Charlie 1-26
December 16, 2007 10:00 AM Subscribe
Blood Brothers: 15 months of combat hell forever change the members of Charlie 1-26. Part 1: To Adhamiya and back. Part 2: ‘I’ve seen enough. I’ve done enough.’ Part 3: ‘Not us. We’re not going.’ Part 4: Picking up the pieces. [Via Danger Room.]
(i was going the snarky way, and thought some more.)
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posted by vivelame at 11:04 AM on December 16, 2007
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posted by vivelame at 11:04 AM on December 16, 2007
Wow. Thanks for posting this, homunculus.
I found it interesting that the justification for the "mutiny" was that the soldiers would not be able to stop themselves from going berserk and killing everything, and that this reasoning met with considerable sympathy from the higher-ups. It stands in contrast with the image of the US military killing and torturing with abandon, and gives me hope that there is still courage and honor in our armed forces.
I loathe this war. I want to believe in my country and its ideals. Snark away.
posted by Quietgal at 11:05 AM on December 16, 2007
I found it interesting that the justification for the "mutiny" was that the soldiers would not be able to stop themselves from going berserk and killing everything, and that this reasoning met with considerable sympathy from the higher-ups. It stands in contrast with the image of the US military killing and torturing with abandon, and gives me hope that there is still courage and honor in our armed forces.
I loathe this war. I want to believe in my country and its ideals. Snark away.
posted by Quietgal at 11:05 AM on December 16, 2007
Suicide among Iraq Veterans Highlighted on Capitol Hill
posted by homunculus at 11:21 AM on December 16, 2007
posted by homunculus at 11:21 AM on December 16, 2007
He didn’t know 2nd Platoon had gathered for a meeting and determined they could no longer function professionally in Adhamiya — that several platoon members were afraid their anger could set loose a massacre.
“We said, ‘No.’ If you make us go there, we’re going to light up everything,” DeNardi said. “There’s a thousand platoons. Not us. We’re not going.”
Outstanding. Soldiers acting like human beings. THIS is the kind of stuff that gives me hope for this damned human race.
The fact that they weren't punished for it is icing on the cake.
Man, this makes me feel good.
posted by John of Michigan at 11:41 AM on December 16, 2007 [1 favorite]
“We said, ‘No.’ If you make us go there, we’re going to light up everything,” DeNardi said. “There’s a thousand platoons. Not us. We’re not going.”
Outstanding. Soldiers acting like human beings. THIS is the kind of stuff that gives me hope for this damned human race.
The fact that they weren't punished for it is icing on the cake.
Man, this makes me feel good.
posted by John of Michigan at 11:41 AM on December 16, 2007 [1 favorite]
But they were punished in a way, weren't they? They were broken up, their records flagged, and many of them has promotions denied or delayed based on their actions.
I think their "mutiny" was heroism of the highest order. Knowing you have that rage building up inside of you and doing what you can to prevent yourself from flying off the handle despite possible consequences, that takes a lot of self-awareness and courage.
posted by Anonymous at 12:21 PM on December 16, 2007
I think their "mutiny" was heroism of the highest order. Knowing you have that rage building up inside of you and doing what you can to prevent yourself from flying off the handle despite possible consequences, that takes a lot of self-awareness and courage.
posted by Anonymous at 12:21 PM on December 16, 2007
“Captain Strickland read us our rights,” DeNardi said. “We had 15 yes-or-no questions, and no matter how you answered them, it looked like you disobeyed an order. No one asked what happened. And there’s no record — no article 15. Nothing to show it happened.”
and this is being published in Army Times. So, the question I have, if this is how the military responds to mutiny now, what is there position on "mutinies" going to be under President Hillary?
posted by geos at 1:06 PM on December 16, 2007
and this is being published in Army Times. So, the question I have, if this is how the military responds to mutiny now, what is there position on "mutinies" going to be under President Hillary?
posted by geos at 1:06 PM on December 16, 2007
This story brought tears to my eyes. I can't help but feel like we (Americans) have failed. Every day this war drags on, and every day that another person is killed in Iraq, is another failure. What is it going to take to end it?
posted by wuwei at 1:42 PM on December 16, 2007
posted by wuwei at 1:42 PM on December 16, 2007
What is it going to take to end it?
