Why do US Military personnel believe their Armed Services are beyond reproach?

Question

Why is it considered a sin in the United States to criticize the military? Like they can do no wrong... from screwing over their own people to killing innocent civilians in their own county (While on leave/liberty) to killing innocent civilians in Iraq or else where, under "The Fog of war" excuse.
Also not to mention, fellow servicemen sexually assaulting fellow servicemen and women.
Some weaker people joining the military and being bullied and abused physically and sexually by other servicemen, Is that in your various services creeds? Is "I will sexually assault weaker Soldiers, sailors, Marines and Airmen to weed out the weak ones" - Is that a US Military value?

Figures you brainwashed American idiots would state such things, are you afraid of the truth or more afraid of being exposed?

Answer 1

Pure brainwashing. When I enlisted...they gave effing long lectures and talked for hours and hours. They try to turn us into mindless zombies.

And this Fog of War crap exists only to protect these zombies.

Take for example the recent fiasco with Rumsfeld. The generals under him were AFRAID to talk against him because it would then put their pension/home in jeopardy. However, after they retired, the genrals started their complaints! What treachery!

The military is the most corrupt organization...more corrupt than any civilian enterprises.

Answer 2

It is not a sin to criticize The U.S. Armmed Forces. As for your statements about killing innocent civilians in and out of their country is very simple. First, you have taken an extremely rare occurance and are trying to bloat it for your own political view, The Military DOES NOT seek out people to kill( that is the job of congress/president to decide). If you ask why servicemen and or women kill while on leave, then you must ask why do gang mebers do it why does a lover do it, why does anyone at anytime or any reason do it, the military does not do it "just cause" , or because it was fun, it would be an unstable person, the same as those who kill in the civilian world, why do civilians kill our military? As for "fog of war" , you appearantly have not served or did not serve in a combat unit, things move very fast, lots of things are going on at the same time, there are loud noises, people yelling, people shooting, maybe now you get the picture? Its chaos! You need to tell insurgent/terrorist to wear a standardized uniform so as to be properly identifed when engaging soldiers, that would if prevent innocents from being accidentally killed, or at the very least it would drastically cut down on the potential from "fog of war" mistakes. Those soldiers that killed innocents without reason are tried and sent to prison. Also, military member has two sets of laws for them to deal with, military and civilian, usally the civilian courts never see them because the military is tougher on convicts than civies. As for sexual assault, if you ask it of the soldiers then ask fairly, why do civies commit sexual assault too? and still there it is a rare case and it does happen more in the civilian side than military. Now just to be clear, the military does not condone, or encourage any one to do these crimes, as a matter of fact, the military goes to great lengths to prevent this by training and educating it's members. The military is there to protect this country, even you. Servicemembers sacrifice more than you, including their lives if needed, all so you can recklessly disparage and berate them. As for my authority on this, I served 14 years in the Army, I was an NCO and I am a combat (frontline) veteran. What is your qualifcation for this unprovoked attack on the military, and why such a broad brush you paint with. Why the narrow mind assuming it's the whole military?. Oh by the way I am a civie now, so I see both sides.

Answer 3

Absolutely no one I have ever been in contact with for the 30 years I was a soldier ever believed that we were perfect or never made mistakes. Especially when you are talking about half a million people. What we have always believed is that when we enlisted we took an oath to follow a code of conduct that was based on character and morals that were true to the interests of our society. Many have violated this oath and have paid the price through courts martial and non judicial punishment. Many have violated this oath and have never been caught. Does that mean that the other 98% are corrupt and inhumane?
You are sadly mistaken and very mis guided in the use of your examples that simply show that the military is full of people who can make mistakes. Why not pick on the Catholic Church and point out that every Catholic cleric must be a child molester since a few of them got caught doing things that they swore they would not do. Your line of thinking just shows how uninformed you are.

Answer 4

Actually we criticize the service all the time. How do you think these things get exposed? And do you think that the U.S. armed forces is the only organization in the world with these problems?

The United States Armed Forces is an extremely large organization and sometimes members of that organization commit crimes. However there are currently several courts-martial occurring prosecuting members of the military for those crimes.

Answer 5

Our soldiers take an oath. In that oath they swear to obey commands of their superior officers including the Commander In Chief, the President of the United States. If they are ordered to go to Iraq, then they go. They believe this country is worth fighting for. As for assaulting fellow servicepersons, female or weaker, no officer encourages such behavior. I don't know what you are talking about but you need a reality check. I do not believe our military is beyond reproach. I believe they deserve our respect and gratitude because when another Katrina hits, they will be the first people we call for help. Think about that.

