If you had a choice between saving 1 american soldiers life or a family of Iraqis, which would you choose?

Question

Bear in mind that the family of Iraqi's are just a normal family trying to make their way in this world like the rest of us.

Also for those that say they would save the american soldiers life, how do you reconcile the fact that America claims it is over there to liberate the Iraqis, when youve just said that you would quite happily let 4 of them die to save just one of your own? Isnt that being a little hypocritical?

Answer 1

Good question, Big Dave, and thanks for the 10 points! No need to explain your motivation on the last one(It WAS courteous of you to do so, however.), but I figured that you were "taking the piss", as you so eloquently put it, after seeing several of your other questions that contained information at odds with your story in the "get outta the Army" question.

This question is a good one. I would have to go with the American Soldier, because I will place the mission first, and looking out for my battle buddy is part of that mission. I would love to be able to save the Iraqi family, but I have a responsibility to MY people that must be met.

The infuriating part about Iraqi familes in the combat zone is that we generally put out warnings to the general population, telling them to stay away from certain areas, to avoid places where fighting is going on, don't touch the unexploded ordnance, etc. , but it's about like their traffic laws; they simply do not follow. I have seen Iraqis driving for miles on the wrong side of the main highway, changing sides as the traffic congests. They let their children wander blithely about in the middle of firefights(we treated many children during MEDCAP missions who were the victims of small arms and mortar fire. Where is the responsibility of the parents? We aren't babysitters.). So tell me, how are we supposed to avoid casualties amongst the civilian population when they will not even act for their own self-preservation?

We don't just claim to liberate the Iraqis; we actually have. I met artists over there, who had been brutally tortured, some to the point that they were permanently maimed and crippled, simply for practicing their art. Painters, sculptors, mixed media artists, all who displayed amazing talent, but ran afoul of the authorities because they produced art that was not in accordance with the dictates of the State. Imprisonment and torture ran rampant in the arts community of Iraq until we came. Now they have a thriving art community, and their artists are telling their stories in vivid works that capture the imagination. You've never seen people so thankful as these, or so willing to acknowledge that they owe us for the freedom we brought them.

In Najaf Province, we had a better than 94 percent voter turnout, which was a model for Iraq. Our willingness to work with and respect the local people and their officials paved the way for a resurgence of commerce, construction and quality of life that the local people hadn't enjoyed in over a decade. We helped them build schools, roads, houses and businesses, all of which contributed to the quality of life in the province, and gained the trust and respect of the citizens of Najaf.

Of course, NONE of this was ever reported on any news network, and never will be, because it is in the best interests of the drive-by media to have us lose in Iraq, that their left-wing masters may capitalize on this loss to elect a new President. Sound far-fetched? Just take a good, long OBJECTIVE look at CNN or MSNBC and tell me if you think they're interested in prosecuting this war to our benefit.

Anyway, thanks for the opportunity to answer this most excellent question, and may I say it, keep an open mind.

Answer 2

If I was that One American Soldier. then I choose the Iraqi Family.
I think most of our Soldiers feel the same way.

Despite the occassional bad apple, 99% of our troops are there to help the Iraqi's rebuild their country and have a better life. It does not matter whether the family is American, Iraqi, Afghani, British, French, German, Whomever. Our soldiers fight to protect those who cannot protect themselves.

maincoast1: You have no clue what America is all about.
Of couse Saddam had nothing to do with the 9/11 attacks. but guess what bud, neither did the invasion of Iraq. The Iraq war had nothing to do with the war on terror (initially). It was all about Saddam Husseins failure to comply with multiple UN sanctions put in place after the first gulf war.(Desert Storm). Saddam through his idiocy brought the second gulf war upon himself.
Now after we had gotten rid of Saddam from power and during the rebuilding phase. terrorists (insurgents) have flooded into Iraq from other countries and have started a Jihad against Iraqi's and Americans alike. More Iraqi's are being killed each day than Americans are. and it's not the Americans that are doing the killing. its the insurgents.

Answer 3

First, the US isn't over there to liberate the Iraqis and anyone who believes we are is naive.

I was against the invasion of Iraq from the beginning. Saddam had nothing to do with the 9-11 attacks and he was no threat to the United States.

Nevertheless, as an American, I would save the life of the American soldier. My reason for doing so--other than the fact that he is one of our own--is that as an American soldier, he is not there by choice.

Now, if you asked if I had a chance to save George Bush, Dick Cheney or any other member of the Bush Administration who approved of the invasion, or an Iraqi family of four, my answer would be different.

Answer 4

Using what I assume are magic powers (how else would I have the choice?) I'd probably choose the family. Not that the soldier doesn't deserve to live based on the Administrations lies, the family never choose to go to war and therefore, never put themselves at risks. When signing up for the Army, the soldier knew there was a chance he could die and he took that risk. The family is just stuck in the middle of something they had no control over.

Answer 5

No its not hypocritical. I would of course choose the soldiers life. As for the Iraqi family well, this is a war for their freedom, unfortunately in war people die-even innocents. This is collateral damage and while it is terrible-In the long run Iraq as a country will be much better off. And also the soldier is the one who is helping to accomplish this freedom so I have to say his life is more valuable, for the mission and the country, than the lives of the civilian family.

Answer 6

In USA I will prefer to save the life of an American if under siege by an Iraqi family, I will not hesitate to kill the complete Iraqi family to save one local American soldier.
Similarly in Iraq, I will offer a safe way out to the American soldier back home, and if he insists to stay on without the consent of local inhabitants and is adamant to kill them, I will prefer the Iraqi family to remain protected in their homeland.
You never help the intruders, forcefully entering your homeland, for occupational intentions.
They are either taken into safe custody, and if they refuse, they are killed if they attempt to kill the locals.

Answer 7

This suppose to be some sort of trick question. I am a American, I will save the American Soldier. Their kids could be wired with explosives , they do that you know. No , I do not feel like a dog for saying this. No it is not hypocritical. Apparently you have never been in the military. I have, I fought and I am proud. I support our Troops.

Answer 8

Save the Iraqis. As a soldier, the person would know that they signed up and the risk is there. Most soldiers recognize that they're expendable, especially for civilians' lives.

Answer 9

The ratio is more like 20 to 1 not 4 to 1. I have no answer to your question. It depends on the circumstances i suppose.

Answer 10

Personally I would rather an insurgent take out the family and soldier. I've read somewhere that people wipe their asses with the left hand over there and I don't want some wacky digestive bacteria when I'm already suffering from the Montezuma revenge.