Debate: Marines Urinating on Taliban
Side: Stupid

Disregard the "support" tag of "funny." There are only 2 choices offered in the drop-down and neither reflect my view."Horrible" is inflammatory and rhetorical as well.For the record, I am a combat veteran of 8 battles in the Gulf War (Desert Storm) so I speak from the perspective of someone who has taken lives, saved lives and was part of the successful effort to remove an occupying force from an invaded country. (please don't respond with how the US did exactly the same thing or the reason the US declared war and let's stay within the scope of the argument).The Marines behavior and actions were unnecessary. The act certainly wasn't worth it for any reason.They will be thrown under the bus, dishonorably discharged (they will have no veteran benefits especially access to mental health treatments for PTSD), probably do a small amount of time like the soldiers from Abhu Graib.6 Marines are to become 6 convicted felons - not sure if the UCMJ assigns a felony to this - who will never find gainful employment, be seen anywhere once they are identified without scorn and probably head straight for the alcohol and drugs. They are done.As an aside, this is a valid argument for not labeling certain criminals so they can eventually become productive members of society.One stupid act that lasted 3 minutes ruined 6 lives and the lives of their spouse/parents/children. The punishment won't fit the crime and people are punished far less for acts that are 100x worse.There are 3 basic reasons I can see why they urinated on the corpses. *Note: this is an observation.1.) They were showing utter disregard for the enemy as human beings. The body is an object and humans attach significance to a body based on culture/faith or social norm.2.) They were, "letting off steam." Getting shot at, living in a brutal environment, having fellow combat troops killed/maimed/disfigured has it toll.3.) This is considered to be a demoralization tactic (epic fail). It only validated the enemy's view that Americans are infidels. In regards to No. 1, killing in combat is a soldier/Marine/sailor/airman doing their job. It's a function and the moral choice is in the hands of those who order it. A troop is an instrument.I engaged enemy soldiers as objects, as obstacles, not as humans. Detachment, apathy, desensitization helps you focus on the mission. A functioning troop is emotionless.At the same time, there are victims of the same origin as the enemy. Saddam's regime committed as many atrocities on the Iraqi citizens as the they did to the Kurds, Iranians, Shiites and other ethnic groups and as they did to the citizens of Kuwait.The point of that statement is: A soldier must recognize and separate the victims and non-combatants and provide protection and aid as if they were the people they are defending. I provided first aid to Iraqi citizens who had gunshot/shrapnel and burn wounds. I gave some of my rations to children and elderly.So there is a dichotomy.In closing, I do not think the Marines should be ruined but they should have some form of punishment. Our government and military should not have made knee-jerk over-the-top statements as if these Marines had been out clubbing baby harp seals.And the Taliban are a people whose behavior, beliefs and actions are far more unacceptable than the actions of these Marines. They have no regard for the lives of the innocent. They commit atrocious actions against women. They are intolerant with no redeeming qualities.I have no facts or figures but it's not necessary.They can move to another planet and make their own rules where no one else will be subjected.