Is the guy who blew the whistle in Iraq about the prison abuses a 'hero' in your mind?

Did he do the right thing?

Thoughts.....

Man im gonna burn for this one.

NO I don't think he's a hero. He's just a snitch. I wouldnt spit in his face, but I do wonder how he sleeps at night knowing a man lost his head because of what he did.

I think he meant well. But I wouldnt treat him with any special honors. He only did what he thought was his duty. Lets just hope he never knew the pain and suffering he'd cause. Lets also hope he didnt do this just to be the whistle blower hero selfishly. If he did, then yes, I'd spit on his face.

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Posted by Xelindrya

Man im gonna burn for this one.

NO I don't think he's a hero. He's just a snitch. I wouldnt spit in his face, but I do wonder how he sleeps at night knowing a man lost his head because of what he did.

I think he meant well. But I wouldnt treat him with any special honors. He only did what he thought was his duty. Lets just hope he never knew the pain and suffering he'd cause. Lets also hope he didnt do this just to be the whistle blower hero selfishly. If he did, then yes, I'd spit on his face.

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I'm not so sure about a lot of people disagreeing with you. He took an oath to the army and in effect, he kinda turned on it.

I'm sure there's a lot more that we'll NEVER know.. but I'm inclined to agree with you.

I think it's courageous to go against the grain.. the world has turned on that.. but in this instance.. but it might have been too foolish a thing to do. Especially when he had to know what world reaction would be. JMO

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Lets also hope he didn't do this just to be the whistle blower hero selfishly.

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If he was looking for fame, I don't think he succeeded because I haven't seen his face once. I think it took courage to do what he did, and I disagree that a man lost his head because of what he said--a man was beheaded because of the atrocities going on in the prison. I could never join the military because I am not one to follow orders, no questions asked, but I know that if I saw that kind of abuse and killing in the jail I could not live with myself if I did nothing to end it. As for his duty--from what I have heard they all felt it was their duty to abuse the prisoners and keep quiet about it. If it was their duty to smile and laugh while doing it, I do not know...

i think he did the right thing. but i don't like to toss the word hero around very much. in fact i don't like the way the word is used at all these days. but that's besides the point. imo, what they were doing is wrong, really wrong, and disgusting. i think we deserve all the backlash we get for acting like animals. i don't care what kind of oath you take when you join the army, when you see something like that going on your human side should take over and take responsibility. which is what he did. i can't fault him for that. i hope that if i were ever in that situation i'd do the same thing.

i don't understand why you guys are saying what he did was wrong? do you think the abuse should have been allowed to continue?

That is a tough question.

First to address the other posts: I don't think he did this to be famous. I also don't think he is responsible for the beheading. They were goign to kill the guy no matter what. The photos just provided an excuse. Look at Daniel Pearl. What was their excuse for killing him?

As to whether or not he is a hero, - I can't answer that. Whether he did the right thing, it depends on how you want to view America. If you think we are better than them, that we obey a standard of human rights, then he did. If you don't- then he didn't.

As for my opinion. The higher ups in the Army had to know what was goign on, for better or for worse. If they didn't know this was going on, then they definitely should have and he did the right thing. But the general public should never have known about this- and I dno't know who leaked this to the press. If he released these photos to the public, then he did the wrong thing.

Hrm

One, If I blew the whistle then later five crazy men kill a man in a brutal way just because they can, I would forever feel it was my fault. Bravo to the man if he can act and live like he had nothing to do with it. Even though he may not have had a direct cause to it, I still think he probably has nightmares about it being his fault. For that I pity the man.

Secondly and off the topic I might add...
I STRONGLY and WHOLEHEARTEDLY believe those men and women dying out there in uniform are NOT dying for 'no good reason'. They are the men and women of the US Military and God bless every single hair on their bodies and the souls they carry. If they should die doing the duty of this country I will always ALWAYS be in debt to them. They are doing what I can not for a reason that is just and to me very much GOOD. It's a tough choice to send Americans to die. But the Military has always answered the call do what no one wants to, what very few have the stomache for and most importantly they do what they are told regardless of their own personal beliefs which when you think about it, is a GREAT and honorable sacrifice. To them, I owe my life and my respect.

They do not die useless deaths.

I think he did the right thing, but I do not feel that he should be labeled a hero by any means.

We are trying to bring a freedom to Iraq and as such are also trying to lead by example... these troops are sorry examples of Americans.. of humans really. They deserved the whistle being blown, 100%.

The retaliatory decapitation of Peter Berg just proved to the American public that they are animals.

