing so because people that want it closed, or don't want to be imprisoned there say it is boosting recruiting, is not a good reason. U.S. Marines pissing on the body of their enemy is wrong based on their ethos and our western morality. End of discussion. It is hard to believe that video will motivate our enemies when they hated us long before for Rock and Roll, Hollywood, unveiled women, and the uncle and brother that a MQ-9 killed. Hell before they heard of this intertnet video they were convinced that all sorts of atrocities have been carried out by our guys. How is it that a video of Marines peeing on a body will motivate these guys when they have already been told lie after lie about outrageous conduct of our guys. They have heard much much worse.
I agree in theory, but the truth is that even American's have and will again be subject to the effects of war. The unfortunate truth is that our history is rife with examples of our troops dishonoring the dead. I always figured it was part of our role as officers and gentlemen to prevent this from happening, but at some point the notion of keeping war civil becomes a little academic.