Well, the American people aren't the ones giving the orders to the soldiers to deploy.
It's all on one guy. One single person is all that stands between those soldiers and U.S. soil. They could be home tomorrow if he wanted. It could be over in an instant, with the snap of the fingers.
Remember that.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 3:05 PM on December 16, 2007
Well, the American people aren't the ones giving the orders to the soldiers to deploy.
It's all on one guy. One single person is all that stands between those soldiers and U.S. soil. They could be home tomorrow if he wanted. It could be over in an instant, with the snap of the fingers.
Remember that.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 3:05 PM on December 16, 2007
Well, there's an almost eponymous answer, Civil_Disobedient. That "one single person," that "one guy" could be the trigger-puller himself or herself.
posted by John of Michigan at 3:27 PM on December 16, 2007
posted by John of Michigan at 3:27 PM on December 16, 2007
Yeah, but then we'd have to deal with the deluge of "Bush Memorial Airports" and "Bush Interstates" and "Bush Libraries" and "Bush Middle Schools". Fuuuuuck that.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 4:10 PM on December 16, 2007
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 4:10 PM on December 16, 2007
Just an observation to the people saying they weren't punished - they may not have all been officially punished, but there were definitely some signs of 'unofficial' punishment. Some noncommissioned officers were relieved or transferred, and the rest were administratively flagged - in other words, they couldn't receive any favorable actions such as awards, promotions, etc. until the flag was lifted. So, while they did successfully refuse to obey orders, they didn't emerge completely unscathed.
That being said, it took a lot for these guys to do this.
posted by zbaco at 4:16 PM on December 16, 2007
That being said, it took a lot for these guys to do this.
posted by zbaco at 4:16 PM on December 16, 2007
zbaco: True, there were repercussions. But considering that mutiny--because that is what this was, pure and simple--usually merits the firing squad in times of war, well, these guys got off pretty simple.
Also, Civil-Disobedient, I meant that the soldiers themselves, not Shithead in Chief, could refuse to follow their orders. En mass. Would it happen? Not likely.
posted by John of Michigan at 5:58 PM on December 16, 2007
Also, Civil-Disobedient, I meant that the soldiers themselves, not Shithead in Chief, could refuse to follow their orders. En mass. Would it happen? Not likely.
posted by John of Michigan at 5:58 PM on December 16, 2007
Meanwhile, in the other war: A strategic passage wanted by the Taliban and al-Qaeda, Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley is among the deadliest pieces of terrain in the world for U.S. forces. One platoon is considered the tip of the American spear. Its men spend their days in a surreal combination of backbreaking labor—building outposts on rocky ridges—and deadly firefights, while they try to avoid the mistakes the Russians made. Sebastian Junger and photographer Tim Hetherington join the platoon’s painfully slow advance, as its soldiers laugh, swear, and run for cover, never knowing which of them won’t make it home.
posted by homunculus at 9:50 AM on December 17, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by homunculus at 9:50 AM on December 17, 2007 [1 favorite]
Before they died in Iraq, Sgts. Mora and Gray proved that in a democracy, dissent is patriotic, even when it comes from soldiers on the battlefield.
posted by homunculus at 8:28 PM on December 18, 2007
posted by homunculus at 8:28 PM on December 18, 2007
Iraqi Refugees Return, and Are Stranded: The government’s inability to manage a reverse exodus has left the most vulnerable in an uneasy limbo.
posted by homunculus at 9:40 PM on December 19, 2007
posted by homunculus at 9:40 PM on December 19, 2007
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