“Six paratroopers from the 82d Airborne, also part of Mountain Sweep, were lined up outside the farmer’s house, preparing to force their way in. “I yelled at them to stop,” says the captain, “but they went ahead and kicked in the door.” The farmer panicked and tried to run, and one of the paratroopers slammed him to the ground. The captain raced back to the house. Inside, he says, other helmeted soldiers from the 82d were attempting to frisk the women. By the time the captain could order the soldiers to leave, the family was in a state of shock. “The women were screaming bloody murder,” recalled the captain, asking to be identified simply as Mike. “The guy was in tears. He had been completely dishonored.”
Compelling, upsetting. Many of you will read this and may even be angry for my blatant criticism, of the military lately. But, I can assure you, as good as a nations intentions can be, the individual intention may not alway reflect the same thing. Remember, just because you cannot picture yourself becoming over-aggressive and even oppressive, don’t think that others will reflect your convictions. Brutal and terrible things have happened and are happening, that we and the rest of the world are not aware of. Carte blanche eventually has a price.
I can tell you this is true from cold hard experience.