I had an uncle who did a tour in Iraq. He came back different. Divorced my aunt left behind his young daughters (my little cousins), he was almost crazy I could say. At the time I my older brother was the only person he was close to, so he said things to my brother he wouldn't say to anyone else, like saying he was forced to kill innocent children just because they where suspected taliban or just at the wrong place at the wrong time. So I know these guys are being honest. Thanks democracy now, real news.
These people are very brave coming out like this and openly defying their government and doing the right thing. They committed those terrible acts but their humanity prevailed in the end, and in this way they are maybe trying to redeem themselves, perhaps their actions will have some effect and this evil drone program will end
I applaud the bravery and humanity in everyone of you! You're doing a great job that not only is going to save lives now, but also plays a great role in building our collective conscience as humans for generations to come!!
Although I will never be a soldier for any country's military, I can empathize with the emotions these men must endure, suppress, and struggle with, on an almost constant basis. The look of abject remorse in their eyes and expressions say it all: "Forgive me, for I have done wrong and I can't take it back." The shame they must feel for having their dignity and free will stripped from them, subjecting themselves to follow orders without question - which drove them to this state of being - is not an enviable way to live out the rest of one's days.
If a Veteran 'goes to the V.A. Mental Health Unit for treatment" every word they speak, in counseling is a permanent part of their 'record' and accessible to any 'authorized' member of military or V A personnel. There is no patient confidentiality whatsoever. been there done that....It was briefly explained to me in a confusing and indirect manner at the beginning of treatment. I only fully understood the implications after another vet explained this disgusting fact to me.
So now we know why video game arcades were installed in malls and pizza parlors all over America in the 1980s. To train boys and girls and get them addicted to the virtual kill.
These guys give me hope that America still has the capacity to change because they show that people still have compassion and a sense of decency and remorse. Their leaders betrayed them and the rest of the American people. Americans need to wake up from their nationalistic and 'exceptionalism' hypnosis. The money spent on the U.S. military could erase poverty and homelessness in America.
I am german and grew up near Ramstein Airbase. I can't say one bad word about the Americans from the base i've had contact with, some of them are my friends. But as these young men say, what is happening on the base is not communicated to the german public, not from the air force, the us government or the german government and it's a scandal! Many people want Ramstein closed because of this.
+Noz Ferat Thats a bunch of chicken shit bs .If you start trusting the obvious evil of these groups like isis more then your own brothers in arms then you are falling prey to the oldest trick in the book by those that can not keep their eye on the ball when it really matters.These "little boys" have proven themselves useless to their nation during a time when we all needed them to be warriors.They should go do some brainless shit job for the rest of their lives because they failed their country in shame.
If my govt was involved in removing a lot more members of a totalitarian ideology that begins to indoctrinates youth before their 6th birthday to hate non members as they forever push their caliphate aggressively in the hopes of generating terror amongst anyone who is not a follower of their "prophet" ,Muhammad.One would have to be in a complete fog or very self absorbed to not be aware of the pure hell Europe is going through as thousands of Muslim men in their prime continue to pour in to Germany,UK,France,Sweden etc etc...with "no go zones:" all over these countries ,rape being at all time highs.99 percent because of Muslim migrants raping young European girls.Truthfully I don' t know what the point is of telling the cold reality to the likes of you but if this gets the attention of anyone capable to research a little then I am helping the truth get out.Of course this would mean that you would need to be informed and smart enough to wade through the bull shit and avoid the many stupid conspiracy theories along the way.People who are so miss guided to fall victim to these lies are doing exactly what the enemy wants.Who is the Enemy?Well the muslim brotherhood has stated a jihad on the USA ,this is a civilizational jihad with the intent of destroying America from within.We are in way too critical a situation to have our warriors going south on us .There will be collateral damage in war,this is not unique to the drones.That is a pure fabrication with obvious intentions.Do your job soldier ,This war is one that younger generations will have to step up to and stay focused on if we are to get a favorable outcome.Or it is very likely your children and their children will be under the cruel yoke of Islamic law.
I'm a prior marine... I commend them for telling their story that's a tough thing to do... but they are wrong about the VA, they can absolutely get help. seems like the first speaker is choosing not to use it. it's only gotten better since I've been in, 2001
This should be a wake-up to those that say torture would not happen because it would be against the American laws, as well as against the rules of engagement.
Breaking through perfected techniques from boot camp - to - general "comply 2 command w/o question" and the immense brotherly/sisterly strength/security of team/comrade that normally fosters soldiers policing each-other from dissent... How bad must the atrocities be that are classified to break what anyone in the military knows is a nearly unbreakable bond of misplaced loyalty?
What about the guys who are out there on the ground or flying aircraft and experiencing exactly the same thing but also in mortal danger? Joining the Air Force is to join an organisation that is devoted to laying death and destruction on people. Even if your job is something technical and remote from the killing, that is what you are there to bring about. It is a bit rich to sit and whine about being brought a little closer to the core function. If you are not up for killing that's fine, but don't volunteer for the forces if that's the case.
well that's not cool,drone operators don't kill people,drones do! there's a reason they call 'em smart weapons,no? them poor guys shouldn't feel bad anymore, we can forgive them, and they should just forgive themselves and if they feel strongly,then yes,speak about it and hopefully convince folks drones and violence are not cool!
