Why do American soldiers regard Iraqis as sub-human?

Question

There were these four American soldiers who noticed a 15-year-old Iraqi girl near their checkpoint, so hatched a plan to gang-rape her and murder her and her family to cover up their crime, which they did. They got drunk, broke into her home, murdered her mum, dad and 5-year-old sister, before gang-raping her and shooting her several times in the head, and then burning her body. See http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/03/AR2006070300399.html?nav=hcmodule
These are just the guys who got caught. I want to know from US servicemen- how widescale is US terror against the Iraqi civilian population? What percentage of you boys actually care about Iraqis and what percentage see them as sub-humans to be raped, tortured and murdered at will? And for those who see them as sub-human, how did you get to that stage?

MY OWN ANSWER: When the US attacked Iraq, US soldiers were attacked by some Iraqis, who did not want them there. US troops then saw Iraqis as their enemy. They did not only see the Iraqis attacking them as the enemy, but all Iraqis. The whole occupied race became the face of the enemy. American soldiers have now dehumanised all Iraqis, and this dehumanisation enables them to rape, torture and murder Iraqis if they think they can get away with it. When the US troops in this case planned to herd a mother, father and their 5-year-old daughter into a room and murder them so that they could then gang-rape and murder a 15-year-old child, which they did, they did not think that they were attacking people. We can all see that they were attacking human beings and that is why their actions make us feel enraged. But the US troops viewed their victims as the enemy, who they could do whatever they wanted with. This happens in all invasions and occupations which the occupied do not want.

Answer 1

I wish I could point out documentation for you--there's plenty out there. One of the things that happen in a state of warfare is that soldiers are forced to kill the "enemy," who may look exactly like the soldier's family and friends. Dehumanizing the enemy is sometimes the only way a soldier can go on doing his or her job. Otherwise, the job would feel like marching into one's own neighborhood and killing the neighbors, and that would be psychologically devastating. Unfortunately, the self-preservation a soldier develops through dehumanizing the enemy can sometimes progress to dehumanization of the enemy's entire culture. That's when we see things like rapes and murders of innocents. It's amazing, really, that we can send soldiers out to kill our enemies, but we're shocked and surprised when the horrors of their jobs lead to atrocities. Asking them to do what they do without any dehumanization of the enemy culture is completely unreasonable on our part.

Answer 2

because Americans see themselves as superhuman. The previous guy is right; war IS hell and America is the devil. Religion and politics are two of the biggest evils in this world and ironically also the cause for the most wars. The USA are trying to control both by turning the whole world into a democracy with Christian morals, but in the meantime provoke so much anger in doing so, that war is inevitable. Then they point the finger to the other party and blame them for not accepting the American cause. They are just as bad as the Roman Catholic Church if not worse, killing millions of innocent people and then calling it collateral damage. A**holes! Sorry, can't answer your question, just got so pi**ed off by hearing the story.

Answer 3

It is amazing how someone can sit back and condemn those young men who are protecting them. Of the several hundred thousand service members who have served in Iraq a few do bad things and the liberals want the world to believe all our men are evil. Go to the desert and spend a few days or weeks facing the elements and think about how it feels to be under constant threat from roadside bombs. Eat lousy food and suffer like our people are and perhaps you will feel different about the sacrifices they are making.

Answer 4

Americans think themselves the only superrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr power in this world forgetting that Superpower And ALMIGHTY Allah who has made each human equal and give him freedom to live in his own country but Americans don,t want to give freedom to others they think they have the very right to make nuclear weapons and also use it against the country which disobeys it like japan Iran Afghanistan Russia Iraq and so many more. They r wild beast (Americans) they r all a like stupid and selfish what they r doing in their own country in America after every 36 sec a woman is raped is this humanity is this their cult re which they want to introduce in every country they have no respect for other nations why u only saying about Iraq

Answer 5

Any of you pansies acting like you know everything about the military ever actually served? You think that Iraq is a big happy place with rainbows and unicorns and we are just here stomping in faces or something? Wake up and smell the concrete. These INDIVIDUALS who did this are the few undesirables who fall through the cracks. But don't worry, someone else is serving so you can keep on living your undeserved lifestyles.

Answer 6

When you are in Army they consider others as enemies,not as human beings,woman,girl or child.Victorious people plunder,rape do all things.Humanising Army in such situations is a challenge.The solution is that only people of high cultural values/human values are recruited by the Army or at least such people only should be deputed in across the border wars,like in Iraque.Severe deterrant punishment may tone up the Army.

Answer 7

Iraqis bombed and mutilated the invading Americans

Answer 8

The answer to this is easy, America think they are the best, they are tyhe only superpower left and think to highly of themselves.

It is all to do with the American Ego!!!

Answer 9

Don't pick on just americans. War is hell.

It's a combination of boredom, blood lust, gung-ho media hyped patriotism.

It is horrible.

Answer 10

i think it's just a case of some scum element doing it because they think they can get away with it! i would'nt tar all american soldiers with the same brush.