Douche of the Week: Lil Wayne
By Jack Mandaville I want to make a few of my...
Beheading a Taliban – Good or Bad?
By admin
Updated: September 19, 2010
If you don’t know who Gurkhas are, get thee to Wikipedia immediately! They’re some of the fiercest warriors ever. So much so that the British decided to offer them a place of honour (as they spell it in English) in their Army, mostly because they couldn’t beat them in battle and the Brits are nothing if not reverent to those who can fight (although they never offered the same honour to the Zulus who kicked their asses).
So, here’s how the story goes. In the heat of battle, a Gurkha, fighting alongside some Brits, decides that his life is in danger and he needs to skeedeaddle from the target area ASAP. But he also knows he has to positively identify the Taliban target his unit came to neutralize when he gets back to camp. With bullets whizzing by his head, he makes a decision and lops off the head of the already-dead Taliban they came to get. His unit exfiltrates the AO and all go home safely.
But upon hearing that one of his Gurkhas decapitated a terrorist, some snooty British Officer decides to punish the soldier. That’s the Cliff’s Notes version of the story. The full read is here.
So we ask, Ranger Up nation, what do you think? Did he do the right thing or is he a barbarian that doesn’t need to be in uniform? Was he merely administering the same treatment to the enemy that they’ve shown us, or did he go too far and violate the rules of civilized warfare? Was he following orders as he saw them or is he a bloodthirsty savage? Is he to blame or is his chain of command for not putting, “no beheading of bad guys is allowed” in the Operations Order?
And what if it was an American soldier? What would we have done if a US Army soldier cut of a head in order to E&E from a hot LZ?
Sound off.
43 Comments
Leave a Reply
-
-
That Explains it All
By RU Rob It seems to me that every single day...
-
I Thought I Was Going to Die: Part 3
By Kevin Flike When I sat down to write Part 3...
-
I Have PTSD…So What?
By RU Rob I have PTSD. We all know what it is,...
-
I Wrote This
Hello America, my name is Nick Palmisciano and I wrote the...
-
Name the Rhino from The Damn Few Contest
Everyone loves The Damn Few and you have noticed that the hard-nosed...
-
leftoftheboom says:
I want the government to legalize drugs. May...
Douche of the Week: Lil Wayne
-
Chris says:
"Old country American." I like that term. I'm...
Douche of the Week: Lil Wayne
-
Travis says:
Wow. So, saying profanity when we're mad puts...
Douche of the Week: Lil Wayne
Matthew Thorn
September 19, 2010 at 9:45 pm
I think once they exfiled back to their FOB, the head should’ve been placed on a stake and placed right outside the wire for everyone to see. Fuck those TB/AQ fucks.
Jake
September 20, 2010 at 8:18 pm
I thinks it’s great! Those assholes have done that to how man of our people?!?
Cameron
September 21, 2010 at 7:13 am
I think punishing the soldier is the wrong way to go. Maybe make a show of explaining how cutting heads off is wrong and distribute cameras for later use. Faced with the same circumstances though I probably would of done the same thing.
Pete
September 21, 2010 at 3:04 pm
I’d say that headhunting needs to become SOP with terrorists.
Chase
September 21, 2010 at 7:03 pm
Don’t punish the soldier. You can’t hire a Gurkha and not expect him to use tactics that his ancestors used.
“This incident, however, has apparently appalled Afghans on all sides, not least because it offends the Muslim tradition of burying the dead with all body parts, attached or unattached.”
Regardless of the thought that ‘they do it to us, we should do it to them’ this unfortunately will only breed hatred and that’s not what’s needed, even if they deserve it.
David
September 22, 2010 at 7:19 am
Unless the Ghurka soldier was explicitly told not to do such things ahead of time, then he absolutely should not be punished. And that’s my thought BEFORE considering that the Ghurkas and their kukris have a very, very long tradition of beheading their enemies.
Kyle
September 22, 2010 at 7:20 am
Well, I think you have to make the distinction that he didn’t cut the head off just to claim a sick trophy. If his mission was to identify the terrorist scumbag, and that was the only way he could think to do it, then… okay. Not great… but okay. It’s not ideal, and obviously we don’t want soldiers running around willy-nilly cutting people’s heads off, but it doesn’t sound like the Gurkha was just trying to be sadistic.
