Why Would You Be Surprised??

As the drama of the mass murder in Afghanistan continues on, we hear the guy had a TBI at one point, marital problem prior to his deployment in December and the military will seek the death penalty. They also say he was treated and screened at military mental health for reintegration problems. The military will deny responsibility.


What they don't say is whether the commanding general at Ft. Lewis used his discretionary right to deploy someone considered by medical staff as unfit? They don't say whether he was on some psychotropic medication when he was sent back into a combat zone? If so, how long had he been observed for efficacy and side effects? And, a hidden question arises. Was he treated with the anti-malarial, Lariam? The same medication implicated in psychotic rages of suicide and homicide as side effects. And federal laws prohibit such information about an individual patient being revealed.

What hypocrites! To hear Obama and Clinton tell it we, as a nation, have no culpability for this slaughter as we continue on with the larger slaughter of our wars. In the aftermath of My Lai it was the same. The American people want to believe My Lai was an anomaly. It wasn't.

And isn't it strange the ruthless murders and rapes in Haditha, Iraq were given a pass just last month as the last of the defendants had charges dismissed? We continue to ignore what leads to atrocities and war crimes. We continue to ignore the human response to repetitive redeployment into combat. We want our troops to be heroes and fight honorably. The American public will be outraged by a senseless attack by a single individual but ignore the savagery we expect our young to have fighting insane, immoral and illegal wars against a phantom enemy. War is not heroic. War has no honor. War is savage, ruthless, violent and no one is innocent when they take up arms. Brutality is the norm not the exception.

If a poll was taken and every combat infantryman answered truthfully, I would guarantee a majority would not be surprised or outraged about the massacre. Remember the training is all about demonizing those perceived as enemies. Killing potential enemies in the form of children just doesn't register as something wrong for many.

It is interesting comparisons between this massacre and the one that took place at Ft. Hood perpetrated by the Arabic psychiatrist haven't come up. They both have the same American father. American hate and militarism. And I stress the reference to "father" for it is an integral part of male culture to promote war. It is part of American male culture.
The story will soon disappear in the minds and conscience of most. New stories of gay marriage or contraception will replace it. I am always amazed how Americans have this false belief they give a damn about human life. And I don't know why I'm amazed. I guess the propaganda got to me in early childhood and is difficult to shake.