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Posted by Xelindrya

Hrm

One, If I blew the whistle then later five crazy men kill a man in a brutal way just because they can, I would forever feel it was my fault. Bravo to the man if he can act and live like he had nothing to do with it. Even though he may not have had a direct cause to it, I still think he probably has nightmares about it being his fault. For that I pity the man.

Secondly and off the topic I might add...
I STRONGLY and WHOLEHEARTEDLY believe those men and women dying out there in uniform are NOT dying for 'no good reason'. They are the men and women of the US Military and God bless every single hair on their bodies and the souls they carry. If they should die doing the duty of this country I will always ALWAYS be in debt to them. They are doing what I can not for a reason that is just and to me very much GOOD. It's a tough choice to send Americans to die. But the Military has always answered the call do what no one wants to, what very few have the stomache for and most importantly they do what they are told regardless of their own personal beliefs which when you think about it, is a GREAT and honorable sacrifice. To them, I owe my life and my respect.

They do not die useless deaths.

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I understand and agree with what you are saying. But, why are they in Iraq? This was not the plan. This is what I am having a difficult time understanding. The question that arises in my mind is what is the cause for all these deaths? When I wrote 'no good reason', it was to indicate my lack of understanding as to why we are there in the first place.

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Posted by WinterBride2005
I understand and agree with what you are saying. But, why are they in Iraq? This was not the plan. This is what I am having a difficult time understanding. The question that arises in my mind is what is the cause for all these deaths? When I wrote 'no good reason', it was to indicate my lack of understanding as to why we are there in the first place.

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That's politics..
I wont go there, not because I can't prove it, but because most people aren't willing to try to understand why and are blind to anything close to an explanation. Jerry Lewis during his MDA marathon days once said something about those who have already unconsciencous decided against something no explanation will EVER suffice. So Im not going to try. I never understood Clinton's decisions and no one ever could explain them to me.

War is war. It's not pretty negotiations of a few parties who agree to sit and talk. War is when no one wants to talk and someone wants to kill. That doesnt mean it was USA who wanted to kill or wanted to talk or them.

The point is War will always come with Death. We all wish to avoid war, but honestly I don't believe that is ever possible.

In my opinion, talk sometimes just isn't enough. And if it takes thousands of soldiers lives to prove that point, all the more pity but the point will be made.

Im not saying I like war nor do I feel war is the ONLY solution, but it is a route that's been taken and it's one you can't just enter into lightly and then decide midway to back out.

It's a nasty business war, but once you start you have to see it through.

So why start? THAT's Politics!

What this man did was morally right. Hero or Not, what he did, blowing the whistle was morally right. You do not treat human beings in that way- whether Arab, Iraqi, Chinese, Blue, Pink or Spotted.. you simply HAVE to value human life. You can not go around pointing fingers with that 'eye for an eye' crap- because that is EXACLTY what the terrorists do- it's a horrible cycle- the BIGGEST example of which is Israel... Israel kills 1, Palestinians kill 1, and on and on ad infinitum. Is that how we want to go about this Iraq situation? I would hope not.

I'm SICK of the hypocrisy of conservatives- using 'moral' codes of religion when it is self serving- gay marriage, abortion, etc... but when it comes to blowing the whistle on prisoner abuse (not to mention some pretty sick 'homosexual' abuse- self sodomizig, etc.) it's wrong of the person who told? What is that even about?

You cannot say that the person who told is wrong, b/c what he did is above government and above the army it is about morals and being a decent human being.. and if I were him, I could EASILY sleep at night. Not to mention, in my opinion, those Military officials who did sanction that type of abuse should be war criminals and brought up on charges.

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Posted by cluelessbride

Umm, it's NOT his fault what happened to Nic Berg.

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sorry have to disagree, I feel IT IS HIS FAULT what happened to Mr. Berg. It was a form of retaliation and because of his selfish longing for fame I'm sure many more of our men/women will have to suffer. I feel he should suffer the same fate that Mr. Berg had

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Posted by Xelindrya

Hrm

One, If I blew the whistle then later five crazy men kill a man in a brutal way just because they can, I would forever feel it was my fault. Bravo to the man if he can act and live like he had nothing to do with it. Even though he may not have had a direct cause to it, I still think he probably has nightmares about it being his fault. For that I pity the man.

Secondly and off the topic I might add...
I STRONGLY and WHOLEHEARTEDLY believe those men and women dying out there in uniform are NOT dying for 'no good reason'. They are the men and women of the US Military and God bless every single hair on their bodies and the souls they carry. If they should die doing the duty of this country I will always ALWAYS be in debt to them. They are doing what I can not for a reason that is just and to me very much GOOD. It's a tough choice to send Americans to die. But the Military has always answered the call do what no one wants to, what very few have the stomache for and most importantly they do what they are told regardless of their own personal beliefs which when you think about it, is a GREAT and honorable sacrifice. To them, I owe my life and my respect.

