Reply to comment
Some of these comments....
When I wrote my comments, above, I had not read the others before mine. Now, however, I feel I need to comment on the comments...
Such anger-both to PBS, this film, and the soldiers who found themselves in this unbearable position. May I first offer this as an example of why we will always have war, and why it will always be based on mindless aggression.
To call these men, "cowards", for speaking out about clearly criminal, immoral, and UNPATRIOTIC, acts, which were ORDERED by the very top of the chain of command, is far from being a truly "American" response, and shows we are, indeed, a broken Country, and at risk of losing our precious principals altogether. And then to call PBS, and the producers, of a film that simply try to DISCUSS the conflict, "unamerican", or criticize the pain these heroes have had, in even pointing out such atrocities, is shocking, to me, and you should be ashamed of yourself.
These men VOLUNTEERED to risk their lives in a clearly brutal battlefield, and would have given their lives freely-- just so you could sit back, and criticize them, when their beloved Country asked them to be worse than any enemy we could imagine fighting. Far from being "cowards", they are REAL heroes, for, not only speaking out in an environment where that is visciously dispised, but also when it will absolutely bring them severe punishment, and prison. Cowards, huh?
There have ALWAYS been war crimes, some "bad eggs", who commit unspeakable acts in the heat of battle, and wars that are less than righteous. However, THIS war attracted the best, and brightest, after a true, and insideous, attack of their Country, and they were the LAST ones to question their service, or the brutality, they willingly-and most certainly, would face. What they FOUND, however, was too wrong, too obviously evil, and too far beyond a soldier's-or, a human being's allowable conduct, and I honor those who stood up--and ANYONE who doesn't, has no RIGHT to say they: "support the troops".
Perhaps, we will someday get beyond our, "Lord of the Flies", mentality, and take the responsability, as ctizens, for how we deploy our precious men, and women, and punish those who ORDER them to commit atrocities. Honestly, you men who are thinking that we have to torture the enemy, for information, or to keep our Country safe--you're only obtaining lies, whipping up hatred, inhancing their inlistment, alienating the world, and ultimately, putting OUR soldiers in more danger, and insuring a truly vicious fight--we are a hundred times more unsafe now, because of this admistration actions-not the troops. What's wrong with this picture?
We are bound by certain "rules" of war--which have been discarded here. THAT was the time WE should have spoken out. How much could have been averted, if we had. I honor those who have faced punishment, imprisonment, and "dishonor" from their Country, for DOING THE RIGHT THING. I ALSO honor those who continued to serve, as that is their "duty". Yes, I honor both, and pray that God will bless them both, and show us how OUR indifference, arrogance, and fear, threw these heroic people under the bus, when we are the ones who should be on trial.
Shame on us, and shame on anyone who condemns a soldier who stands up for American principals-in any capacity, and shame on those who condemn Americans who actually care enough to talk about it. Isn't that what they are fighting for??? We are so polarized-"us, and them". Too busy cheering for the "team", when the "school" is burning down. We are on the verge of losing our Democracy, and everything we stand for. Can't we, at least, TALK ABOUT IT???? If you still can't, enjoy the next form of government, that comes along. Good luck speaking out at all, then.



We reserve the right to remove posts that don't follow these guidelines. By submitting comments, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, which include more details.