Reuters informs that a video of marines urinating on Taliban corpses was made public on Wednesday raising outrage in Afghanistan. The U.S. Marine Corps declared on Thursday that an investigation will be performed in relation to the American soldiers’ behavior. Taliban have responded saying that the recent events will not harm peace negotiations between the two countries.
The video is visible on various online channels, such as, YouTube and other websites. The images display four American soldiers urinating on three corpses and making obscene jokes. One of the four man wishes a “nice day” to the dead bodies.
The attention of the U.S. Marine Corps was drawn by the Afghan President Hamid Karzai who requested an immediate investigation. He described the soldiers’ actions as “inhuman” in a statement on Thursday. U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta agreed with Karzai that the video was “deplorable” and he promised that the Pentagon will carry out an investigation. The actions in the video were furthermore depicted as illegal by the top military officer, General Martin Dempsey.
Based on the declarations provided by the Marine Corps, the video is authentic and the U.S. Military managed to find out the names of two of the four soldiers. The Pentagon, on the other hand, claims it is too early to say that the video is authentic.
This series of events comes to disturb the efforts that officials are making to restore peace among the Afghan population and the Americans. The majority of the local inhabitants have strong anti-U.S. sentiments given the atrocities caused by the American soldiers during the 10-year war. Arsala Rahmani, a senior member of the Afghan government’s High Peace Council told the press that these actions will have a bad impact on peace efforts.
The Obama administration is now obliged to increase its diplomatic efforts in order to regain the already shaky trust of the Taliban. For that, Marc Grossman, Obama’s special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, will fly into the region to talk to Karzai and top officials in Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Taliban spokespersons reassured U.S. officials that the tape would not affect talks or a possible prisoner release.
I don’t condone defiling behavior, but I do understand how some individuals can lose it on one another — be driven to a moment of madness caused by extreme chaos, mind blowing tragedies, raging emotions, devastating depression, death and destruction, etc… For many who’ve experienced such things, they are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Let us hope that was the cause of their actions, and not that they’re just some sadistic thugs pretending to be honorable soldiers representing America. And it is easy for others to judge, especially when they are on the outside looking in, safe and sound in their comfort zones. None of us know how we would truly react when our world has pushed us to the breaking point — we hope that we would all behave with civility and compassion — but the truth is, in such times some falter with acts of insanity, and much of it is brutal. We all make bad choices and are disappointing at times when we’re expected to be humane, honorable, and honest. Those soldiers should be held accountable and endure the consequences of their demeaning behavior, not crucified by a self righteous-hypocritical-cynical society, and bloodthirsty media who thrive on bashing, inciting hate, and fabricating lies more than revealing truth. I can think of many times throughout history where people have gone crazy and done some violently thuggish things — to mention just a few: The Rodney King incident that sparked riots with people committing horrific crimes against others, and more recently the bloody riots in England, Egypt, and the “Occupy” movement. All across the globe people commit such crimes against humanity, it’s been going on for thousands of years and will until the end of our days. I don’t mean to make light of these soldiers’ disgusting behavior. I hope that each are remorseful. But let’s keep in mind, that the Taliban have done much worse to the living across the globe.
I am outraged — at the public’s reluctance to join the marines. Hatefor all Talabans, alive and dead.