Scott Thomas, Franklin Foer & The New Republic- Beatdowns all around

Posted By Uncle Jimbo

UPDATE: Bob Owens says the New Republic could clear all this up by answering two little questions.

While I breathlessly await the investigation done by The New Republic's crack staff of military experts, the same ones who bought this BS hook, line & sinker, I think the rest of us have come to a fairly obvious conclusion.

Scott Thomas is a lying sack of shit. Every unit has a Scott Thomas, the whiny pissant whose brilliance is never recognized and who is always being abused by the chain of command for stuff that's not his fault. It would be normal to hear folks  telling him to STFU and do his damn job.

The stories he peddled were easy to believe if your mindset starts with soldiers as knuckle dragging, jack-booted barbarians barely held in check by the enlightened scrutiny of a vigilant press. Sadly that is the status quo among most of the media and gives us "reporting" colored darkly by the biases of these people. They have their narrative down and it involves US military barbarity so when they got a big plate of scrumptious horror they scarfed it right up.

Now I am not saying that US troops are not capable of horrifying depravity, the cells at Leavenworth show otherwise. But see, that is just the point, we punish the evil amongst us. We have a stake in the reputation of the US military and the overwhelming majority of us would never tolerate the acts described by this chump. I can imagine someone with so little compassion that they would openly mock a burned female. I can also easily imagine the bullet-headed First Sergeant who would have jerked a knot in his tail quicker than suddenly, and if perchance a punk ass Private found a piece of skull and decided to use it in place of a helmet, he would last about 30 seconds before his squad leader was chewing his ass threatening to "beat him like a wet dog in a dry house". I also think we heard from enough real Bradley drivers to front out his dog-killing exploits.

So how does absolute horse shit like this make it into what should be a respectable magazine? Well first you will notice that this was the New Republic, not National Review, and while this mag has plenty of fabulist issues they are emblematic of the chattering classes as a whole. While the left makes noises that they think mean they support the troops, they don't really, and they do believe the dregs of society theory of military recruiting. Jon Carry didn't misspeak when he said those non-hackers who do not pack the gear to serve in his beloved cultural elite, will end up stuk in Irak. He was simply stating the common wisdom on the left, our troops are killers, sometimes under orders, sometimes just to satisfy their blood lust.

Well there is also a bit of assumed wisdom on our side as well. That is that most journalists are gutless weasels possuming a ride on the backs of better men and women than themselves. They are parasites whose sole function seems to be advancing a narrative of evil America, cause of all that is ill with this world. There is no problem they are unwilling to lay at the feet of greedy rapacious America, busy killing brown people all over the planet, and now even slaughtering Gaia herself. Damn us!

Well I for one am sick of it. I've had a bird's eye view of how our military operates and for an instrument of war it does one hell of a lot of good. Obviously it is a killing machine, but it is the most finely calibrated one ever deployed, and one that takes enormous steps to ensure that civilians are not harmed by it's actions. That alone distinguishes us from the rest of the world's armies. Look at the excremental record of UN "Peacekeepers" in comparison. The one thing the UN guarantees is a huge increase in child rape. Our forces on the other hand will likely be found giving vaccinations, digging wells or building schools. So Bite me Franklin Foer, not only are you a crap editor by even the low standards of journalism, but you are an ill-informed punk who allowed yourself and your rag to be used to smear a group of people who collectively and individually dwarf your moral and ethical stature. And as for Scott Thomas, I won't bother to do more than call you a liar and a remind you that eventually you will brag about this to someone and you will be unmasked. Just keep that in mind as you look over your shoulder for the rest of your miserable life. I sense some old school wall to wall counseling in your future troop.

JD Johannes calls the little puke out personally and has some decent logic putting him in A Co. 1/18th at Falcon. Well A Company who are your dirtbags?

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Comments

[Kat-Missouri/USA]

You know this guy "scott" not only screwed himself but any "buddies" that allegedly did these activities? Plus, any NCO, LT, CPT or Maj in his direct line of command. He admitted to numerous acts of conduct unbecoming for him and his crew (if any can be substantiated) and Foer says he allegedly has had contact with some of them and substantiated the stories. which means, if true, that these fellows would also be guilty. Of course, his line of command will also get busted for not monitoring his online diary and for neglecting their command if they let idiots like these run around doing whatever they wanted.

