Ethereal

This statement is silly on so many levels. First, you have twelve times the amount of posts I have, next, I have a higher post-to-thanks ratio than you do, and most importantly "thanks" are a poor indicator of the quality of your positions or opinions. The reaction, or non-reaction, you recieve from the forum is a more tangible and accurate indication of your status here at DP - which is that you are a troll.

You most certainly did...

So, I'll ask you again, do you think I am deserving of death in that I am an American Marine, or, at least, that I am a criminal?

It isn't very difficult to measure success. Posts met with positive feedback or a civil rebuttal are typically successful, posts met with personal insults or vehement condemnation are typically unsuccessful. Your share of posts seem to consist largely of the latter type of responses.

So, you admit you're not consistent in your views?

Volker

The ratio is not very meaningful, because the "Thanks" button is relatively new and it is not available in the Basement, where I probably post more often than upstairs.

This is how you interpret this.

I don't think, you deserve of death.

I talk about being successful in the meaning of changing views, this is difficult to find out.

Yes, I admit this.

Ethereal

The thanks button is not very meaningful, period.

How else am I suppose to interpret that statement?

So, why is it such a problem for you to apply this to the majority of American troops? If you wish death upon those who kill innocents I cannot fault you for it, but for those who, like me, abide by the Geneva conventions isn't acceptable not to wish death on them?

Perhaps we should take a poll. I'm sure this will indicate how many minds you've changed while here. What do you think?

Well, it's a start.

Doc Howl

We made a counter offer or two. Then they decided to surrender without conditions.

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Cet Asshat est mechant; on l'attaque, il se defende.

Volker

This is a thin line. They don't like us to continue Basement threads upstairs. If I call you a criminal upstairs, they will call it a personal attack. So lets just say, you and I don't differ a lot in interpreting things here.

This is not about the Geneva conventions. Americans who go to Iraq and try to harm or kill Iraqi soldiers or civilians are dangerous criminals and they should be handled like dangerous criminals. The Geneva conventions should be not applied to Americans in Iraq and it does not matter, if they follow them themselves or not. The same goes for Americans who are in Iraq to do something "humanitarian", as long as they objectively help the anti-Iraq coalition.

Do it if you like it.

Volker

So it was about things which could have been discussed during a truce, too.

quatrotritikali

Crimes? What crimes? All is fair in wartime, as the Japanese should well know. The Japanese government's lies and treachery in the hours leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor is abhorrent.

Horrible things were done by all warring parties. The Japanese sunk a few Allied ships themselves, without taking in survivors, if I recall. And then there is Hiroshima and Nagasaki. President Truman did not wish to use the atom bomb against Japan. However, he felt he had no other choice than to use atomic weapons to end the war in the Pacific quickly and without further loss of Allied lives. And even after the first atomic bomb was detonated...with the resulting horror and carnage never before seen on Earth...still, the Japanese Emperor refused to surrender his nation. The arrogance of the man was unbelievable. It was he who was responsible for the dropping of the second atomic bomb.

Had the United States not used atomic weapons, many more lives would have been lost in the final push to invade Japan. Allied troops were on the move, but the Japanese would fight to the death to save Tokyo and Japan from invasion and conquer...thereby costing the needless deaths of thousands upon thousands of Japanese soldiers and Allied troops.

So, don't sit over there and whine about how atrocious the United States was during World War II. Those living in glass houses should not throw stones....

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Volker

This is about downing Flight 655 and killing 290 people in a passengers air plane.
Press TV - No apologies for downing Flight 655

I think, it answers the question. Don't expect apologies from terrorists.

The US will accept their crimes after being beaten into submission.

bub

so you have no problem with Iraqi resistants beheading US civilians?

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John Hobbes319

None were considered war crimes at the time, that is why no Japanese or Germans were tried for carpet bombing London or China.