Answer 6

Let's see...Where to begin?

Why do US Military personnel believe their Armed Services are beyond reproach?....We don't. (First error). In fact, there are entire branches of the Military devoted to dealing with those who violate our rules (The Uniform Code of Military Justice). So that the bad eggs (inevitable in any organization of over 2.5 million people) can be dealt with.

Then you provide some specious examples - "screwing over their own people", "killing innocent civilians", et. al. People get screwed the world over. Often it's a matter of perception. People also get killed. Outside of the rules of war it's called murder and is treated more harshly under the UCMJ than under the US Criminal Code. Within the rules of war, it's a sad and unavoidable occurance. It happens in all combat zones from all military forces - We're just better at minimizing those casualties than anyone else, and also better at bringing them to light and attempting to compensate, when called for, than any other military. (2nd Error)

Now you mention other UCMJ violations within the service - which are punished just like in any other grouping of over 2 million people. Apparently you feel that the members of the military should all be saints? Or do you feel that you can collect 2 million people in a dangerous, low-paid occupation and NOT have ANY crime? (3rd Error)

So, let's sum up. Your question is "Why do US Military personnel believe their Armed Services are beyond reproach." You provide no evidence, anecdotal or otherwise that this statment is true. You provide no argument that it is true. You provide nothing but a laundry list of flaws present throughout human society. You ignore the fact that thes flaws are dealt with more harshly by the US Military than by others.

Is idiocy one of your values? Or is it a simple inability to use logic?

Orion

Answer 7

A few things are glaringly obvious by your "question."

1) You are obviously not an American, which is bad for you and good for us.

2) You have NO idea of what you're talking about.

3) You have NO real idea of just what the American people really think.

4) You have done NO research on your question before posting it. You're just another foreigner who wants to bash the US.

5) You have done NO research on the military of ANY nation; if you had, you would know that the things you accuse the US military of happen in the military of EVERY nation, even yours.

6) You have NO idea of what it's like to live in America - again, good for us, bad for you - and you have NO authority to say what we do and do not think.

7) You're nothing more than a "Keyboard Commando," and a not very well educated one at that.

Wherever you are, stay there. We don't need you here.

Answer 8

Are you trying to insinuate that the military is more corrupt that general society, think again? People are people military or otherwise and they sometime make real bad decisions. I would submit that military justice is to be feared, much more than civilian justice. The punishments usually are multitudes harsher for the same general offense.

If questionable moral activities are reported they are investigated and dealt with quickly and decisively, lets see a bleeding heart liberal civilian judge say the same?

Answer 9

The last time i checked, rape and sexual assaults take place all over the world, and have been occuring since the dawn of time. Also, murder is a big problem in every country, but just because you don't like the military, don't lump us all together as murderers and rapists, thats just ignorant. You prove, by your own words, just how stupid you are. And, the "fog of war" excuse comment was really not necessary for your argument, just trying to sound intelligent i see.

Answer 10

From a veteran (OEF and OIF) I can tell you it definately is not a sin to criticize the military. We have had numerous politicans just get re-elected to office after doing just that.

The military is mainly made up of very young adults (18-25 year olds) and that happens to be the same age level that leads our nation (and any nation) in crime.

Our military members are bound to get into trouble given that it is very easy to join the military. Look at our police in this country, you go through 6 months of background investigations, committess, polygraphs, questionaires, surveys, boards, etc and there are STILL bad appels that get into the profession.

To hold the military accountable for a few people's actions is very ignorant when you think of the high level of crime committeed by their civillian peers.

In the end it is becoming more and more socially acceptable to openly display negative opinions of our military members despite their actions.

Answer 11

You do realize that you have described a minute portion of military personnel that commit these thing....in every military of every country in the world? No of course you don't...you can't see beyond the left wing newspaper in front of your nose.

Also...these terrible things happen in every society...read that as CIVILIANS...NON MILITARY. As it is obvious that you have never worn the uniform let me ask you...is this one of your Civilian Values?

Golly...have you never heard of civilians killing innocent civilians on vacation (aka leave) or sexually assaulting their fellow civilians or abusing or bullying weaker civilians?

Get the point? The Armed Forces are not above reproach...and neither is any society. Or are you so obtuse, blind or ignorant to believe that these thing happen only in the US military?

Any recollection about stones and glass houses? You need to have have your house repaired, bucko!

EDIT: Team Leader...brovo...As always I enjoy your answers and commentary.