Quote:
Originally Posted by flamesfever
I don't doubt that the damage could be massive, but would not a court marshal and imprisonment, in our minds, be admitting the individual was of sound enough mind to realize what he was doing?
Perhaps you are right in that with the probable huge difference in the way we think from the Afgans because of poor education etc.(something we are trying to correct), they may not appreciate that someone who commits such an act, may be doing so in the psychotic state.
And perhaps with this, coupled with the other events, it may be enough to seriously make it impossible to get the majority of Afgans onside, in appreciating our objectives in being there. However, as an optimist, I hope you are wrong, as it would leave the country in a hell of a mess, and all our efforts would be for nothing...perhaps even having to return at a later time for our own protection.
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I would very much doubt that the Afghans as a whole even have a concept of mental illness let alone a understanding of it.
Right now word is being spread and to an extent exageratted by the Taliban in villages across that country until it becomes a mass slaughter by the whole U.S. army with Satan in the lead.
With the Army urination scandal, the Koran burning and this, there's an escalation of rage that's happening among the common folks in the tribal lands especially, but with the rank and rile city folks.
Add to that that the tribes have a real twisted honor system and a real highly developed notion of wronging and revenge and your never going to get them on your side again.
They just basically handed most of the country over tot he Taliban.
Add to this that the American's have no choice but to run this guy through the Court Marshal system and the burden of proof on the mental health defense is incredibly high.