It's a shame, there are some people who have joined the military who really have no business being there (not necessarily this guy, but some individuals I have met). What they fail to realize is that their actions put put US troops endanger, and hurt the US mission.

Fixed.

Nice one, wish I had more to add, other than thanks.

Agreed, it seems there's been a systematic implosion of everything Iraq since day one. Perhaps the prevailing attitude of carelessness and tolerance stems from incompetent civilian leadership, trickling down the chain of command until it settles at the bottom, corrupting a few grunts who've grown callous and insensitive under the bad influence of poor leadership (but then again, perhaps thats just part of the horror of all wars, but who really knows). From the war's ill conceived inception, to the lack of proper preparation, training and supplying, and the inevitable impossibility of securing post Saddam Iraq (hell we didn't even have an exit strategy before going in!!!), it's been nothing but a pooch screw. To hell with Colin Powell's pottery barn analogy, I say it's broke and we can't fix it. We may have to pay for the broken "pot", but that doesn't mean we have to buy the whole fucking store, does it?

In defense of the troops who are "endangering the mission" (seriously, there are two sides of that coin if you think about it), the one's who don't want to be there, they may believe what we're doing is wrong or hopeless, or some may have simply given up caring and would just as soon as nuke the country and everyone else, but don't blame them for feeling that way (not that I'm saying they shouldn't be held accountable). I care more about the damage caused by the people who've recklessly endangered our national security by committing our military resources to this pointless war. I realize that you're already committed to the mission as a troop and you must rely on other soldiers being on their game (as they do you), so yeah, I can see how much it pisses you off to see a few rotten eggs sully the bunch. Just know that a lot of people feel pretty pissed off about the rotten eggs who got us into this mess in the first place. Many people may not forgive America in the future, I just hope they can also realize the difference between "good" and "bad" Americans.

I was referring to the guy who shot the koran, not you.

The people who don't want to be there and the people who thing what we're doing is wrong and hopeless are not the people I'm talking about.

Endangering the mission means endagering the troops. When the mission goes badly, you don't just pack up and try again tomorrow. People die. So I'm not hearing anything in defense of anyone endangering the mission.

Re-fixed.

Good article

I hold you in high regard, and I hope that the integrity and humanity of the majority can over-ride the feelings of shame about the hateful, the wayward.

I feel people like the Quoran shooter would be doing hateful and destructive things eventually, no matter where they positioned themselves.

Be safe and continue to know when to hold your head high, and when to duck.

xoxo
LL

i hope your goodness and rational shine on for many more years

Interesting article, about an event I wasn't aware of. Somehow it doesn't surprise me that it happened though. I knew plenty of people in the military that had no business being there. I don't care what their problem with the locals is, the fact is that they volunteered. This war is going on 5+ years. If you don't like the idea of being there, you have the option of not re-upping. No one in the theater today shouldn't have been aware of that possibility occurring.

On another note, normally I couldn't care less about someone damaging a "holy book", regardless of what religion. But to put other people's lives at risk to do so? Assshole.

PS> OhSoOrdinary, shouldn't you be entering the civilian ranks soon?

Granted my comment was poorly delivered. I tried to edit the "in defense of" with "Concerning" but time had expired so I had to let my comments stand (along a few other edits I was making to make to clarify my comments, alas I didn't win the race against the clock and it set my poor prose in electric stone). I know you weren't talking about the disheartened troops, rather the fuck-ups. It's just that some would consider a troop with low morale a liability (the flip side of the same coin to the "kill em all" crowd.) In turn I blame the crap-filled heads that tolerate the fuck-ups (until they get caught fucking up that is). I know you simply can't pack up, you've got to play with the hand you've been dealt. I just hope you can weather it out until cooler minds develop an exit strategy... Hopefully sooner then later.

Thanks for posting this, and come home safe.

OhSoOrdinary - Thank you for your service. You are so very correct in all you have said. I feel it is also a lack of respect for other people, religions and cultures that would cause a sniper to do something like use a Quoran for target practice. It is, in my opinion symptomatic of an overall lack of respect throughout the world.

We are told that we should uphold the rights and beliefs of Islam while at the same time being told that Christians are intolerant, crazy and stupid. In fact some like Westwood Baptist Church, et al are insane, but no more represent mainstream Christianity than the 911 terrorists represent mainstream Islam.

I have no idea why he would use the Quoran for target practice. The fact that he endangered other people's lives by doing so is not only very poor judgment, but a crime. That said; however, when he sees things that disrespect the Christian Bible why should he feel respect for the Quoran? Here is a case in point.

http://suicidegirls.com/members/Nixon/albums/site/6183/#

This is just my opinion. I believe we all need to be a bit more tolerant and respectful of all people.

If we were fighting to liberate the Bible Belt along with Iraq the false dilemma you set up might actually have some relevance.