Monday May 28, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

U.S. Marines posed with Nazi symbol in Afghanistan

World Feb. 10, 2012 - 06:30AM JST ( 26 )

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26 Comments

-2

miyazawa3Feb. 10, 2012 - 08:05AM JST

The loosing Marines shows their inferiority complexes...

Are they Americans...???

Shame you.
0

DeploreFeb. 10, 2012 - 09:02AM JST

SS for scout sniper?

Also: this is a non-issue. Some fools do something stupid that hurt no one, they were told it was stupid, and the organization took steps to ensure no one commits the stupidity again.

I'm so tired of people being upset over every little thing...

In reality stuff like this probably happens all the time... except because this had the slightest sensational value to it, it gets reported across the world. Ugh.
-2

smithinjapanFeb. 10, 2012 - 09:17AM JST

A naive mistake? Well... I guess it's on par with the US enlisting the dregs of society who wouldn't be educated enough to know better.
2

WolfpackFeb. 10, 2012 - 09:52AM JST

You have to wonder when those in the military will stop shooting themselves in the foot by taking photos like these and publishing them on the Internet.
-5

LoveNotFeb. 10, 2012 - 10:01AM JST

It is such a pity that American army is exempt from prosecution in the High International Military Court for crimes against humanity. All these idiots should be prosecuted there. Because they feel they are untouchable, they think they can do anything, like posing with Nazi symbols or pissing over dead bodies. Shame!
0

smithinjapanFeb. 10, 2012 - 01:00PM JST

Exactly, LoveNot -- and yet many Americans will insist they (the troops representing their nation) are in the right, and virtuous, unlike 'the enemy'. They won't admit said people are EXACTLY the same or worse.
0

OlrikFeb. 10, 2012 - 01:19PM JST

The symbols they are referring to are actually based on ancient Viking runes. Whether politically correct or not, the Waffen SS was one of the most potent and feared fighting forces in history, and even by today's standards was quite "diverse" with volunteers from all over western and eastern Europe, including moslems and hindus...
1

SuperLibFeb. 10, 2012 - 01:36PM JST

Another example of a handful of stupid Marines give anti-Americans more anecdotes to make sweeping generalizations based on bigotry.
-1

viking68Feb. 10, 2012 - 03:00PM JST

Unfortunately, these young Marines are living in a fishbowl and may not fully understand the trouble they may inadvertently cause in the internet age.

Stupid, yes. I think it is just being adolescent. The scout snipers are a class ahead of the mainstream military. There are still bad apples at the top of the heap, but this Marine didn't kill or rape civis, or something else egregious. The Marines handled the situation correctly, internally. By doing so, they protected the young and valuable Marine from his own stupidity.

Now everyone is trying to burn these young Marines to just to breathe new life in their personal history and causes. I don't for one think without more information that this is a case of white supremacy or bigotry. Otherwise, more information would have surfaced. Even if it were intended as an SS symbol, it would be rare for the Marines to have a white supremacy connection at the sniper scout level. And Yes, I know having been in the Marines. White supremacy groups are only a step away from terrorism, if not actual terrorists. Marines know that and tend to stay away from affiliating with the enemy lest they blow their whole career and end up in jail, or worse get someone killed.

I don't condone it, but I feel it is more a fascination with an historical, effective and fanatical fighting force that believed in their twisted cause. SS was fascism at its worst. My grandfather fought against them during WWII. According to him, as a military, the SS were tough, professional and didn't surrender easily like the regular German army.

People in the military are not so stupid as to fail to distinguish between an understanding of the good and and an understanding of the bad. Not everything is black and white.
0

viking68Feb. 10, 2012 - 03:04PM JST

SuperLibFEB. 10, 2012 - 01:36PM JST Another example of a handful of stupid Marines give anti-Americans more anecdotes to make sweeping generalizations based on bigotry.