They do not die useless deaths.

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GOD BLESS YOU!!!!
hugs from a Marine-Corp Wifey to Be!!

Our men and women do what they are told in an effort to protect the freedoms we enjoy in this country daily. They are brave enough to fight for us so that we may sit here and chat with one another on our computers while they sleep in the sand hoping that while they rest they don't come under attack. BLESS OUR TROOPS!

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Posted by Sassyz75

What this man did was morally right. Hero or Not, what he did, blowing the whistle was morally right. You do not treat human beings in that way- whether Arab, Iraqi, Chinese, Blue, Pink or Spotted.. you simply HAVE to value human life. You can not go around pointing fingers with that 'eye for an eye' crap- because that is EXACLTY what the terrorists do- it's a horrible cycle- the BIGGEST example of which is Israel... Israel kills 1, Palestinians kill 1, and on and on ad infinitum. Is that how we want to go about this Iraq situation? I would hope not.

I'm SICK of the hypocrisy of conservatives- using 'moral' codes of religion when it is self serving- gay marriage, abortion, etc... but when it comes to blowing the whistle on prisoner abuse (not to mention some pretty sick 'homosexual' abuse- self sodomizig, etc.) it's wrong of the person who told? What is that even about?

You cannot say that the person who told is wrong, b/c what he did is above government and above the army it is about morals and being a decent human being.. and if I were him, I could EASILY sleep at night. Not to mention, in my opinion, those Military officials who did sanction that type of abuse should be war criminals and brought up on charges.

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YES, EXACTLY!!! Thank you Dina, you took the words right out of my mouth.

'I'm SICK of the hypocrisy of conservatives- using 'moral' codes of religion when it is self serving- gay marriage, abortion, etc... but when it comes to blowing the whistle on prisoner abuse (not to mention some pretty sick 'homosexual' abuse- self sodomizig, etc.) it's wrong of the person who told? What is that even about?'

Here is what it is 'about'

I am sorry that while my FH risks his life for this country in a far off place, the real danger is at home. Those pictures had no right being exposed while our men and women are still in that country! It is not their fault they are doing their jobs and I may add fighting for the freedoms that I'm sure you enjoy daily.

You're Welcome Becky.

I only have 1 more thing to say and then I'm not talking about this any more.

The Nazi's in Germany were only 'doing what they were told'.. And they were brought up on major war crimes and executed (as they should have been, 10 times over).

Not the behavior is NOT similar here, of course- but the excuse is. Like 'I know it's wrong but I was told to do it' just doesn't fly. That was the precedent set by the Nuremburg Trials.

I 100% appreciate and support our troops.. but I feel horrible for them- put in a terrible situation by their 'management'... not enough $, not enough troops to do their job. they are being lied to, manipulated and talked into doing things that are against the Geneva Convention.

Maybe if Bush was honest about this war, what we were there to do, and how much $ this would cost (which he still isn't honest about) we wouldn't be in this situation.

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Posted by lilqtny

'I'm SICK of the hypocrisy of conservatives- using 'moral' codes of religion when it is self serving- gay marriage, abortion, etc... but when it comes to blowing the whistle on prisoner abuse (not to mention some pretty sick 'homosexual' abuse- self sodomizig, etc.) it's wrong of the person who told? What is that even about?'

Here is what it is 'about'

I am sorry that while my FH risks his life for this country in a far off place, the real danger is at home. Those pictures had no right being exposed while our men and women are still in that country! It is not their fault they are doing their jobs and I may add fighting for the freedoms that I'm sure you enjoy daily.

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And those men & women overseas had no right being ordered to sodomize and torture POWs... THAT IS NOT AMERICAN... Upholding basic human rights is what your FH was supposedly sent over there to do in the first place. Get rid of the threat of Saddam AND make Iraq a better place to live for th Iraqis... well, sticking things up men's A55es isn't how you go about making Iraq a better place to live..

Instead of hating and blaming the media and people that question this war... question your government and WHY they are inhibiting your FH's effectiveness in his position with not enough man power and not enough money?

The media didn't create this situation, GEORGE BUSH DID... those terrorists who killed Berg didn't need and excuse to do so, they've hated us from day 1... and treating them the same way they treat us makes it worse b/c it gives the terrorists more power.

Stop using the media as a scapegoat and look at the real problem, your FH's EMPLOYER