Did they?

Chockstock

The Stars and Stripes Forever
10-Year Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2009
Messages
827
http://ricks.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2014/01/15/yes_marcus_they_did_die_in_vain

We spend our whole lives training to defend this country, and then we were sent over there by this country, and you're telling me because we were over there doing what we were told by our country that it was senseless and my guys died for nothing?"

That was how former Navy SEAL and Lone Survivor author Marcus Luttrell responded to CNN's Jake Tapper during an interview about the new movie based on his book, about an ill-fated mission in Afghanistan in which 19 of his fellow Navy SEALs and other special operations personnel were killed by enemy forces. There has been much furor in the national press over the exchange since it aired. The majority of commentators have rallied to Luttrell's side, affirming that his comrades did not die in vain. Their arguments focus on honoring the fallen, their dedication to their country and their courage in combat. But we confuse valor with vanity at great peril to the living and the future of our wars. We need a more honest answer, however painful it may be to hear.

Yes, Marcus. Your friends died in vain. They went selflessly. They fought bravely. They sacrificed nobly. They lived in the best traditions of duty, honor, and country -- hallowed words which dictate what every American can and ought to be. But they died in vain for the exact reason that they went where their country sent them and did what their country told them to do. America failed you because it failed its obligation to those principles. It gives me no pleasure to write these words, because it applies as much to the friends I lost as it does to yours. But it needs to be said, because the sooner we acknowledge it as a country, the more lives we might save.

What do you think?
 

I think his guys died for the freedom of any expert or idiot for that matter to say anything they want. We(Americans) can say stupid things like this or how Crabtree is a bad receiver and not go to jail, not go to a Gulog, not go to a prison camp and not be hung from the nearest tree.

The ANA Afghan National Army now is doing a lot of the dying like we have done and continue to do. They are capable, brave, resourceful and good people. Maybe we should not write off these people so quickly. Maybe it is too soon for that. Maybe what we did there was a good thing. Time will tell.
 
I think his guys died for the freedom of any expert or idiot for that matter to say anything they want. We(Americans) can say stupid things like this or how Crabtree is a bad receiver and not go to jail, not go to a Gulog, not go to a prison camp and not be hung from the nearest tree.

While I mostly agree with you, the common counter-argument would be that actions in Afghanistan really have not impacted individual freedoms in the U.S. Afghanistan/Taliban/Al-Qaeda did not really pose much of a threat to your freedom of speech.

Flip side, you could argue that they do, albeit indirectly, based on government expansion of "spying" on U.S citizens. I don't know :confused:
 
This all seems like stuff for politicians to worry about. I've never fought in Afghanistan, but I would bet the average US soldier or Marine deployed there doesn't think of the big picture (freeing Afghanistan from the Taliban, indirectly protecting our freedoms) when they go out on patrol. They only want to stay alive and help their fellow soldiers stay alive, and eventually go home. That's probably what the SEALs wanted during Op Red wings, and that's what they died for.
 
Interesting....

I feel they died and all others before them and those who are preparing to be leaders in the academies for one simple reason....

Giving all of us the ability to print our opinion no matter how ridiculous to how profound!

Push Hard, Press Forward
 
This all seems like stuff for politicians to worry about. I've never fought in Afghanistan, but I would bet the average US soldier or Marine deployed there doesn't think of the big picture (freeing Afghanistan from the Taliban, indirectly protecting our freedoms) when they go out on patrol. They only want to stay alive and help their fellow soldiers stay alive, and eventually go home. That's probably what the SEALs wanted during Op Red wings, and that's what they died for.

Very true. An old Marine told me things are always more local when the stuff hits the fan!
 
I feel they died and all others before them and those who are preparing to be leaders in the academies for one simple reason....

Giving all of us the ability to print our opinion no matter how ridiculous to how profound!

Push Hard, Press Forward

Good point Tug!
 
Back
Top