Originally Posted by
MrSplitshot
Powder Keg topic here...and I probably should read more of the documents before commenting, BUT...some random thoughts...
First let me say that I support our troops completely and have the utmost respect for their sacrifices. Even though nothing would make me happier than seeing every last Taliban member, insurgent, and radical Islamic militant jihadist go down in a blaze of gunfire at the hands of our soliders...I don't know that I'm in favor of continuing to do what we have been doing. Are we making progress towards the goal? By the way, what's the goal? Kill all terrorists? Keep them fighting over there so they can't rally and come fight us over here? Get Bin Laden? Fire up a Democratic Afghanistan that can support itself, then get out? It's okay to ask the questions. Is it setup to fail? I understand that's pretty much what the wiki-leaks deal has tried to expose. I haven't read but a couple of the documents, and I'm sure there are some in there that will put our soldiers in harm. This will be spun, especially by those opposing the war, to cast a negative shadow over the US Military and will only serve as fuel for those who already hate us and don't agree with what we are doing. For those reasons, I think the wiki-leaks information was irresponsible. This cat has received a ton of international attention to his website, which is exactly what he wants.
However, maybe playing Devil's Advocate, I sit here and realize that whomever supplied him the information had everything to lose and nothing to gain. That tells me that maybe they felt extremely passionate about "wrongs" being done that cost lives....so much that he/she was willing to risk their life to expose it. I think it's easy for us to say that the person should be executed, but whether you are military or civilian, right is right and wrong is wrong. I've always gathered that questioning the righteousness of authority within the military culture isn't exactly welcomed with open arms. Maybe this person felt so strong in their convictions that they knew the only way it would ever be exposed was to leak it...with the repercussion being massive against them if their identity discovered. Whether you agree or not, it may sound weird...but I kinda admire the passion, if that turns out to be their intent. While we can say "This guy has put our troops in harm with these leaks and should be tried/executed", maybe he/she could make the same argument that the mismanagement of our forces and the situations that they have been put in have put even more in harms way from the start. Again, they have basically risked their life here trying to expose it...if their intentions were sincere. Maybe they felt it was the only way that the wrongs would get exposed, and stopped, thus actually saving American lives in the long run. Maybe they felt the situation in Afghanistan was that dire and feared for the men and women that will continue to loose their lives if they don't get what they need to WIN. (Disclaimer: If it comes to pass that they leaked the info in exchange for a bunch of cash or something, then piss on em.) All I'm saying is that we should get the facts on why this person leaked what they did.
That said, I believe it has been said numerous times that War is Hell. Stuff is going to happen...stuff that's not pretty...and I believe that unless you have been over there holding a rifle, taking fire from insurgents, praying that every approaching car isn't loaded with explosives, and trying to determine which one is your friend and which one is your enemy...(Guess what? They all look the same.)...then who are we to really judge the actions that our soldiers take right now? Sure, they make mistakes and do some boneheaded stuff just like any other...just because they are soldiers doesn't mean they are perfect...but in my humble opinion, they've earned a little slack within reason. They're at war. They're not out for an evening stroll. That doesn't excuse the particularly heinous war crimes, if you will, but I think it gives them a little leeway on other things.
For example: If guys who jump the gun and mistakenly kill some friendly civilians in a combat environment should receive a little slack due to the situational stress, then should a higher ranking officer also receive a little slack for leaking documents if their intent is to expose what they passionately feel are wrongs being done to their men and women on the battlefield?
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