What do you mean by "we can forgive" have you gone nutts, that's for the Afghans and Iraqi families of the innocent civilians to forgive. How inappropriate to position yourself to forgive. You are a maniac indeed. I'm not surprised, this is what American culture promotes dehumanisation of Muslims, so you view them in a sub-human manner like they never had a family or future and its due to this mindset you put yourself in an entitled position as the exceptional American saviour with a great family and future and your suddenly the moral judge which has the sacred right to forgive. You feel sorry for the soldiers and no remorse for the familes of the innocent muslims. It's precisely because many people around the world have lost there humanity that we are dealing with such catastrophies. You are indeed an imbecile and that's not surprising after all you are an American.
I served as an airman at the tail of the Nam. I am in my 60s now and I still cry. More so since my wife passed the week before 9-11. I am so sorry for the men who are fighting this conflict, I have an aquantence that I know who was constantly in the bush and to this day every night he fights t the same guys over and over again, my father was a vet in the Nam and he became a drunk, a wife beater and he abused my siblings. When we returned from over seas I left the service and my father let me stay with him till I got my job. I had so much sorrow and he was no help. Eventually I pulled my head out and I was still hollow. I was found by Jesus one afternoon and I was headed to my dad's in Hollywood when I came to know him. When my father learned of what happened he berated me and tried to strike me, but I let the blow go by me and into the wall he had backed me up to, he put a hole in the wall and injured his hand so bad that it hurt him for many years. He has passed and has been gone many years now. The experience he had over there changed a cockie msgt into a broken man. We came home to the jeers of our own people and suffered the loss of great friends. Watched them die and others as well. When I left I too was angry. We went so serve a country we're humiliated by our countrymen and then we watched as the people who were left behind, the people of Vietnam were left to the VC and their mercies. They were slaughtered. I don't know to this very day why we were there, but I can tell this, any man who can watch his friends die and lives himself will always want that sacrafice to mean something to die for nothing is the cruelest death and to be the one left is torture of one's very soul. Let there be peace so that our children and their children can live in peace. My father could not accept the forgiveness of Christ and I guess he couldn't belive he could forgive me either. My dad never changed his mind. But I didn't follow in his footsteps and my children didn't have the life I had or could have had if that one day had not happened. There is hope men and women to take away the empty life of our sorrow and give you hope now and later. I'm old now but I don't think I can ever forget what happened, but I'm thankful for the love of God that changed an angry boy into a gentle man, broken but not broke and with purpose and fulfillment. I remember my dad and I hope you can find Jesus like I did because I like you did not think at times that I was worth to dust on the feet of a pig much less the love of God found in Jesus. He can heal the pain stop the hate and put strength and compassion for others when your heart is cold and empty. Take him to heart and he will truly make you the difference between sorrow and pain to be a hope giver to others. Peace to those who cry and love forgiveness and joy to those who think it will ever come true. It will it can be, I know because it's true. Dry your tears and look for him. Rick Usaf 1973-1979 SAC 22ND COMBAT, SECURITY SERVICE (INTEL, NOT COPS) 6950SG, COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE 33RD COMBAT COMM. SGT
You to i can see you have a brain like a pea what if it is your family there Are the civilians there die i bet you Will try to find the ones there killed your family
You need spiritual and emotional guidance Sean not meds..not necessarily religious. Small town chaplain maybe? Or review your friends for the more strange but authentic and woo one of them to ask for their help in joining you on your journey back to yourself including this new recognition of what is going on in our world and why.
The orders n job as its mission is stated officially is unconstitutional and therefore immoral and technically illegal. Any member in any branch has the right to refuse an illegal order based on law n morals. Yea ... you'll get captains mast but it's just part of the process. So what's a little brig time to preserve the constitution .... worse than taking a bullet which u also volunteered to do? I performed the same act of courage in 1975 by refusing to fly on planes that were falling apart (ford) and I came to refute MAD tactics. Of course I just was a boomer hunter with a multimillion dollar education in subs so they went easy n put me on valium (a new drug then). The MIC is a make work job for civilians. It's a protected industry, stupid wasteful n expensive, Orwellian myopic, and creates nothing useful ... every machine is designed to destroy or kill. I predict a counter measure to drones will be developed ... like ISIS taking out the pilots in NV in their AC portacamps. Or shooting up a gamers convention with the military in attendance. Those droner pilots wouldn't have passed a pilots physical in the old days .... let alone make it thru SERE n DWS. LOL
He did have the choice to refuse the command if he thought it was wrong. They may have replaced him and the next guy may have followed the order but at that point, he would have done all he could do and his conscience would be clear. Every person in the german military during world war 2 had the same decision to make. The difference being, they would have lost a lot more than just their job. “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” ― Edmund Burke
Your ignorance is absolutely astounding. What these two individuals show is they have guilt and remorse, and they're willing to express that on live television to admit the war crimes our country has committed. That takes courage and should be called whistleblowers. Something hundreds of their counterparts currently working today are not brave enough to do. Meanwhile your cheeto eating ass is gonna sit there and talk shit at the end of your computer. Give me a fucking break, you are the epitome of cowardice.