I don’t buy the “appalling Afghans on all sides” argument though. The enemy routinely practices far far more heinous activities, to Muslim and Non-Muslim alike, and we never hear a squeak of protest about supposed offenses to their Muslim tradition. They only object when we do something they don’t like, because we’re infidels. And there’s no reason to accept their view us as inferior creatures who dare not offend them. They have a long way to go before they can complain about us not playing by Queensbury Rules.
Derrick
September 22, 2010 at 7:48 am
A pike needs a head to be complete.
LauraB
September 22, 2010 at 7:58 am
Just as we are required to respect their culture, so too must they respect that of the blessedly hardass, kickass, beautifully expedient Ghurkas.
Besides, if they need to have all their parts for burial, why are they always blowing themselves up, removing that as an option?
RC
September 22, 2010 at 8:02 am
I believe the Ghurka should be commended. Those asswipe Talibans are a blade culture, they live and die by it. The absolute last thing we want to show is any sign of weakness such as disciplining this warrior for doing the right thing – I’d like to shake his hand and then find some more asswipes to behead. I agree with Mathew (above) that the head should have been put on a stake outside the wire for all to see. To hell with “public opinion”! War as an institution has never been “politically correct”. It’s only when we try to make it so that we get our asses kicked. Fuck that – kill em all and let God sort them out.
G. Dog
September 22, 2010 at 8:56 am
That is freaking awesome! I applaud this soldier. We need to step this up a little.
Golf21Alpha
September 22, 2010 at 8:57 am
The Gurkha’s have always been an elite unit, throw in some antics like this and you’ll have the Talibs running away as fast as their flip-flops will carry them.
It’s a war, treat it as such.
‘….let slip the dogs of war!’
Ray
September 22, 2010 at 9:05 am
In my opinion, this is exactly what he needed to do to complete the mission. It’s not feasible to carry the whole body back to the FOB, and there is no guarantee that taking a finger would yield results on either DNA or prints. Of course, AQ is going to be pissed off about it, and I wouldn’t say it’s karma paying them a visit, but they really have no right to bitch and moan about it.
Bob
September 22, 2010 at 9:10 am
If this happened more often then we might see fewer of our people coming home in body bags. GO GHURKAs! The politically correct crowd needs to set down and shut up and let the warriors be warriors and kick ass. Then and only then will our enemys know if they tread on us we will wipe them out. Then guess what, peace in our life time!
Rico
September 22, 2010 at 9:23 am
He did what he had to do. I agree with Ray. This guy’s got a place in my squad anytime.
Slobyskya Rotchikokov
September 22, 2010 at 9:34 am
“it offends the Muslim tradition of burying the dead with all body parts,”
F*CK the Muzzie bastards and their f*cking traditions! If they want to hack off heads, remind the loathesome cocksuckers that it works both ways.
Only improvement would be stuff their mouths with pigshit before mounting on the pike and then dump the bodies in a well used latrine.
Anyone here old enough to remember ear necklaces? I sure do! Handier than taking a head, but less impressive.
If these subhuman barbarians want to fight in a civilized way with mutual honor and respect, they need to drop their muslim crap and behave like men. No more beating women, murdering rape victims, sexually mutilating ittle girls and flying airplanes full of noncombatants into buildings or sending brain dead suicide murderers into groups of civilians, no more hiding their gutless bastard arty crews in the middle of orphanages, schools and hospitals.
Let the Ghurkha practices set the standard for battlefied practice agaisnt mussie combatants, and tell the Brit officer to have himself a big, steaming cup of STFU !!!!
Ghurka brothers – rock on! Take a few for me!
ONE
September 22, 2010 at 10:21 am
Punish that Gurkha! He should have stopped and shit down that Talibans windpipe!
MarineMama
September 22, 2010 at 11:05 am
I say give that boy a medal. And a parade.
