Iraq - The war that just keeps on giving

[DirtyMartini]

Veterans are not super human, you have an unrealistic expectation of what they should be.

No, I just have an extremely dim view of the general American population and its murder rate.

[Felch]

We like our murder rate, thank you very much. It keeps things interesting.

[KrazyHorse]

since when?

Hi, Sava.



Please come up with more creative insults. Thanks.

[KrazyHorse]

I'll note that BC hasn't yet been back to defend his assertion that it's obviously stupid to compare returning veterans to the average American citizen in order to get a handle on what those numbers actually mean.

Instead, I suppose we should assume that all veterans were perfect when they walked into the military, and only the extreme stress of combat made some of them into murderers.

[Theben]

You posted 4 in a row. Shouldn't Lori put you on your ignore list?

[KrazyHorse]

His system is broken. I can still read his posts.

[KrazyHorse]

A "spate of five killings" allegedly committed by a single combat team isn't news?

It is news for those who died and their families. I'm not sure it is news in terms of being a statistical aberration.

First off, we need to know if these killings are in any way connected. Were some of them multiple murders? Murders committed by the same individual (or a small group of individuals)? Then we need to know the size of this "combat team" as well as the number of similarly sized units of veterans in the US.

I doubt that you know the answer to these questions.

[DirtyMartini]

A "spate of five killings" allegedly committed by a single combat team isn't news?

First off, we need to know if these killings are in any way connected. Were some of them multiple murders? Murders committed by the same individual (or a small group of individuals)? Then we need to know the size of this "combat team" as well as the number of similarly sized units of veterans in the US.

I doubt that you know the answer to these questions.

Assuming at least a little bit of good faith on the reporter's part, it is pretty safe to say the police think the killings may be connected.

[DanS]

I've seen statistics showing that PTSD takes a toll on a large chunk of returning vets who have seen action. There is anecdotal evidence as well beyond Zaku's.

But as KH points out, this article suggests the opposite of what the writer appears to have intended to suggest.

[DirtyMartini]

I've seen statistics showing that PTSD takes a toll on a large chunk of returning vets who have seen action. There is anecdotal evidence as well beyond Zaku's.

But as KH points out, this article suggests the opposite of what the writer appears to have intended to suggest.

I don't think you can assume any intention on the writers part. It's a single sentence paragraph stating as a fact the number of murders/suspected murders committed by Iraq war veterans. There is no surrounding context to imply that the writer thinks that's a large or a small number of murders.

However, Wezil, by bolding it, provides some context for guessing how he feels about it.

[BlackCat]

I'll note that BC hasn't yet been back to defend his assertion that it's obviously stupid to compare returning veterans to the average American citizen in order to get a handle on what those numbers actually mean.

Instead, I suppose we should assume that all veterans were perfect when they walked into the military, and only the extreme stress of combat made some of them into murderers.

Nah, I just have a life outside Poly unlike some others

My comment wasn't aimed against the part that Wezil had bolded - it was on the previous parts of the article.

TBO, I think that Wezil and I disagree strongly on the point that we need to be in Afghanistan, but I think that we agree that when the soldiers are returning, then they need a proper return.

Until some six months ago, danish soldiers were send directly from Afghanistan to civil life, and that was in fact a very bad idea. Until now, no retired danish soldiers has started murdering randomly, so they fit the danish statisticks, but they certainly have had psychic problems that could lead to such. Cases has been all from scare of being in public places to attacking their wifes in their dreams.

[KrazyHorse]

I think that we agree that when the soldiers are returning, then they need a proper return.

Where did I say that they don't?

[Berzerker]

Because it fits the theme that US soldiers are brutal bloodthirsty babykillers.

nah, its "war makes people nuts"

[BlackCat]

I think that we agree that when the soldiers are returning, then they need a proper return.

Where did I say that they don't?

Nowhere.

[Berzerker]

Do you mind explaining yourself, you Danish buffoon?

You disappeared after I pressed you for an explanation of why my comments in the other thread were so obviously stupid. Going to pull the same bull**** here?

Returning soldiers are not particularly violent, at least not by the measure of homicide commission. This is an extremely important comparison to make, as it gives the lie to the inference made by both the article posted as well as the individual who posted it.

Twit.

well, I do seem to remember you claiming rape victims intrude upon their attackers if they resist, that was damn near the most boneheaded thing I've seen at poly Or did you argue self defense is an intrusion? Oh well, same thing...

and I believe the article made a distinction between vets who saw heavy action and vets who didn't - that would dramatically reduce your starting pool of vets.