If I read the story right, this fellow is a blogger/online journal first. That's how he was found. His blog is probably not registered (as Matt pointed out sometime ago, it's the dirt bags that will most likely post without registration). He is going to make it harder for milbloggers of all sorts.

What is it that Blackfive or Froggy used to call these guys? Blue Falcon? Because he has just screwed a lot of people very close to him; true or not true story. People are going to be all over him, his friends and his command, not to mention the potential fall out for online milbloggers if the online journal part is true. They will very likely find him because he is not as smart as OBL or others. He wants the attention so he'll keep popping up. He wants to defend himself. Thus, sooner or later, they will find him and his friends too. This guy is a moron in more ways than this story indicates.

I don't see a lot of people mentioning these points as we discuss whether his story is true or not.

[Arch]

Urban legend?: Back in the 1960s Cadets at the Air Force Academy invented Cadet Nino Baldocchi. They went to his classes, took his tests and finally got caught.

Is Scott Thomas real or is he a journalistic Nino?

[Ymarsakar]

I think the rest of us have come to a fairly obvious conclusion.

Didn't we already do that when it first started?

After awhile, these things tend to get rather predictable Jimbo, and the false positives go way down.

Scott Thomas is a lying sack of shit.

Peace, brother, peace.

Good take down Jim, with the bow.

What is it that Blackfive or Froggy used to call these guys? Blue Falcon?

Froggy did indeed call such trash buddy faukers.

[Basil Riverdale]

The press is only interested in a "story" be it fact or fiction for the purpose of promoting their socialist-pacifist agenda. There is only one problem with their game plan. The truth is the truth. It's reality. The press should consider what life was like in the former Soviet Union, a society built on a foundation of falsehoods supporting an ideological fantasy. Such a structure cannot stand and will not last. Nor will America if the Left gets its way. The truth has teeth. Those who ignore this fact tend to get bit.

[mindy1]

Don't hold back-tell us what you really thinK;) Seriously, I read part of that article and while I have no military experience, the reaction to a burn victim, especially a woman and especailly a soldier,seems callous, even for adolecent boys, which is what a lot of soldiers are.

[hvs]

"People are going to be all over him, his friends and his command"

That was one of my first thoughts. I have no millitary background, but I know how this sort of thing goes down in business. The first knock on the door (if there is a knock) is from your buddy, your partner, your equal, your staff or your first level manager. All of whom have their own lives, families, careeers, reputations and integrity to protect.

[bthun]

"They are parasites whose sole function seems to be advancing a narrative of evil America, cause of all that is ill with this world. There is no problem they are unwilling to lay at the feet of greedy rapacious America, busy killing brown people all over the planet, and now even slaughtering Gaia herself."

Sick of it? Jimbo, I've been sick of it for a long, long time...

Bad actors exist in every dark corner of the world. In all societies. In all occupations. As stated above, we as a nation have a tendency towards the principle of law enforcement, equally and across the board. Yes there may be exceptions in all but the fairest of fairy tales, but we as a nation expect all to be held equally before our laws. Our society and our military does a pretty good job of adhering to that standard, or looking for hide when the principle is not upheld..

Compare the United States to any other nation, much less any nation with the power and resources that we have and we are revealed as the Mary Freakin' Poppins that we are. Cleaning your house and taking care of your children... not to mention spending US blood and treasure to purchase and/or defend your freedom and right to read/watch/believe what you want and to openly express your opinions.

If the same weenies, er journalists EVER expressed similar outrage against the truly evil actors in the world at any time or place within their op-ed pieces, I might be inclined to cut them some slack, but that's not part of their narrative.

That the fifth column is being supplanted by blogs and the new media causes me not one whit of remorse. Matter of fact, I raise a toast to the MSM! The more they report their perceptions of the world, the more people turn away.

[otcconan]

What was the name of that Marine who recently got married, who had his whole face blasted off by an IED?

I ask that, because, I doubt very seriously, VERY seriously, that anyone would call him a freak or treat him the way this supposed woman was treated. The way she was described pretty much brought to mind the face of this brave Marine, who will never serve again. That fact alone, should make one wonder why anyone would believe that someone who had suffered such horrifying wounds would be sent back so soon. It just is not possible. They wanted to deny my brother his chance to be deployed because of a staph infection in his knee. If someone's entire face is burned off, they do not go back. It's an instant ticket home. And god bless anyone who does endure that kind of injury and return home safely.

And Hell has no better place for the sack of shit that wrote this than at the very end of the trident of Satan himself.

