I don't understand: Collateral Damage vs. Haditha

[Ian_rd]

Someone please enlighten me:

Opening bombing runs of Operation Bush-Happy-Good-Time:

1. Hundreds of innocent civilians killed by mistargeted bombs.
2. Happy flag-waving ensues.
3. Media masturbates to George W on television.
4. No outrage from within our government.
5. No military or government investigations.

Haditha:

1. A couple dozen innocent civilians killed.
2. Military covers it up.
3. Military is attacked for potentially killing innocents.
4. Military investigation ensues (gee, I wonder which corporal will take the fall).
5. Possible government investigation.
6. Outrage all over the media and America.

So, let me get this straight: I can kill hundreds of innocent men, women and children from far, far away with bombs and say "Golly gee, that's just was happens, y'know when you fight evil," with a big smile on my face. But if I deliberately target a far fewer number of civilians and kill them, only then am I in serious trouble?

I think we are sending mixed messages to our troops. Kill civilians with bombers: "You're a hero, son!" Kill civilians with your rifle: "Gasp! Why didn't you imprison them without trail and rape them instead?"

[endarkenment]

1. It is quite simple.

When we blow up civilians with bombs it is 'bringing democracy'. When they blow up civilians with bombs it is 'the ultimate evil'. They are terrorists, we are the defenders of civilization. Bombs dropped from planes are civilized, bombs packed into cars are uncivilized. The differences are stark and obvious. Why do you hate the baby jesus?

[Ian_rd]

4. Nice!

"Bombs dropped from planes are civilized, bombs packed into cars are uncivilized."

That's freakin' quotable!

[Astrad]

2. There can't be the appearance of wanting to do it

Even though you know dropping bombs from airplanes is going to kill innocent civilians, because you do it in a dispassionate, slightly regretful way, that's okay, it emphasizes your moral superiority. But if you kill with desire and presumably enjoy it than you're in trouble, cause you reveal your moral failings. So it's not killing that is wrong, not even killing innocent people, it's 'appearing' to take pleasure in it - that's the biggie.

[Ian_rd]

3. I think you nailed it ....

But in addition, we as a nation will offer up any number of excuses for killing innocent people - they happened to be standing close to a suspected terrorist, they looked like insurgents, they didn't stop their car when we told them to stop, etc. And Americans will accept any excuse offered, no matter how weak and ludicrous in order to preserve our notion that we are the good guys who do no wrong in our fight against evil.

But when the very, very rare circumstance presents itself in which no excuse can be crafted, THAT'S when we become apalled, because it breaks our dillusion that we are somehow more righteous than everyone else. And when our dillusions are threatened, we get really, really pissed off.