# trigger happy kiddie soldiers? Rashak Mani **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 7, 2005, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trigger-happy-kiddie-soldiers-rashak-mani/293382 "2005-03-07T16:35:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trigger-happy-kiddie-soldiers-rashak-mani/293382/21 "2005-03-07T20:59:02Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > You are being pitted for immediately jumping to the absolute worst assumptions about the soldiers without adequate evidence to back it up. You don’t know what happenned, but you happily blame the soldiers and insult them while you are at it. The fact that you still don’t even get why this is offensive to people is just further proof of what a total shitheel you are. Oh we know what happened alright…and no need for Mrs Cleo to tell us what will happen next: [**The Unfortunate Incident Protocol. How the powerful dodge their own bullets**](http://www.antiwar.com/whitehurst/?articleid=5096) Fortunatly for them, your Gov can counts on ‘patriotic’ imbecils like you to keep swallowing their lies. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trigger-happy-kiddie-soldiers-rashak-mani/293382/22 "2005-03-07T21:06:17Z")
> [@Evil One](#): > > They have volunteered to do a difficult and dangerous job because many others are incapable or unwilling to do so. You don’t really believe that, do you? Do you really think a lot of soldiers join up thinking to themselves, “I will do this because other people can’t or won’t do it”? From my own experience and from what I’ve heard from many, many sources, a great many people join the armed services mainly because they want a job, or want to pay for college. Some join because they like adventure; some because they’re patriotic. Many join because their fathers are soldiers and they feel they have to live up to their example. I’ve never met anyone who joined because s/he thought, “All those other people are unwilling or incapable, I’d better sign up.” ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trigger-happy-kiddie-soldiers-rashak-mani/293382/23 "2005-03-07T21:08:17Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > However, Rashak truly hates America and all things American. Maybe this is out of line for the pit (I don’t come in here much) but cite? ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trigger-happy-kiddie-soldiers-rashak-mani/293382/24 "2005-03-07T21:09:51Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > You don’t really believe that, do you? Do you really think a lot of soldiers join up thinking to themselves, “I will do this because other people can’t or won’t do it”? > > From my own experience and from what I’ve heard from many, many sources, a great many people join the armed services mainly because they want a job, or want to pay for college. Some join because they like adventure; some because they’re patriotic. Many join because their fathers are soldiers and they feel they have to live up to their example. I’ve never met anyone who joined because s/he thought, “All those other people are unwilling or incapable, I’d better sign up.” That, and the money blows. ---
**Author:** ![Avenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@Avenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avenger)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trigger-happy-kiddie-soldiers-rashak-mani/293382/25 "2005-03-07T21:13:34Z")
> [@Evil One](#): > > These soliders were facing a speeding car and followed their rules of engagement. If you want to bring out ridiculous and ego-flattering conspiracy theories to the contrary, be my guest. Neither the speed of the car, nor the following of the rules of engagement have yet been at all established. That’s what the enquiry will be for. ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trigger-happy-kiddie-soldiers-rashak-mani/293382/26 "2005-03-07T21:16:22Z")
Oh, BTW - that request above for a cite is not meant to be snarky. While I can’t say I’ve seen or paid attention to **RM** ’s posting history, I don’t recall offhand any posts that display a seething hatred for America. Maybe **RM** hates Bush & his cronies and the policies enacted by this crew of right wing zealots, but you’ll have to show me one hell of a cite to say he hates America the people and America the nation as much as Bin Laden hates Israel. Heck, I hate Bush pretty severely, and I love this country more than you can possibly imagine. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trigger-happy-kiddie-soldiers-rashak-mani/293382/27 "2005-03-07T21:18:09Z")
> [@picker](#): > > Maybe this is out of line for the pit ( **I don’t come in here much** ) but > > cite? That’s probably why. just do a search of his posts to the Pit. You should find all the cites needed. Hint: it would be a LOT faster to scan the Pit posts that don’t denegrate America/Americans in some way. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trigger-happy-kiddie-soldiers-rashak-mani/293382/28 "2005-03-07T21:18:49Z")
> [@Evil One](#): > > They have volunteered to do a difficult and dangerous job because many others are incapable or unwilling to do so. Others have already addressed the second clause in this statement; I’d like to dispute the first. Our army is a “volunteer” army, in a sense: everyone there agreed to be there. But they have _not_ volunteered to do the job they’re doing. Sure, some of them are volunteering–some of them return for a second tour of duty. But many, many, many of them are there under duress, because they’re not allowed ot leave. And even the ones who return voluntarily are returning in large part because their friends are there under duress, and they don’t want to leave their friends behind: many of the more-or-less volunteers are volunteering to protect their friends, not volunteering to do the job. They’re in a shitty situation. Not as shitty as the situation of Iraqi civilians, but still a shitty situation. Suggesting that across the board they’re volunteering to be there is IMO inaccurate. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trigger-happy-kiddie-soldiers-rashak-mani/293382/29 "2005-03-07T21:39:22Z")
