30 US Troops killed by Taliban in single attack.

[kouriichi]

Ok, first off, im not trolling, nor do i mean to offend anyone with this post.
I formally apologize to you, or anyone you know who has lost family due to conflicts between two nations. Again, i am not trolling, nor am i trying to anger the readers of this post.
^Formal apology if this offends you. Please read it twice^

Ok, my take on it? They signed up for it. I am not saying this isnt a sad loss, nor am i saying they deserve it. Im sure they were good people, fighting for what they believe is right, and im sorry for theyre family's loss.

But they knew the risks involved with this line of work. You work with hammers, expect to smash your fingers once or twice. You work at a water park, expect to get wet. You work with guns, explosives, and angry extremists running at you, Ak-47 flailing about, expect to live a short life.

Again, im sorry if this post offends anybody, and i know they were fighting for the good of the world, and to protect the innocent people who live in that land. ((please read formal apology again if you feel i have insulted, angered, and or offended anyone with this post as it was not my intention.))

 

[photog212]

The news over here said it was an "accident".

Then again, I never believed it was an "accident". I always thought it had been attacked. A multi-million dollar helicopter doesn't just malfunction like that.

And they say we have a "free press".

EDIT: Oh, NOW they're saying it was an attack. God, I really fucking hate the news media, bunch of lying, dick-yanking bastards!

The media has to report what they were told or else they can get sued for slander of libel. Also, they run the risk of losing their embed status when it comes to the military. However, there are incidents where the media should have done more research into the story and hunted for the truth. But if the story is: "Government Officials say Helicopter accident" and everything is quoted and sourced then the lie is on the government not the media.

I'm not trying to get into a thing here, but sometimes its not so black and white.
And remember we had a couple of multi-BILLION space shuttles malfunction so its not unheard of.

 

[Sizzle Montyjing]

You know i don't have time to reply to all of these, but just think about there families, and the one civilian on board as well.

And the families of the all the people they killed?
I understand that as your countrymen they represent the righteous knights of freedom that ride into the battle field on fluffy bunnies to vanquish sauron and his evil henchmen, the truth however is alot more grim.

Actually i'm British.
I know everything about war, it's just still tragic.

And just becauase they have killed, doesn't neccasarily mean they're monsters you know.

I'm incredibly cynical about war, it's just that this is sad.

 

[photog212]

Soldiers sign up to protect their country and freedoms. You may disagree with what the military does but the majority of service members have noble intentions.

However,
They DO NOT sign up for:
10 year long quagmires
A defense department that doesn't adequately kevlar their vehicles
An "Allied" nation stabbing them in the back (Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan)

You can't rationalize war by saying: War is hell and soldiers die. That makes as much sense as saying there are fucked up people in the world and sometimes they go on a shooting spree. Tragedy has no rationalization.
(hope that made sense I'm really tired)

 

[katsumoto03]

You mean people who were actively participating in war were killed? My heart breaks, honestly.

My sympathy to these peoples' families, but I find it hard to be genuinely sad when soldiers die if I don't know them.

 

[Vuljatar]

I think Fark's headline says it best: "Goddamnitsomuch."

 

[cainx10a]

Where did you get MILLIONS? Are you talking about when Saddam was in control?

Cause: embargo
Blame: The country who placed the embargo on them. Yeah, a million died post-Gulf War I pre-Guld War 2, and they mainly died from lack of medical supplies and the like, and that's civilian death alone without Saddam lifting the little finger.

 

[prefectimo]

Right. 30 dead. Because that's so much more important than the fact that over 1500 Iraqi citizens, completely innocent, have been killed...

Yeah. I'd say those thirty outweight the irrelevant, small thousand. Quality over quantity.

I take it then that if you and one of the soldiers were held at gunpoint and only one of you would live and you had to decide, you would choose the soldier over your own life.

They died with the same ease any other would have in that situation, so tell me then how were they actually better?

 

[Jakub324]

It's war, people die. Still, the Coalition will kill 100 Taliban within a week for revenge. Bastards. Condolences to those affected by the incident; nobody should have loved ones taken from them.

Not sure if anyone responded to this, but uh...hypocritical much?

'30 guys died? That's awful. I condolences to their families, it must be rough losing someone you love. BUT AT LEAST WE'RE GOING TO KILL HUNDREDS OF THE OTHER GUYS. THEY'RE JUST FACELESS MONSTERS WITH NO FAMILY, WIVES, OR KIDS, AMIRIGHT?'

