Caio, for somebody who preaches so much of appreciating the views of others and tolerance, you seem to have an extremely close-minded, stereotypical view of American servicemen and women.

Do you actually know, in person, any American service members? Any that have actually engaged in combat operations in Iraq? Outside of media publications, do you have any knowledge of what’s really going on over there? Do you know any Iraqis?

To clarify, I’m not trying to attack you. I’m asking these questions seriously.

Know this, at least: when Saddam was removed from power, the Iraqi people got what they wanted. They were ecstatic. They were given a “clean slate,” you could almost say. For the first time in a long time, the future of Iraq is truly in the hands of the Iraqi people. This current government can be as successful as they want it to be.

Fully respecting somebody’s point of view is not going to save your life. You can respect their view all you want, but they are still going to try to kill you in a war. I know that if our situations were reversed, I’d probably be just like the Iraqis/Iranians/insurgents I fought over there. Our situations, however, are not reversed. Therefore, the only course of action that is viable, to me, is to kill or be killed. As selfish as that sounds, that’s the truth of the matter. I’d rather not kill. I’d rather explain to them that we, as Americans, are there to help. That we’re there to help them rebuild and try to get them to stand on their own feet. But, hey, they choose not to believe it. So be it.

The vast majority of the time I spent over there was spent trying to gain the trust of the local people by doing things like helping those who didn’t have electricity get electricity, help the sick and injured, find jobs for the people who needed them, rebuild their infrastructure, etc. In the fight against the insurgency, it’s been proven that the units who have had the most success against the insurgents are the ones that have gained the trust and support of the local people. Therefore, most soldiers are taught to appreciate the point of view of the average Iraqi. We’re not mindless killing machines. In this sort of fight, killing is only going to get you so far when it will only create more people willing to be killed.

That being said, however, put yourself in the shoes of an American soldier. You and your buddies have done nothing but sweat and bleed for these people and help them rebuild their country. Rightfully so, since it’s partially your fault their country is like this in the first pplace. Time after time, however, your unit is repeatedly attacked in the same area. Despite all the good things you’ve done for them, they have repeatedly allowed insurgents to come into their neighborhood and lay ambushes for you.

The Iraqi people do not exactly demand respect when, with the same hand they wave to you with, they also bury bombs with.

I’ve had the opportunity to talk to many Iraqis, and the more educated, smarter ones appreciate America. They are actually grateful for the opportunity that their country has been given, and they hate the insurgency almost as much as the American service member does.

Translators that are embedded with units, for instance, are usually of higher intelligence(or at least education) of your average Iraqi. They clearly want to help their country by helping the American military. Now, why would they do that if we were nothing but mindless killing machines who did nothing but destroy all that the Iraqi people love? Money? Yes, they get paid for helping us, but it’s not worth what could happen to them should the insurgents catch him. Trust me, the insurgency punishes those who help America in ways you probably wouldn’t even think of harming another human being.

Sorry, Caio, but until you prove otherwise, you have absolutely no idea how complicated things are over there. I’ve said this before, but it’s not nearly as simple as “Country A has invaded Country B. Country B is now angry at Country A because they keep blowing things up and leaving nothing but destruction in their wake.” The blind hatred and disrespect you’ve displayed only shows, to me, that you are not nearly as open-minded as you think you are. You presume too much about a subject that too few an amount of people really know anything about.

Just FYI, DARPA invented the Internet.

Gilly if you really knew any decent soldiers, you probably wouldn’t think so lowly of them.

So, just so we’re on the same page, here, what you’ve pretty much said is that the only soldiers you know are alcoholics and people involved in bribery. Since you know only people like that in the military, they must *all* be like that, is apparently how your logic must work.

That’s good. It makes complete sense.

And as for the people you know who have “bribed” their way out of their contracts, I’m calling BS. Not unless they had a substantial, and I mean substantial, amount of money is that going to happen.

And if you don’t know what DARPA stands for, smart guy, it’s the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

So, going by your own words of “My culture was made possible by the smart guys who invented the Internet..,” you pretty much admitted that a large part of your culure has been formed as a result of the “smart guys who invented the Internet” and also invented ways to make the killing the military does easier and more efficient.

You should look up other things that have been made as a result of DoD and DARPA research. You’d probably be surprised at how much of your daily life is made possible by advancements that were first made in military research.

And Maus does bring up a good point. If the only military people you know are alcoholics with shady involvement in bribery, get some new fucking friends. That speaks far more about you. one guy, and your choice of acquaintances than it does about the military, a group of about one and a half million. It’s not my fault you’ve chosen to associate with scum bags.

Ooooh, I get it. You can hate something all you want, and detest it on all moral levels, but if it makes something you like, then that something it made is okay.

DARPA isn’t a BRANCH of the military. The BRANCHES of the military are the Navy, Coast Guard, Marines, Air Force, and Army. Again, you’re only showing that you have no clue what in the hell you’re talking about.

DARPA’s research has lead to the creation of those rifles you keep mentioning, the missiles, and all the other, nifty things the military uses.

Where do you think these developers come from? They’re just scientists who invent missiles and firearms that they have no idea how to use? How would that even work?

Again, despite the fact that you’re the one throwing around accusations of other people being stupid and uneducated, you’ve so far proven that you have absolutely no clue what in the world you’re talking about.

You’ve pretty much have admitted that:
1) Your personal culture is largely based on a military invention
2) You have no clue how the military or the government works
3) The only people that you know in the military are drunkards who deal with bribes