Quote from Nolan-Vinny-Sam:
How about him following his superior's instructions?
He already admitted, "A: Yes. I killed innocent people for our government."
HE WAS FOLLOWING ORDERS chain of command all the way from the CHIEF IN THIEF errr COMMAND.
The interview seemed to be either reported badly, or conducted poorly. Either way, the answers were indeed inconsistent, so the subject of the interview may be mostly to blame. (anything is possible). We have no way of knowing. Sometimes interviews just don't work. Some people are better off not having their own words used to make their case. A good journalist needs to interpret the sense of some people for them. (Yes, the arguments against this are easy enough to understand...but reality is what it is).
Somehow, no matter where the fault lies for the lack of consistency and logic, there is something wrong with the whole picture as we read what was reported in this instance.
Personally, I get the sense that this Marine was being pretty forthcoming. And genuinely remorseful of his actions. That his message was as NVS interpreted it. Makes me feel sorry for the guy, yes, but not ready to excuse his behavior.
I do see Turok's points....there are big inconsistencies. There is at least a chance that the Marine was somehow trying to paint himself as a conscientious guy after the fact. Anyone here who can make 100% sense out of what was printed is a better man than I....I can't read anyone's mind. No one can. What this Marine was thinking at the time of the interview may indeed have very little to do with what he was thinking at the time of the incidents.
But what is most disturbing to me is that there is NO good side to this "story". If we are to believe that the Marine had only the interests of the innocent at heart, then we would be foolish. He admits to shooting non combatants in civilian clothing. Who may indeed pose potential threats, but where do you draw the line? When their hands are in the air seems a pretty good place for starters.
If we are to believe that the guy had remorse (which is certainly better than not having remorse, but not the same as being "innocent"), he is then guilty of having killed first and questioned himself later (EC said shoot first ask questions later....referring not to questions of one's own behavior but of those shot...a completely different issue).
All in all though, what NVS cited as the Marine's justification for his apparently unlawful acts was "following orders". NVS even wrote it in all caps.
But..... Following orders is no excuse (no matter that it seems very lately that American troops have been using that excuse fairly regularly).
The Nuremberg Trials made it very clear to the whole world that uniformed soldiers are indeed responsible for their own behavior.
ALL soldiers are taught the lessons of the rules of war during Basic Training or Boot Camp just as this Marine surely did.
When it comes to breaking the law...Laws of war in this case, the rules are clearly spelled out. It is no different than breaking laws as civilians. Except for the fact that as civilians, we are not explained all the rules. We know you cannot rob a bank. We know you cannot kill a guy with a knife in a bar. But we don't know all the laws. Soldiers, however, are taught the laws that apply to them.
Two things about the law are consistent in any system....military or civilian....and within any system of government.
1. Following orders if the orders are illegal is a crime.
2. Ignorance of the law never justifies breaking the law.
So this Marine has either been misquoted, or has mixed up his actions. No way does what he claims to have happened excuse his behavior if the behavior is as he described it (which may certainly be not the case....we have no way of knowing by reading what was presented to us).
No matter what the facts of the case are, the story is sad indeed.
Peace,
RS
Ofc I fully expect you to continue with name calling -already you have started-, bring up the rest of your "handles", speaking for others etc....in a final attempt to degrade another thread to your usual pissing contest.