There's no right or wrong to war. There's just your side and the other side.

I think it's amazing how times have changed...look how many died in any WW2 battle and we're shocked at a loss of 30...Personally I think we should have learned from the Soviets that Afganistan is pretty much an unwinnable quagmire...especially when there's no real objective other than "get rid of random people shooting at us"

It's called the Monkeysphere. The smaller the number, the more 'tragic' it is. Five million people die? Statistic. Five people die? Tragedy.

There is a right to this war. They call themselves warriors of Islam, but Islam dictates that you should not kill. They serve only themselves, and they lost any moral high ground they once had when they started INTENTIONALLY killing civilians to feed their greed.

 

[Ironic Pirate]

The news over here said it was an "accident".

Then again, I never believed it was an "accident". I always thought it had been attacked. A multi-million dollar helicopter doesn't just malfunction like that.

And they say we have a "free press".

EDIT: Oh, NOW they're saying it was an attack. God, I really fucking hate the news media, bunch of lying, dick-yanking bastards!

Yeah, they never just make mistakes, do they? No, everyone in the news media is a soul-less, godless flesh eating zombie created for one purpose: lying through their teeth. That is demonstrably true, and everyone knows they're all payed off buy the government with tax dollars. There's no way they're just incompetent, they all have an agenda, every one.

Sorry if that was a little much, but the escapist has a seemingly massive population of Bill Hicks wannabes, and it's annoying.

They knew that a helicopter fell out of the sky somewhere over 7,000 miles away and who was on board, but didn't know that a rocket hit it? Uh-huh, right. The news media has either lied or warped the truth so many times that I look upon everything they do with skepticism. At the very least, until they knew for certain, they shouldn't have said "accident".

By the way, surprise that you were the one who replied, because I had actually been looking for you. I have to ask you: where did you find that GIF, the one you're using as a profile pic? I have to know, it's so awful and evil it's fantastic! Bambi getting eaten by killer whale = win!

Well, if you had to make a mistake one way or the other, it'd be better to assume it was an accident and then later change it to an attack if it was wrong than the other way around, wouldn't it? I think in terms of the "up to the minute coverage" it's more likely to be a mistake or an incorrect assumption than an actual lie, because first reports are often muddled and confused, and often times they end up picking a source and just going with it rather than waiting a bit for verification. They do let their personal beliefs color it to much, but outside of FOX and political commercials they rarely do straight out lying.

http://senorgif.memebase.com/2010/04/17/funny-animated-gifs-willy-nooooo/

I don't think that's where I actually found it, but it looks to be the same.

 

[The Virgo]

The news over here said it was an "accident".

Then again, I never believed it was an "accident". I always thought it had been attacked. A multi-million dollar helicopter doesn't just malfunction like that.

And they say we have a "free press".

EDIT: Oh, NOW they're saying it was an attack. God, I really fucking hate the news media, bunch of lying, dick-yanking bastards!

Yeah, they never just make mistakes, do they? No, everyone in the news media is a soul-less, godless flesh eating zombie created for one purpose: lying through their teeth. That is demonstrably true, and everyone knows they're all payed off buy the government with tax dollars. There's no way they're just incompetent, they all have an agenda, every one.

Sorry if that was a little much, but the escapist has a seemingly massive population of Bill Hicks wannabes, and it's annoying.

They knew that a helicopter fell out of the sky somewhere over 7,000 miles away and who was on board, but didn't know that a rocket hit it? Uh-huh, right. The news media has either lied or warped the truth so many times that I look upon everything they do with skepticism. At the very least, until they knew for certain, they shouldn't have said "accident".

By the way, surprise that you were the one who replied, because I had actually been looking for you. I have to ask you: where did you find that GIF, the one you're using as a profile pic? I have to know, it's so awful and evil it's fantastic! Bambi getting eaten by killer whale = win!

Well, if you had to make a mistake one way or the other, it'd be better to assume it was an accident and then later change it to an attack if it was wrong than the other way around, wouldn't it? I think in terms of the "up to the minute coverage" it's more likely to be a mistake or an incorrect assumption than an actual lie, because first reports are often muddled and confused, and often times they end up picking a source and just going with it rather than waiting a bit for verification. They do let their personal beliefs color it to much, but outside of FOX and political commercials they rarely do straight out lying.

http://senorgif.memebase.com/2010/04/17/funny-animated-gifs-willy-nooooo/

I don't think that's where I actually found it, but it looks to be the same.

