We see here a clear case of dehumanizing enemy combatants. There is no particular need for me to say what's wrong with this, but what I will point out is that this kind of behaviour is encouraged by the fact that to kill someone they need to be treated as out-group members (others). After the fact condemnation of such acts is meaningless when these acts are encouraged by how those in the military are required to think to do their jobs. Demilitarization is needed to prevent such acts.
Also worth noting that NPR is NOT reporting this when everyone else is
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-12/mounting-anger-over-marines-video/3770306
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-16538159
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2012/01/2012112135558618227.html
actually NPR were just being slow:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.npr.org/2012/01/12/145117940/viral-images-the-militarys-recurring-nightmare