That's true Kid. I think I've made it clear that I understand that fact. BUT just because we're fighting thugs doesn't mean we get to become one either. No one ever became a saint by living among sinners. I want our troopsto be able to do what they need to do, but we also need to remember why we are different from the other guys and part of that is understanding that there certain things that we simply WILL not (not cannot, but Will not) do. Why? Because its its wrong, for us, for them, today, yesterday and tomorrow and we just won't go there. Again, I say for the second time on this thread, it's a matter of honor. At the end of the day, that's the only thing you get to take with you in the casket. You've got it or you don't.
FQ13
FQ, you are naive, you live (or lived) in academia which is as artificial and manufactured an environment as you can get. It is not real.
As for your throw-away snarky comment, I'm sure that will come as a complete surprise to Mother Teresa. She hasn't been canonized yet, but IIRC she is in the works. I'm not a Catholic, so that isn't my thing. Besides, that is exactly where a Christian belongs. As Jesus said, if I heal, why would I be around the healthy? It is the sick that need me. We are all challenged to be a witness to God's grace, and who do we tell, another Christian? Or the sinner that needs us? But this isn't really my point either.
My point is that the methods have nothing to do with who you are. With 3rd world trash like the ones we deal with - and even if you're dealing with Western trash - you do what you have to do, but it boils down to 2 things. You kill - utterly destroy - the perpetrators, and you send a message to those who might be thinking of being a perpetrator. The "above it all, I won't do that" attitude is great for the movies. The reality is very different.
Look at Iraq, we have not been fighting Iraqis for some time. Most of the BGs we're fighting (not all, but most) have been idealistic foreign imports coming in through Syria or Iran. The locals have seen what we are prepared to do - and in fact did - and wanted no part of it. The foreigners only see the news stories and BG propaganda sitting safe in their foreign homes, and think it's time to get the infidel. They learn when they get to Itaq that life in Iraq fighting the allied forces is very different - and probably very short too.
As a result, word has gotten out, and now look - Iraq is generally quiet, gone are the days where we lose a dozen people a day. Iraq is at a point where they can focus on rebuilding.
The key difference is that - especially in this case - their ideology drives them to kills, and even die willingly for their share of the virgins. We can do what it takes -
whatever it takes to get the job done quickly and effectively - and still remember that we are radically different people than the BGs, even if we use their own tactics against them.
Let me share these I blatantly stole from the Magpul site:

