Marine kills injured Afghan.

[Geckos48]

Just think, we'd be calling these fellas Heroes had they not been caught.

Makes my blood run cold.
www.itv.com/news/2013-11-07/court-marshall-releases-recording-of-marines-killing-afghan/

So disappointed in our armed forces. Once again.

[PassTheCremeEggs]

But there are around 170,000 members of the armed forces. Once again it shows a stunning lack of understanding to judge all those people by the actions of one (or even, at a stretch, three)

[Geckos48]

Do you feel as shameful at the bbc for running the story? After all it is one of their main stories, on this 'important' weekend.

[territt]

Geckos48, the man they killed wasn't an innocent civilian. He got nothing he didn't deserve.

[Geckos48]

How many people are there in Afghanistan? We have invaded their country based upon the actions of a few, we support drone bombings in Pakistan that kill many on behalf of 'a few'

Again, what is good for the goose...

[LtEveDallas]

So put a positive spin on it Geckos. Three men were taken to court for committing an atrocious act. One was convicted of murder, the other two acquitted. Rather than let the other two 'get off' the British Military will further investigate and try them - they may well also lose their freedom, or their job/future/homes/families - as they should.

Well done the British Military for standing AGAINST war-time atrocities and for not sweeping this event under the carpet. I am proud to be a part of an organisation that is willing to do that. Military punishments can be far harsher that civilian.

[Geckos48]

He was carrying weapons but so was the UK soldier killed this week. Why did one deserve it but the other didn't?

[PacificDogwood]

I find it very difficult to articulate what I feel about this.

I have the utmost respect and gratitude for people who put their lives at risk to serve in the Armed Forces. I am well aware that the vast majority are highly motivated, patriotic decent people with a good set of values in place. I think the recent case is a tragedy all round.
BUT-
I agree that putting armed personel in a position where they are trained to kill, are under constant threat, have more likely than not witnessed carnage and atrocity at first hand, may have lost friends they were close to, is very likely to desensitise some of them. Not all, but some and probably more than we think. I don't particularly think these 3 young men were twisted; labelling them as such allows us to make their deed a further step beyond what 'we' could ever see ourselves doing. IMO put in just the right/wrong kind of circumstances many, man people are capable of terrible errors of judgement, getting carried away by the situation and ARE capable of awful actions that they will live to regret.

I don't 'know' the OP btw and do not wish to be bashing anybody. I have issues with the whole concept of sending people in to faraway sandy places for poorly justified reasons, and then being appalled when they find themselves in situations they are not equipped to cope with.

[PassTheCremeEggs]

The BBC ran the story because it has a responsibility to report the news whatever it is, and it would be shockingly biased if it didn't. You however started this thread only with the intention of once again using it as a platform for your hatred for the armed forces.

[Geckos48]

It's the culture of 'they all deserve it' that terrifies me. If they all deserve it, what do we deserve?

[ThursdayLast]

Morning Geckos,
Spouting shite and calling it fact again I see.
I wish you would respond directly to the posts of other, better informed and more open minded people on here, ie the Harold shipman analogy.

But I know you won't because it doesn't fit in with your world view.

[Geckos48]

Are you suggesting this didn't happen Thursday?

I fail to see what 'shit I have spouted'

I don't think these individuals were twisted, I think in order to send normal young men out to war we have to make them less aware of what they are doing and that the people they are doing it to are, well, people.

We have a culture in the armed forces that needs to change.

[OneStepCloser]

No doubt Geckos will NC again and start another contentious thread in a few days.

The man, quite rightly has been found guilty of murder and will serve his sentence, but it's lazy and ridiculous to use that as an attack on the armed forces.

[IamInvisible]

What culture is that Geckos?

[Geckos48]

I explained in my previous post, read it backwards if it helps.

[Geckos48]

My NC was nothing to do with the armed forces.

Get a grip.

[IamInvisible]

A culture of 'they all deserve it'.

Is that the bollocks you're going on about? Where did you get that from then?

[Geckos48]

What do you have to show they are all 'good' men?

I don't see anything of the sort.

Any idea how many afghans have died in all this?

[IamInvisible]

LtEve Don't be daft, now. There are no good me or women in the Forces. You are all bad. You make a career out of killing people. Do keep up!