I remember one time Wolf Blitzer on The Situation Room was interviewing some guy (I forget who, it was years ago) who they said was this and that (you know the whole "evil person" drill), but when they tried to make him look bad, he held firm and started saying things that started making sense. Eventually, Wolf said, "The satellite is going down, we have to end the interview."

THE SATELLITE IS GOING DOWN?! WHAT A LOAD OF BULLSHIT!! What happened is that you tried to make him look like the bad guy, but he had his shit together more than you thought and you didn't even the balls to admit that he was right and you came up with the most shit excuse ever! >:-(

Never, EVER, trust the media. That is probably the best advice I have to give you.

Also, thanks for the link to the GIF! I really appreciate it!

 

[derelict]

That's the bloody truth of war folks, people die.

Yeah, but usually not in this large a number.
We all know people die in war, but does that make it any less tragic than a murder, or even a string of serial killings?
And if thirty people had died due to a serial killer, you wouldn't be saying that people just die.

Thirty is a large number of casualties now? Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I'd not bat much of an eye after hearing about some of the wars my pop was in.

 

[cryogeist]

why wont this thread just die already...

 

[The Virgo]

You mean people who were actively participating in war were killed? My heart breaks, honestly.

My sympathy to these peoples' families, but I find it hard to be genuinely sad when soldiers die if I don't know them.

The reason I don't feel sad is because they joined the army or marines or whatever. If those were people who had been drafted, I would feel sorry for them because they didn't have a choice and they weren't fast enough to get across the border. But there's no draft; those people joined knowing the dangers. They wanted to be on the front lines, well they got it.

I feel bad for soldiers who were in World War 1, World War 2, Korea and Vietnam because they were drafted. I don't feel bad for the soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan because they joined.

 

[Zarmi]

It's war. If people go to war, they put their life as the bet.

And hell, 30... In all honesty, it could have been a lot worse. I'm not particulary moved when people in wars are killed.

 

[Crazycat690]

The only thing sad about it is that the US troops seem to believe they are the star in their own personal war movie.

No. Just no. This is what the public thinks about the military, showoffs and jackasses. Some people join the military just for that, but as soon as you strap on those boots, put on that uniform, and leave boot camp, it isn't a movie, it isn't a game. It's what happens when you enter the harsh world of war. Everybody I met who at least served the military hate war and never want to go back, but they have to because it just became their job. Quit making such generalizations.

Again, I already kind of apologized for that comment, still, I sstand by everything else I said.

 

[Sizzle Montyjing]

why wont this thread just die already...

Because it's been one day.
Maybe time just really drags for you.

That's the bloody truth of war folks, people die.

Yeah, but usually not in this large a number.
We all know people die in war, but does that make it any less tragic than a murder, or even a string of serial killings?
And if thirty people had died due to a serial killer, you wouldn't be saying that people just die.

Thirty is a large number of casualties now? Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I'd not bat much of an eye after hearing about some of the wars my pop was in.

I don't think it's much, but hell, BBC had it as front page news on their website, and one death gets reported as major story over here, so to hell with it.
I didn't know it was going to attract this many people who didn't care.

 

[Spoonius]

For future reference, being nihilistic and apathetic doesn't make you cool. It makes you annoying.

And say whatever you want about the Afghani political situation, by if my beloved brother, father or son had been on that helicopter... yes, I'd probably agree that he'd know the risks when he enlisted, that he'd been aware of the dangers, that as a soldier, he'd been placing his life on the line on a daily basis.

I'd also miss him a lot. A hell of a lot. As would his mother, father, brothers, sisters, cousins, grandparents, sons, daughters, friends... it's the butterfly effect at work. A life cut short, a friend wiped from the face of the Earth. So show some fucking respect, regardless of political agenda or general outlook on life.

At the same time, I don't believe in double standards regarding Afghan (or any) lives. If you're going to show respect, show respect both ways. Don't dehumanise the enemy... they may appear misguided to us, but they're fighting for what they believe in too, almost certainly more-so than Western troops. Are they inferior because their beliefs differ? Their actions? Remember that life is hard throughout much the Middle East, at times almost incompatible with our Western way of thinking. Al-Qaeda may have stuck the 9/11 blow, and in no way am I saying that retaliation was uncalled for or unjust, but please stop acting like propaganda posters.


.