Agree with what you wrote, very nice and concise. I just can never seem to write that much in just one sentence.
-1

viking68Feb. 10, 2012 - 03:14PM JST

LoveNotFEB. 10, 2012 - 10:01AM JST It is such a pity that American army is exempt from prosecution in the High International Military Court for crimes against humanity. All these idiots should be prosecuted there. Because they feel they are untouchable, they think they can do anything, like posing with Nazi symbols or pissing over dead bodies. Shame!

How would you judge prince William for showing up to a party in a full on nazi uniform? His country got bombed by them and should be speaking German now if it were not for the U.S. Was it merely poor judgment, bad taste and offensive, or worthy of prosecution?

These Marines in the war zone feel cutoff from the world, which is different from feeling untouchable. Who can blame them with all the atrocities they see committed around them. One act of stupidity in this environment leads to generalizations like yours. In fact, every minute they are probably worried about being "touched" by a piece of metal or copper jacketed slug or the blast from some explosive.
-1

MiketanFeb. 10, 2012 - 03:20PM JST

These symbols are not a reference to Nazi symbols. They are a symbol indicative of scout snipers. This very same design hangs on the wall at the schoolhouse for scout snipers. I personally know scout snipers of jewish heritage who have this emblem tattooed on their arm. My only complaint is that they were stupid enough to allow the photograph to leak out. Everyone needs to get over this hyper-sensitivity that seems to be spreading everywhere!
-1

DeploreFeb. 10, 2012 - 03:38PM JST

they think they can do anything, like posing with Nazi symbols

Sorry, but America is a little more... oh what was the word? Progressive... when it comes to free speech rights.
1

CletusFeb. 10, 2012 - 03:41PM JST

Initially l though what is the big deal, the marines have merely used the letters from their occupation (unit) to make these letters then you look at the photo and compare that to the origional SS flags and well there is little to no difference at all. So a coincidence? Maybe. Unfortunate and distasteful yeah probably. Especially when you also look up the actual official unit emblems and the "SS" letters appear no where at all on them.

Yes these guys are in a stressful situation as many have said but there has been a few to many of these unfortunate incidents occurring with the US military in the past few years. I would say maybe their education program needs a bit of improvement in terms of what is tasteful and not tasteful especially when shown in the public arena.

Oh and Viking68 it was Harry not William that wore the nazi armband and he got a whole lot of grief over it too as he should have.
0

viking68Feb. 10, 2012 - 04:11PM JST

CletusFEB. 10, 2012 - 03:41PM JST Oh and Viking68 it was Harry not William that wore the nazi armband and he got a whole lot of grief over it too as he should have.

Thank you for the clarification. A lot of grief for a bit of carelessness. I still have a lot of respect for Harry and his service to his country.

I don't know that there are more incidents like this than in the past. Rather, news travels faster now days. It might be possible that these incidents have decreased overall. (just the analogy of my grandfather in a discussion of whether mass-murders are more prevalent now or whether it is easier to report on them.)
-2

LoveNotFeb. 10, 2012 - 04:24PM JST

Recently another picture/video has been released, american soldiers pissing on the bodies of their dead enemies. I was shocked, what kind of animals can do this? There are many pictures of soldiers abusing their prisoners and victims. I think all these psychos join the army to make money and exercise their pervert instincts. No respect for paid soldiers killing other people for money. American people believe that people all over the world love and meet american army as the savior. Actually the opposite. People abhor an army full of idiots and wish the foreign army to leave their lands quickly. Just as Japan wants all the American bases to be moved somewhere else.
-1

CletusFeb. 10, 2012 - 04:47PM JST

LoveNot

Recently another picture/video has been released, american soldiers pissing on the bodies of their dead enemies. I was shocked, what kind of animals can do this? There are many pictures of soldiers abusing their prisoners and victims.

Sadly this has been going on in the US military forever and yes it happens in other militaries too (before l get jumped on for saying that). However the big difference is that the US military tries to portray itself as the defenders of good and innocent and for these and other images to come out and show that some in the US military really arnt much better than those they fight is a major issue. Because while a lot of those in the military are respectable good people it only takes a couple of rotten apples to tarnish the image of all those that wear the uniform.