> [@Avenger](#): > > Neither the speed of the car, nor the following of the rules of engagement have yet been at all established. That’s what the enquiry will be for. Don’t be rediculous. We can’t have facts mucking up the conclusions that people have already jumped to! ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trigger-happy-kiddie-soldiers-rashak-mani/293382/30 "2005-03-07T21:39:52Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > That’s probably why. just do a search of his posts to the Pit. You should find all the cites needed. Hint: it would be a LOT faster to scan the Pit posts that don’t denegrate America/Americans in some way. Hmm…I DO spend lots of time in here, and I don’t see it. Hating the Bush Administration all of the goddamn idiotic, shortsighted, stupid, mucksucking, unethical things it’s done in the last four years isn’t the same thing as hating America. ---
**Author:** ![Avenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@Avenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avenger)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trigger-happy-kiddie-soldiers-rashak-mani/293382/31 "2005-03-07T21:42:40Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Hmm…I DO spend lots of time in here, and I don’t see it. Hating the Bush Administration all of the goddamn idiotic, shortsighted, stupid, mucksucking, unethical things it’s done in the last four years isn’t the same thing as hating America. It’s not? Can’t they bring in an ammendment or something? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trigger-happy-kiddie-soldiers-rashak-mani/293382/32 "2005-03-07T21:43:17Z")
“ **AND** all of the goddamn idiotic, shortsighted, stupid, mucksucking, unethical things it’s done in the last four years…” Yeah, I didn’t really have to repeat the whole sentence. I just figured I deserved a reward after a long day at work… ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trigger-happy-kiddie-soldiers-rashak-mani/293382/33 "2005-03-07T22:45:49Z")
Well, I suppose my first cite could be the quote in the OP. How does that opinion and world-view have anything whatsoever to do with any political party? They’re Americans he’s hammering on, not the Administration. OTOH, maybe I should do a futile search to see if there’s any mention of soldiers from other countries that aren’t there because Bush is Ruler Almighty of those countries as well? Seems that’s the only thing wrong with those armies. I’ve never seen anything they’ve done wrong or mistakes made. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trigger-happy-kiddie-soldiers-rashak-mani/293382/34 "2005-03-07T23:08:14Z")
There are SO FEW military members of any nation other than the US or UK in Iraq that it’s statistically unlikely for anyone BUT an American or British soldier to do something like the above. And the whole thing IS Bush’s fault because it was BUSH who lied and schemed to attack Iraq in the first place. If anyone but Bush were president, we wouldn’t be OVER there right now. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2005, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trigger-happy-kiddie-soldiers-rashak-mani/293382/35 "2005-03-07T23:56:56Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > Well, I suppose my first cite could be the quote in the OP. How does that opinion and world-view have anything whatsoever to do with any political party? They’re Americans he’s hammering on, not the Administration. Actually, moron, the quote in the OP is referring specifically to a bunch of US soliders who shot at an allied convoy, killing one person and injuring others. Yes, they are Americans, but it is not referring to all Americans. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trigger-happy-kiddie-soldiers-rashak-mani/293382/36 "2005-03-08T00:18:28Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Actually, moron, the quote in the OP is referring specifically to a bunch of US soliders who shot at an allied convoy, killing one person and injuring others. > > Yes, they are Americans, but it is not referring to all Americans. Moron? Good to see your skills are growing every day. The quote in the OP was only one of many instances where it’s the American that’s doing wrong, not any particular scenario or party in charge. I took it to mean one example of **Rashak** ’s scripted rants, but maybe the OP was only speaking of that one time. Doesn’t matter as you’ve told me what we’re allowed to write about. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trigger-happy-kiddie-soldiers-rashak-mani/293382/37 "2005-03-08T00:18:29Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > How does that opinion and world-view have anything whatsoever to do with any political party? They’re Americans he’s hammering on, not the Administration. Nobody can be this dense, it’s unpossible! ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trigger-happy-kiddie-soldiers-rashak-mani/293382/38 "2005-03-08T00:20:04Z")
> [@World Eater](#): > > Nobody can be this dense, it’s unpossible! I’ve been spending too much time with Al Sharpton. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trigger-happy-kiddie-soldiers-rashak-mani/293382/39 "2005-03-08T00:23:14Z")
Seems so. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2005, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trigger-happy-kiddie-soldiers-rashak-mani/293382/40 "2005-03-08T00:28:47Z")
Rather than argue whether the administration or the soldiers are culpable how about dropping the false dilemma entirely and place the blame on the Italians for not mentioning anything about it to the CIA? Maybe they just didn’t want to come off as douchebags for funding Al Qaeda with another $1mn with which to buy arms from France. RedFury, take a valium. This anger will kill you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trigger-happy-kiddie-soldiers-rashak-mani/293382.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trigger-happy-kiddie-soldiers-rashak-mani/293382.md?page=3)