[tallerthinner]

Guess I've read too many spy novels.

What better way to get all the milblogs shut down? Publish a lie from a supposed "soldier" witnessing crimes.

When the milblogs are gone, the MSM will control the news from Iraq (except for what comes from a very few like Michael Yon).

That's what they want, isn't it? The absolute power to shape public opinion and slant the news.

[Don Miguel]

"Well there is also a bit of assumed wisdom on our side as well. That is that most journalists are gutless weasels possuming a ride on the backs of better men and women than themselves. They are parasites whose sole function seems to be advancing a narrative of evil America, cause of all that is ill with this world."

Since of all people, journalists do have a platform for their views (although often under the banner of news), many have made it abundantly clear that they fit right into the template you laid out. Unfortunately their version of Leavenworth for those who leave the path of professionalism is fame and accolades.

[Old Tanker]

Best beat down yet Uncle J!!

My sentiments exactly, I just can't put them down so succinctly or as subdued as you!!!

[TBinSTL]

Let me get this straight? Is Scotty a real person, deployed to Iraq or is he a fabrication? The obvious lack of knowledge about conditions and terminology among currently deployed troops had me leaning toward the "fabrication" theory.

[Kat-Missouri/USA]

He may be a fabrication.

I'm just hedging my bets with the "if he's real" he is totally screwed and so are his friends and command.

[gunner]

Does anyone recongnize and of these soldiers?

They paid Iraqi boys $1 to fight each other, video taped it, and posted it to You Tube.

http://youtube.com/profile?user=kelvinhbo

If you recognize these guys tell them to take this video down and chew their asses out.

Way to win hearts and minds.

[Arch]

There are really two questions here.

1. Is Scott Thomas real? Perhaps.

There may indeed be someone in the military reporting under that pen name. He may be or may have been in Iraq or Kuwait or Ft Bragg. Fooling the press into believing what they already think is not all that tough.

2. Are the his reports true? Almost certainly not.

I seriously doubt that the events he reports are true. The U.S. military is a very large organization with strict rules of conduct and a Uniform Code of Military Justice. Every soldier, sailor, airman and marine has been trained about his responsibility regarding those rules. Word would get out and people would be punished. Those punished would go farther than the bad actors themselves. It would spread to those with knowledge who did not stop it, those who should have known and failed to supervise their subordinates adequately and anyone who covered up the activities.

[Sgt. Mom]

Now that it is Monday, and the milblogosphere has had a whole weekend+ to chew this over like a rubber dog toy, I am anticipating the meltdown from TNR in the next day or so. Mr. Foer can whine as much as he likes about those nasty conservatives beating up on him, it doesn't change the fact that many of the things that "Scott Thomas" wrote about are flat-out impossible.
My daughter (USMC, one tour to Kuwait and Iraq) about fell over laughing over the story of the sleeping dog run over by a swerving Bradley.
Nothing in the military happens in a vacuum. There are always other people there, when something out of the ordinary happens.

[FbL]

Beth of Blue Star Chronicles has an email from an officer at FOB Falcon. He says there was a cemetery uncovered nearby when a COP was constructed: http://bluestarchronicles.com/2007/07/23/a-fob-falcon-us-army-officer-responds-to-fictional-stories-about-soldiers/

[SoldierNoLongerInIraq]

Gosh, I seem to recall a lot of knuckle dragging idiots in my battalion. This underachieving class of dopes openly cursed Jews, chewed the "n-word" like it was Copenhagen and did all sorts of craptastically stupid things both on the FOB and outside the wire.

Some of these things got them court martial proceedings (like the Gomer who tried to abuse detainees and the asshat who, no joke, attempted to send an Iraqi POV home in a shipping crate), others a good workout.

But other guys, for whatever reason, never had the 1SG tear them a new one, just as the IG often didn't get worked about about allegations.

Here's the reality: Nothing the people in the TNR story did are all that unusual (except the stupid skull thing, but I've seen other asshat idiocies a step below it), and I can't even see anything they allegedly did that was against the UCMJ.

Every battalion has a certain number of idiots. These idiots do all sorts of things. They steal. They lie. They're racist. They probably shouldn't even be in the military.

The Marines call them "that 10 percent." We have other names for them, but it's all about the same in the end.

Before attacking the author's character, perhaps you should actually talk to people who have served in Iraq.

We can name a lot of complete asshats!

[Kat-Missouri/USA]

I can't even see anything they allegedly did that was against the UCMJ.

