http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/BlogtownPDX/archives/2013/02/23/good-morning-news Comments On: Good Morning, News! by Cara "The Intern" Mico en-us Copyright 2013 Portland Mercury. All rights reserved. This RSS file is offered to individuals, Portland Mercury readers, and non-commercial organizations only. Any commercial websites wishing to use this RSS file, please contact Portland Mercury. webmaster@portlandmercury.com (Portland Mercury Webmaster) Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:01 -0700 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:15:00 -0700 Foundation http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss
You seem like a cool enough/smart enough guy -- you're not a proponent of gunning down innocent civilians, and your not proud of your leaders that try to sweep things like that under the rug.

It's a much bigger stain on the country/organization (and humanity itself) to try to hide it and vengefully go after anyone who tries to shed some light upon it than it is to come clean and say, "Fuck. We fucked up. Some fucked-up-shit happened and we are not proud of it. We are doing our best to make sure that these mistakes (war crimes) (<---what a funny term, right?) are not repeated."

I realize that horrible things like these are pretty much inevitable in war, but hiding them only helps to encourage and perpetuate such atrocities.

(And, as you well know, there are plenty of active and retired soldiers that share my sentiments, namely those that are ashamed and saddened when innocent civilians are wantonly killed...)

And @ iceprez:
While i'm hoping your last line is inaccurate, i'm not holding my breath -- you are probably right on with that prediction.
Posted by human in training]]> Sun, 24 Feb 2013 13:06:26 -0800 Portland Mercury Posted by ill paxton]]> Sun, 24 Feb 2013 09:24:58 -0800 Portland Mercury Posted by frankieb]]> Sat, 23 Feb 2013 22:51:46 -0800 Portland Mercury
Yeah, i get that it stings when one of your own airs some shameful, dirty laundry out for all to see, but try to think of it in a context outside of the military organization.

When i hear the word 'traitor', i think of somebody sleeping with the enemy. But it's not like this guy sent out coordinates to our secret bases and hidden missile silos to Al Qaeda, Iran, and North Korea -- none of our boys were put in any extra danger because of what he leaked -- he simply lifted a(nother) curtain that exposed some of our actions for what they really are: war crimes.

Yeah, it's embarrassing. And, yeah, i'm sure things like this make us *even more* hated in many parts of the world. But if we're not prepared to own up to and be held accountable for our deliberate actions, then perhaps we shouldn't behave in such ways in the first place.

Step 1 is admission. Step 2 is cleaning house.
Posted by human in training]]> Sat, 23 Feb 2013 21:15:37 -0800 Portland Mercury ahhh, your precise logic has made me re-evaluate my own ideals about what to expect of a fellow serviceman.
Posted by frankieb]]> Sat, 23 Feb 2013 17:27:29 -0800 Portland Mercury
So, what about the guy in the street that witnesses a sexual assault or murder and reports it -- is he a 'traitor', too?
Posted by human in training]]> Sat, 23 Feb 2013 15:49:33 -0800 Portland Mercury Good.
Posted by frankieb]]> Sat, 23 Feb 2013 13:56:08 -0800 Portland Mercury Posted by albert]]> Sat, 23 Feb 2013 12:46:22 -0800 Portland Mercury Posted by Todd Mecklem]]> Sat, 23 Feb 2013 11:19:33 -0800 Portland Mercury