In summary, war is shit. Death is shit. People fighting other people is shit. U.S. Americans fighting Afghans and causing/taking casualties is shit. Utter shit.

I tell you what, if I knew that I'd end up dying on a patch of Earth in my country's name, only to be remembered solely as a soulless Nazi who gleefully massacred Jews, or an idiotic pawn fighting for no discernible reason other than the benefit of his/her corrupt and underhanded government, or the "pwned" victim of a certain mass-murdering Finnish sharpshooter, or an impure, incompetent and cowardly Persian infantryman utterly outclassed by a few hundred pure, half-naked supermen in red capes... well, nobody who's ever sacrificed their life for something they've believed in deserves that.

As Escapists, as insightful, intelligent people, please show some respect. God knows that plenty of others will be disrespectful enough in our stead.

 

[Alon Shechter]

Christ, people.
A death is a death. Sure, some deaths are justified, but a death is still a death and we should mourn every waste of life.
I feel sad at every death, even at criminals on Death Row, but I understand that it has to be done and they have brought it upon themselves.
But that's just the sensitive side of me speaking.

 

[Ironic Pirate]

The news over here said it was an "accident".

Then again, I never believed it was an "accident". I always thought it had been attacked. A multi-million dollar helicopter doesn't just malfunction like that.

And they say we have a "free press".

EDIT: Oh, NOW they're saying it was an attack. God, I really fucking hate the news media, bunch of lying, dick-yanking bastards!

Yeah, they never just make mistakes, do they? No, everyone in the news media is a soul-less, godless flesh eating zombie created for one purpose: lying through their teeth. That is demonstrably true, and everyone knows they're all payed off buy the government with tax dollars. There's no way they're just incompetent, they all have an agenda, every one.

Sorry if that was a little much, but the escapist has a seemingly massive population of Bill Hicks wannabes, and it's annoying.

They knew that a helicopter fell out of the sky somewhere over 7,000 miles away and who was on board, but didn't know that a rocket hit it? Uh-huh, right. The news media has either lied or warped the truth so many times that I look upon everything they do with skepticism. At the very least, until they knew for certain, they shouldn't have said "accident".

By the way, surprise that you were the one who replied, because I had actually been looking for you. I have to ask you: where did you find that GIF, the one you're using as a profile pic? I have to know, it's so awful and evil it's fantastic! Bambi getting eaten by killer whale = win!

Well, if you had to make a mistake one way or the other, it'd be better to assume it was an accident and then later change it to an attack if it was wrong than the other way around, wouldn't it? I think in terms of the "up to the minute coverage" it's more likely to be a mistake or an incorrect assumption than an actual lie, because first reports are often muddled and confused, and often times they end up picking a source and just going with it rather than waiting a bit for verification. They do let their personal beliefs color it to much, but outside of FOX and political commercials they rarely do straight out lying.

http://senorgif.memebase.com/2010/04/17/funny-animated-gifs-willy-nooooo/

I don't think that's where I actually found it, but it looks to be the same.

I remember one time Wolf Blitzer on The Situation Room was interviewing some guy (I forget who, it was years ago) who they said was this and that (you know the whole "evil person" drill), but when they tried to make him look bad, he held firm and started saying things that started making sense. Eventually, Wolf said, "The satellite is going down, we have to end the interview."

THE SATELLITE IS GOING DOWN?! WHAT A LOAD OF BULLSHIT!! What happened is that you tried to make him look like the bad guy, but he had his shit together more than you thought and you didn't even the balls to admit that he was right and you came up with the most shit excuse ever! >:-(

Never, EVER, trust the media. That is probably the best advice I have to give you.

Also, thanks for the link to the GIF! I really appreciate it!

That smacks more of general incompetence than evil. They tried to make him a bad guy and panicked, which implies a personal failing on Wolf's part rather than the media itself. Something like 90% of people in any given field either don't give a shit or are totally incompetent, and that ratio is likely even higher in the media. I don't 'trust' them, but I also don't assume they're sitting in a dark castle plotting how to mislead people for mysterious reasons, like in the Simpsons.

Sidebar, Wolf Blitzer is a colossal waste of a name. It's the kind of name that goes to B-Movie action star, the leader of an elite commando force, or some kind of wolf based super hero. Some doofus on CNN with the entertainment value of watching C-Span on mute doesn't deserve to even talk to Wolf Blitzer, let alone be him.

Anyway, you're welcome.