Actually, try an article 13 I believe. The generic, catch all, conduct unbecoming and contrary to good discipline. If he was screwing around trying to run over a dog, he did endanger the lives of his men and those around him. If he did wear the skull (though someone else indicated that the fit of the helmet would make it nearly impossible to do so)

The major malfunctions are that parts of his story are fantastically exaggerated or couldn't possibly be true. we're not talking about the potential for ass-hattry here, but we are talking about square casings from guns, mass graves that no one heard of, and people who don't exist.

Don't worry, we've seen some stupid things put on youtube. we do not imagine bored young soldiers are not doing stupid things or saying stupid things. I don't imagine that they are all young Galahads, pure of heart and thoughts. But there are a few things that seem beyond the pale even for the stupid.

As for "asking those who have been in Iraq", we are and several here have been. Obviously, everyone's experience varies depending on their unit and the actual number of idiots in their unit.

What is frustrating is the choice of such an organization to choose the worst representation and post that as their story. It is because it is sensational and fits the general idea that everyone in the military is a knuckle dragging baboon just this side of evolution crossed with a drunken frat boy and a toothless member of the KKK.

As for Scott Thomas' alleged character being attacked, is there part of his character we should appreciate since he is either a liar or one of those knuckle dragging idiots?

[Tom W.]

The story about the troops making fun of the burned woman is fake.

The way I know is because when the one idiot says she's hot, or whatever, his buddy says, "Are you crazy, man?"

No real human being has ever said that. It's a line of dialog beloved by all no-talent amateur hack writers trying for gritty authenticity.

I've gone to writers' conferences where aspiring novelists read from their manuscripts, and the worst material--the stuff that makes you want to commit suicide out of embarrassment--always has somebody saying "Are you crazy, man?"

It appears in all shitty novels about war, crime, and espionage because hack writers think it's macho.

[SoldierNoLongerInIraq]

"If he was screwing around trying to run over a dog, he did endanger the lives of his men and those around him."

OK. I knew guys who shot a dog. I knew IAs who fired their test shots at dogs in a nearby junkyard, too.

With pressure plates, a Brad hitting a running dog is no more likely than anywhere else on the MSR or ASR to trigger a detonation.

The sad thing is that I can think of stuff I saw that was WORSE than what appeared in TNR, and no, I very much doubt that anything the anonymous author wrote about is actionable under the UCMJ, even the general article.

All he has to do is request a trial by court martial, and the JAG will recommend that they drop it. Pronto.

What, exactly, was the worst offense mentioned? Dissing a KBR lady in the DFAC? Talking about someone hitting a dog? Noting that an idiot in his squad walked around with a skull like a complete idiot?

Sure. Whatever.

All I know is that a CSM somewhere is asking a lot of tough questions of a lot of nervous 11Bs who are, or have, deployed to FOB Falcon.

[FbL]

I don't know anything about SoldierNoLongerInIraq, so I'm interested to hear what some of the veterans and plugged-in people around here have to say about his comments. He keeps saying these things in a number of places. I'm not impressed, but hesitate to disagree with his characterizations (having no experience and only very modest knowledge in this area).

[Kat-Missouri/USA]

All I know is that a CSM somewhere is asking a lot of tough questions of a lot of nervous 11Bs who are, or have, deployed to FOB Falcon.

Yes, I think that was my original point on the first comment I posted. Whoever he is, however true or not, exaggerated or not, he has just opened a can of big fat worms on himself, his pals and those he is serving with.

I don't imagine anything necessarily has to result in an actual courts martial, article 32, etc. I am thinking an Article 15 and possible disciplinary action that doesn't even necessarily result in being busted out or busted in rank but would suck in his record and for those around him. Very likely he will be forced to shut down his online journal for unauthorized blogging and the military will put out another "crackdown" on milbloggers who do abide by the rules.

As far as I understand the situation, the "tough questions" are already starting based on this commentary from Maj Luedke:

4. I immediately notified MAJ Lamb of MND-B PAO, who advised me to send him the link and pertinent information on the New Republic's blog posts, which I did. He informed me of his intent to engage the CENTCOM blog team to see if they could take action, and at the very least, make them aware of the situation.

5. I contacted the only unit in our brigade that has Bradleys, 1-18 IN, and advised their XO of the situation, recommending that they talk to their Soldiers about Army values and the Warrior ethos, reminding them of the rules for blogging in uniform and also reminding them of integrity and telling the truth. The bottom line: If you put something out there you should be willing to put your name next to it and stand by it. That he and New Republic are insisting on anonymity is very telling here.

