Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - changing how you think about afghanistan: a massive leak of military documents.

Tully Mars · 08-13-2010, 04:07 PM

I've done some thinking about this since this thread came, actually since the leaks hit the news. I was absolutely opposed to the Iraq debacle. Thought it was horseshit the first time I heard they were thinking about. Afghan was a different story for me. When Bush Jr. stated he was going send our guys over there to get, dead or alive, the people responsible for 9-11 I was 100% with him. You bomb us we track you down, end of story. But the way the war was being run, it became quickly obvious it was likely a mistake. So honestly even when Obama came out and said "it was the right war and were going to finish it," I'm paraphrasing, too lazy Google the actually quote, I thought that was a mistake. I mean really how long are we suppose to try to make something of that place? History pretty much shows anyone who's tried has left broke, tried and missing lots of soldiers. Doesn't seem to be going any better for us. Like Iraq we've been told we've turned the corner so many times anyone with a lick of logic would have to conclude we're going in circles.

So not a fan of the wars, at all. I think we should have started pulling people out years ago. I mean how many lives have we lost? How much has it costs us? And 10 freaking years? Give me a break.

All that said this leak thing bugs the shit out me. Maybe it's a military thing but I'm not a fan of military members leaking classified info. I know when I was in the Navy if some one blew up the ship I was on and I found out they got intel on how to do it because some guy "thought" he was doing the right thing I be a little more then pissed. If I survived and many of my friends didn't I just might make it my life's mission to track that SOB down. You join the US military voluntarily. You sign documents swearing you won't do exactly what this guy did. Just because you don't like the war or the way it's going doesn't give you the right to basically steal a bunch of classified intel and give it to the media.

Today I went down to Mexican Immigration to get my FM3 resident visa renewed. Last year the process was pretty friendly and quick. Today I was asked if I ever lived in Arizona and was pretty much treated like shit. Never did get the whole process done, need to finish on Monday... I hope. Why am I writing about this experience? Because it's just another example of how governments and law makers make policy, pass laws or even go to war. The people in charge are affected very little by their actions... it's the people who end up suffering.

So my day and probably part of my Monday has become a pain in my ass, big deal not like I was finding a cure for cancer and this interrupted me. But I think about these leaks and I think about some poor smuck under orders to man a base in Bumfuck, Nowhere sitting in his 100 degree sand filled tent or maybe he's standing watch on some ridge alone some night. Is he in more danger now? I'm not 100% sure he is but I'm nearly 100% sure this didn't make him safer. I'd also be willing to bet he's more stressed then he was before someone took it upon themselves to release info they had no legal right to release.

Bottom line after much thought- I don't like it... at all and I hope they find the parties responsible and take what ever legal action they can to lock them away for a very long time.

08-13-2010, 04:07 PM	#62 (permalink)
Tully Mars Living in a Warmer Insanity Super Moderator Location: Yucatan, Mexico	I've done some thinking about this since this thread came, actually since the leaks hit the news. I was absolutely opposed to the Iraq debacle. Thought it was horseshit the first time I heard they were thinking about. Afghan was a different story for me. When Bush Jr. stated he was going send our guys over there to get, dead or alive, the people responsible for 9-11 I was 100% with him. You bomb us we track you down, end of story. But the way the war was being run, it became quickly obvious it was likely a mistake. So honestly even when Obama came out and said "it was the right war and were going to finish it," I'm paraphrasing, too lazy Google the actually quote, I thought that was a mistake. I mean really how long are we suppose to try to make something of that place? History pretty much shows anyone who's tried has left broke, tried and missing lots of soldiers. Doesn't seem to be going any better for us. Like Iraq we've been told we've turned the corner so many times anyone with a lick of logic would have to conclude we're going in circles. So not a fan of the wars, at all. I think we should have started pulling people out years ago. I mean how many lives have we lost? How much has it costs us? And 10 freaking years? Give me a break. All that said this leak thing bugs the shit out me. Maybe it's a military thing but I'm not a fan of military members leaking classified info. I know when I was in the Navy if some one blew up the ship I was on and I found out they got intel on how to do it because some guy "thought" he was doing the right thing I be a little more then pissed. If I survived and many of my friends didn't I just might make it my life's mission to track that SOB down. You join the US military voluntarily. You sign documents swearing you won't do exactly what this guy did. Just because you don't like the war or the way it's going doesn't give you the right to basically steal a bunch of classified intel and give it to the media. Today I went down to Mexican Immigration to get my FM3 resident visa renewed. Last year the process was pretty friendly and quick. Today I was asked if I ever lived in Arizona and was pretty much treated like shit. Never did get the whole process done, need to finish on Monday... I hope. Why am I writing about this experience? Because it's just another example of how governments and law makers make policy, pass laws or even go to war. The people in charge are affected very little by their actions... it's the people who end up suffering. So my day and probably part of my Monday has become a pain in my ass, big deal not like I was finding a cure for cancer and this interrupted me. But I think about these leaks and I think about some poor smuck under orders to man a base in Bumfuck, Nowhere sitting in his 100 degree sand filled tent or maybe he's standing watch on some ridge alone some night. Is he in more danger now? I'm not 100% sure he is but I'm nearly 100% sure this didn't make him safer. I'd also be willing to bet he's more stressed then he was before someone took it upon themselves to release info they had no legal right to release. Bottom line after much thought- I don't like it... at all and I hope they find the parties responsible and take what ever legal action they can to lock them away for a very long time. __________________ I used to drink to drown my sorrows, but the damned things have learned how to swim- Frida Kahlo Vice President Starkizzer Fan Club Last edited by Tully Mars; 08-13-2010 at 04:34 PM..