I was standing in a local corner shop waiting for my friend to choose between a mars bar or a twix... when I noticed that there was a stack of newspapers on the couinter... and on the front page were the words "12 british soliders being awarded medals for participating in operation "iraqi freedom" and helping american forces in Basra and the seige for Fallujah.

That leads to my question... Why award them medals for standing by and watching the massecre at fallujah? Im sure they examined the mass civilian casualties when they went into the city why accept such a stupid award?

The large photograph under the headline showed the 12 soliders standing in line with false grins pasted across their faces, The last 3 in line far from the camera had the clear look of hidden emotions on theirs, what I would have said had I been there---> "good job you selfish ignorant bastard I hope when you get back to patroling the streets in basra that you get shot"

your opinions people?

It is the right of any country to give its' own awards to whatever people for whatever achievements the country values. I have no oppinion because it doesn't fall under my competence.

Military medals are awarded for physical bravery, not for doing what you would like people to do.

...what I would have said had I been there---> "good job you selfish ignorant bastard I hope when you get back to patroling the streets in basra that you get shot" your opinions people?

See? Even an anti-war, pro-peace-on-Earth kinda' guy like you has those VIOLENT thoughts, huh? We're human, we just can't get away from our basic nature, our basic character.

You might not shoot someone, but here you are hoping and wishing that someone gets shot and killed. Not very nice, is it?

Baron Max

the difference between them killing civilians and me wanting them dead or killing them myself, is that the people they killed were innocent in a way unlike them, if you can stand by and watch women and children die in a rather painfull fashion, your not a man nevermind a hero. in their place I would reject the award but then again thats just me.

Military medals are awarded for physical bravery, not for doing what you would like people to do.


can you tell me what phsical bravery one would encounter while standing 5 miles away from a city that is getting fire bombed and gassed?

A lot, given the accuracy of the USAF.

Hahaha :p your right in a way, but the medals were not for "physical bravery while standing close to a USAF bombing target" ;)

But that was a good one... cheared me up for today

Odin'izm along the same lines do you think russian soldiers deserve medals for bravery in action in Chechnya?

I was standing in a local corner shop waiting for my friend to choose between a mars bar or a twix... when I noticed that there was a stack of newspapers on the couinter... and on the front page were the words "12 british soliders being awarded medals for participating in operation "iraqi freedom" and helping american forces in Basra and the seige for Fallujah.

That leads to my question... Why award them medals for standing by and watching the massecre at fallujah? Im sure they examined the mass civilian casualties when they went into the city why accept such a stupid award?

The large photograph under the headline showed the 12 soliders standing in line with false grins pasted across their faces, The last 3 in line far from the camera had the clear look of hidden emotions on theirs, what I would have said had I been there---> "good job you selfish ignorant bastard I hope when you get back to patroling the streets in basra that you get shot"

your opinions people?

These assholes are doing the shit work nobody else with half a brain wants to do.

They need something shiny hanging on their barrack walls to remind their subconsciences that they are murdering innocent children to save countless more.

Don't worry, their dormant humanity has a habit of catching up with them; their suicide rate is among the highest in the occupational hazard tables. Won't be too long before you see one of their names in the paper, lying in his exhaust gas-filled car, the stereo playing "We had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun" playing over and over.

Jaybee.

Personally, I believe in what we are doing in iraq. I believe it is necessary, that those we are killing are often far from innocent, and that most of the soldiers are doing a fine job at it. For those of you who take on the false assumption that Bush is the evil overlord of some Mordor-like empire, you still shouldn't take it out on the soldiers. They signed up and swore their oath of fealty and are doing what they believe in.

A lot, given the accuracy of the USAF.
HAHAHAHA well played sir.

Also, you said it in a previous posts: These medals are issued for operational achievements. Not for making lily pacifists sleep better at night.

Odin'izm along the same lines do you think russian soldiers deserve medals for bravery in action in Chechnya?

Chechneya is a state,Falujah is a city, had the award been plainly for "their duties in iraq" I would have said fair enough. Many russian soliders dont deserve awards in chechneya, for the same reasons. Any inhumane action dosnt deserve an award... but on that note if a solider american or not, actually did a real act of bravery then an award is deserved, in this case, and in cases in chechneya they dont...

Example:

1. Russian solider gets award for throwing a granade into a childrens hospital (NO)

2. Russia solider gets an award for saving a child from a dangerous situation (YES)

3. American solider Gets award for shooting a school bus full of kids (NO)

4. AMerican solider saves a schoolbus full of Kids from... an rpg? (YES)

Personally, I believe in what we are doing in iraq. I believe it is necessary, that those we are killing are often far from innocent, and that most of the soldiers are doing a fine job at it. For those of you who take on the false assumption that Bush is the evil overlord of some Mordor-like empire, you still shouldn't take it out on the soldiers. They signed up and swore their oath of fealty and are doing what they believe in.


Well said I respect soliders *in most cases*

But bush is the evil overlord... but these are british soliders... no connection to america.

Still a solider can say "sorry I dont beleive in what I was told to do, please dont give me the award"... he goes back to iraq admired by all those little kids at home who finally saw someone stand up to their boss nmot only this but maybe his time in iraq will be easyer as he will be famouse...

. Any inhumane action dosnt deserve an award... but on that note if a solider american or not, actually did a real act of bravery then an award is deserved, in this case, and in cases in chechneya they dont...

So it seems to me from your standpoint that you have all the concrete facts of what exactly these soldiers did to earn thier medals and think they aren't deserved. Could you share the details with the rest of us who aren't familiar with these particular actions? Thanks

the newspaper article mentioned support of american troops in falujah and mostly talked about what the ceremony was going to do. wht the soliders plans for the future are... how good the award is... it will be hard to find as I forgot to look at the name of the newspaper. but ill get the link up here

... how good the award is... it will be hard to find as I forgot to look at the name of the newspaper. but ill get the link up here

Thanks, I don't want to comment on the awarding of these medals before I know specifically what they are for or else I'll look like an ass.