So, while he is busy enjoying the fame of writing for a "big" paper and the notoriety of causing a big stir over his stories, everybody else gets a shot in the shorts.

[Kat-Missouri/USA]

What, exactly, was the worst offense mentioned? Dissing a KBR lady in the DFAC? Talking about someone hitting a dog? Noting that an idiot in his squad walked around with a skull like a complete idiot?

Unauthorized blogging would be top on my list of first problems for this fellow. You're on a blog so you might be aware of the recent rules regarding that. And, considering the content of the posts, I imagine it is not authorized or registered because I really cannot imagine any officer worth his salt letting these stupid stories, true or otherwise, be posted for the world to see.

After that, the people who will be in trouble will be the driver of the bradley and the idiot with the skull. Then, if our erstwhile psuedo-reporter is anyone superior in rank to these idiots or generally an NCO on the spot, he may get a boot in the head for letting them act like idiots.

As I continue to write, I am thinking that his friends, who may have thought this was amusing to have their lives printed for the world to see, will start thinking it was a bad idea.

so, maybe his biggest concerns ought to be with his buds.

[hvs]

So while the TNR stonewalls this for a few weeks, hoping the story dies for lack of attention, the accused unit will remain legend in the media.

hmmmm, this sounds familiar.

The Mapes/Rather experiment should be brought front and center.

[Richard R]

Wow, just wow -- a powerful, no punches pulled piece. Thank you Uncle Jimbo! Our troops are special, I honour them day and night in my prayers; thank God for them.

[Al]

The media prints stuff like this because most of the media a) wants the military to look bad and 2) for us to lose. It's hard to believe, but it is true. Any price is acceptable to these people. They don't care about anything because they think we are Hitler. It's a very strange philosophy that drives them.

A guy named Evan Sayet explains what he calls the "Modern Liberal." If you have ever engaged these liberals in conversation, you quickly learn that they don't respond to logic.

People like Limbaugh have explained the symptoms to us for years - and we all get mad and laugh at the same time. Evan explains why liberals (Modern Liberals) are so sick. He goes beyond the symptoms that we all see and can't figure out. It's not funny because they really believe what they say and they really want us to lose.

You'll need 40 minutes to watch the whole thing and try to watch it uninterrupted.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaE98w1KZ-c

I've watched parts of it several times and it is amazing. You'll learn what we are up against. It used to be that conservatives and liberals would disagree on methods, but would agree (for the most part) on goals. With Modern Liberals, they have no goals other than for everything that is good to be torn down and for everything that is bad to be elevated.

Watch the video!

[K T Cat]

I know a fellow who was the Science Advisor for NAVCENT and was stationed in Bahrain for over a year. He had limited connectivity while he was over there and that was in Bahrain! What kind of network connectivity would you expect at FOB Falcon? What kind of privacy would you expect as you accessed the net? It's not like every soldier and marine over there has a laptop to write on. Is it believable that someone at that camp would have the time to write long-winded emails to TNR and not have someone looking over his shoulder to see if he was checking out NASCAR.com?

[LivingInExile]

I wonder if Scott Thomas is a pseudonym for John Kerry. It rings just as true as Winter Soldier..

Just sayin'

=c=

[SoldierNoLongerInIraq]

" I am thinking an Article 15 and possible disciplinary action that doesn't even necessarily result in being busted out or busted in rank but would suck in his record and for those around him."

For those who don't know, a serviceman or woman NEVER has to settle for any formal discipline, including battalion articles (what the Marines and Sailors would call "NJP"). They always can request trial by court martial.

Since the incidents alleged to have happened on this FOB don't even meet the rudiments of criminal offense, and since they seem to likely have been fairly tolerated, then the issue is a moot one.

This is something every PVT in the military would know, but something that alludes everyone here.

"I'm not impressed"

Who cares?

"Unauthorized blogging would be top on my list of first problems for this fellow. You're on a blog so you might be aware of the recent rules regarding that."

You make the assumption that he 1) communicated on a blog (people do write letters), 2) failed to communicate the fact that he was posting on TNR (he doesn't surrender his rights to freedom of speech under the First Amendment totally, just that he must inform his OPSEC officer of what he is doing); or, 3) wrote the submission and sent it by computer AFTER the blogging policy was indicated to his command.