I think all these psychos join the army to make money and exercise their pervert instincts. No respect for paid soldiers killing other people for money.

Not all those that join the military are like this however there are some who do join the military because its the only job they can get or because of some personal fetish with guns, killing etc. And given how stretched the military is at the moment it is no wonder more and more people that maybe arnt of as good a standard are getting in.

But again while this has happened time and again and is a sad reflection on the whole US military establishment it is still only few rotten apples that give this impression.
0

just-a-bigguyFeb. 10, 2012 - 05:22PM JST

What 's the differences between them? Occupying other countries and carry out cleansing as daily business....maybe there is a difference: The 'efficiencies!
-2

MadvertsFeb. 10, 2012 - 07:00PM JST

"However the big difference is that the US military tries to portray itself as the defenders of good and innocent"

And some of the time they are defenders of good and innocent, cletus. It's true for any group be it army or a sewing class - a small group of individuals doing something stupid has a negative effect on the group as a whole.

What most people on the thread have ignored is that it was the military themselves that have come forward to announce the photo incident, and to use it as evidence of what no to do in training.

I'm not sure where the problem is really, other than the obvious cheap-shot at the US military.
0

CletusFeb. 10, 2012 - 07:04PM JST

Madverts

I'm not sure where the problem is really, other than the obvious cheap-shot at the US military

If you go back and read my whole post in context rather than picking one part of it you will see l was actually critical of the minority that continue to do this type of thing.
-2

CletusFeb. 10, 2012 - 08:30PM JST

Madverts

Buddy your post reeks of the same anti-American sentiment as usual. Using a disclaimer isn't going to hide it. And you dissed Mr Bush, remember.

No disclaimer there buddy. Try reading without prejudice you might be surprised....

Oh and yeah I dissed bush and you and your bush loving buddy
0

ZaphodFeb. 10, 2012 - 08:55PM JST

" SS units were held responsible for many war crimes and played an integral role in the extermination of millions of Jews. "

That would only get them sympathy in a muslim country. Note also the many muslim SS regiments (Hanschar) which were recruited by the Mufti of Jerusalem. So maybe this particular incident is some kind of misguided outreach program for Afghanistan?
0

MadvertsFeb. 10, 2012 - 09:25PM JST

"So maybe this particular incident is some kind of misguided outreach program for Afghanistan?"

The US military is training Afghan's to kill Jews?
0

nandakandamandaFeb. 10, 2012 - 09:57PM JST

If Miketan's comment is true: "These symbols are not a reference to Nazi symbols. They are a symbol indicative of scout snipers. This very same design hangs on the wall at the schoolhouse for scout snipers. I personally know scout snipers of jewish heritage who have this emblem tattooed on their arm."

... this seems to hold the answer. It reminds me of the group of assassins in Tarantino's "Inglorious Basterds".

When I was at elementary/primary school there was a sort of fad or something for drawing swastikas everywhere. I thought it was somehow cool, but had no idea what they actually meant. The Headmaster found out and rounded everyone up. Those who had drawn swastikas were soundly beaten, and the whole school was given a series of lectures as to what the Nazis had done in Europe not long before and what was planned after their invasion of the UK.

In this case it seems more like a series of unfortunate happenings. Besides, an SS look-alike symbol in Afghanistan would offend very few people of any persuasion. Or is there more to this than meets the eye?
0

just-a-bigguyFeb. 11, 2012 - 01:27AM JST

The US marines' peeing scandal and now the SS symbol posing were nothing to compare with their fiasco in North Korea defeated by Chinese forces 1951,so they will forgotton and get over it very soon!
-2

LoveNotFeb. 11, 2012 - 11:56AM JST

How would you judge prince William for showing up to a party in a full on nazi uniform?

It was prince Harry but you know, all of the Europe royals are inbred, it is expected of them to behave like this, like participate in wars against other countries, killing innocent people, exploiting the colonies and dressing like Nazi.