Since no one can even find out who the guy is, these crucial elements of proof are lacking.

The appropriate charge would then be denying a direct order, again the assumption being that he was informed of this order and told of his battalion's OPSEC blogging policy BEFORE he posted this story.

"As I continue to write, I am thinking that his friends, who may have thought this was amusing to have their lives printed for the world to see, will start thinking it was a bad idea."

Ironically, I'm focusing on their commanders. If these activities did occur -- and I don't see any that are necessarily criminal -- then it shows a lack of discipline and accountability by their commissioned officers and NCOs in the chain of command.

Break down in discipline is usually a cause of these sorts of behaviors. The individual Soldiers must be accountable for their actions, but so, too, must their leadership for fostering a climate that allows men to allegedly run over dogs, verbally abuse KBR clerks (or whomever she was) and otherwise act like comple asshats.

Then again, if you want a politically correct bunch of guys who act like perfect angels, don't spend any time with a rifle platoon.

The lot (but not everyone) curses, drinks, whores, fights and, when our country asks us to do so, kills, wounds and maims.

The importance is having a strong leader who fences in behavior that is by its very nature largely untolerated in civilian life.

Good leaders allow their men to make themselves better. Poor leaders let men do whatever they want, and the inevitable course of events is downward.

"What kind of network connectivity would you expect at FOB Falcon?"

Probably outstanding. During my last deployment I was at a very small COP that was next to a very small FOB. But that FOB had phones AND an internet cafe.

Had I gone down the ASR to TQ, I probably could have had the best internet connection in the free world, air conditioned DFACs and, for all I know, bowling and an endless supply of fake beer.

The absolute hilarious thing is that the TNR article might be completely fake, but a lot of us are thinking, Hmmmmm, it's not as bad as that one asshat who did...

[douglas]

SNLInIraq- "Poor leaders let men do whatever they want, and the inevitable course of events is downward."

You seem to have lots of stories of misbehavior. So are/were you leading or allowing things to spiral downward? Leadership is not a strict function of rank, you know.

"I can't even see anything they allegedly did that was against the UCMJ."

How about failure to report a violation of the UCMJ which he observed? Desecration of a body. You should have received a card such as the one I linked to when you were deployed. I hope you actually read it.

I just can't figure out your intent in telling us this is commonplace, and not a violation of UCMJ. Mind sharing? We already know that things happen, but your mantra of 'it happens all the time', combined with your persistence strikes me odd.

I suspect there's a reason the B5 crew haven't commented on you yet. But for now, that's all I have- suspicions.

[warvet48]

What I gather here is that most of us are in agreement that the BS is just that, BS. The main factor left over is the reality check of this Thomas being a "live soldier" in Iraq or elswheres who spews forth crap, that will only make life harder for the military.

Whoever he is, I hope he is found out and taken care of, most especially with a good beating!

I agree sh*t happens, but this is just too too much for me to believe it.

While maybe not punishable by the UCMJ, there are other means to deal with people like this lowlife.

TNR should have to apoligize for publishing this article, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

[SoldierNoLongerInIraq]

In two tours, I didn't get a card. Sorry. Probably the QRF had something like that, or least some training, because we don't bag our own. That's a job for another team.

The USMC had guys from FSSG do it. We had our QRF or the medics, because most of the time a guy dies on the way or at the aid station.

I still can't see any violation of the UCMJ. There's no article for being an idiot, although there probably should be, and I can't see anything the author did that was criminal at all.

Saying something impolite near a KBR lady?

OK. Prosecute that one.

The funny thing, to me, is that this blog (probably rightly) bends over backwards to defend guys who are alleged to have done really nasty things outside the wire (like Haditha).

But then when a guy actually mentions some crap that we've seen a lot of guys do that's similar, they want to fry him.

Was his sin that he wrote in up? Or that what he wrote is so hard to read?

Perhaps part of the problem with the dogs is that taking care of them violates the first general order for the theater. You can't have pets.

Some asshats take that to the extreme. At our FOB, KBR brought in a bunch of morons and they poisoned them or shot them (and forgot to tell FOB security they were going to do that, so you had a lot of guys in towers calling in about some shotgun blasts INSIDE the FOB; that was fun).

With what KBR got paid, it probably was $10,000 per dog shot. For what? So they won't eat scraps outside the DFAC?

After awhile none of it made sense. So a guy actually writes about some of the absurdity of combat and he's bad?

Whatever.