OldSarge
September 22, 2010 at 12:01 pm
I have to say I think the Gurkha was wrong. From a battlefield ethics perspective: Mutilating the enemy dead isn’t acceptable, and it doesn’t matter if the other side does it. From an operational perspective: it would have been much easier and quicker to take a quick digital photo. Should he be punished? That depends on what he’s been taught as a member of the Commonwealth armed forces. If he’s been taught that mutilating enemy dead is wrong, then he should be held accountable; if not, then he shouldn’t. This type of behavior doesn’t breed fear or respect in our enemy, just anger and resentment. Ultimately we want to overcome their will to fight; and angry, resentful people will fight on and on and on…
satch
September 22, 2010 at 12:19 pm
Let me know when/where the parade is so I can watch in awe, these brave warriors pass by.
just a has been
September 22, 2010 at 12:55 pm
This liberal pussy footing around in war is not us getting anywhere we need these men treating our elite as well as common soldiers to be a fighting military that no nation on earth wants to mess with. We also need to take of the gloves and hit expand our military top trearty recuits like sissies girls and give them some real weapons and training instead of a rifle that was old when came in 25* years ago I am still dragging around…can’t I have a gas piston driven 6.8mm , an ne helicopr or jet maybe a new tank? and why can’t why just drop the bomb on the real problem and fight the real war against the real enemy Islam. They kill our people daily theyoffend us daily, fly airplanes into us..I have have been through Grenada, Just Cuase, Gulf war, Solmolia, 4 Iraqi freedon combat deployments, 1 Afghanistan and wounded 5 times serious people that gives me the impression someone doesn’t like me…the fact the used mosques for cover did not stop me protecting my self. They are an Offence to the whole population of earth.
Bob
September 22, 2010 at 1:05 pm
The Gurkhas did the same thing to the Japs in WWII. Payback from a knife expert is hell.
jeffd
September 22, 2010 at 2:58 pm
F***in’ A! That’s getting the job done. New unit slogan…. Gurkhas- When the enemy needs to be absolutely positively identified overnight!
It’s not like he was alive like those TB/AQ savages do to our guys. I worked with a few of the Gurks in Iraq and they are no doubt the REAL DEAL. Great group of guys to have your back.
Mitch
September 22, 2010 at 3:35 pm
Should he have done it? Maybe not, but not knowing the whole story, he did what he felt needed to be done. He made a command decision and executed it. Should he be reprimanded? Who knows. Was there another way? Maybe. But as most of us know it is easy to use hindsight to judge. Send the head back to be joined with the body to be buried. End of discussion. On a side note, I know this scares the hell out of the TB/AQ dudes…, getting back the medicine they dish out.
175jfs
September 22, 2010 at 7:15 pm
So does this mean the high value target was not positivly identified?
SGM JWB
September 22, 2010 at 8:25 pm
I agree with the beheading and say it is justified. What difference did it make after the SOB was dead; “they” have done it to our men. AND there are some on this side of the pond that need the same rearrangement to bring them to their senses…….and I think you know whom I mean?!?!?!?
Wade Wallace
September 22, 2010 at 9:50 pm
This kind of behavior should definitely be discouraged, simply to maintain professionalism. But any punishment that soldier gets shouldn’t be anything more than a slap on the wrist. This kind of barbaric violence is what war consists of. If you don’t want your soldiers to be really fucking violent, then get them out of Afghanistan. We can’t have it both ways, where we keep our soldiers fighting in that country for nearly a decade, while not expecting them to be brutal.
Dirty Al the Infidel
September 22, 2010 at 10:51 pm
GET ER DONE! Along with SHITTING down the TALIB’S NECK HE SHOULD HAVE STUFFED A PORK CHOP. Screw thier MUZZIE sence abilities.
TouchStone
September 23, 2010 at 1:00 am
And this is a “controversy” because…….?????
The PC ROE are FUBAR, and are getting our SM’s KIA.
“It is good that war is hell, lest we should come to enjoy it.”
Will
September 23, 2010 at 11:27 am
IMO, this was an appropriate field expedient called for to complete the mission assigned without undue risk to friendly personnel. That’s my official position.
Unofficially but sincerely, Ayo Gorkhali!
John
September 23, 2010 at 9:11 pm
Give him an honorary Ranger tab.
BATMAN
September 24, 2010 at 5:00 am
War is not supposed to be civilized! Give that man a medal, and a parade. Then have him sit down and write the FM on beheading.
Santa Eddie
September 25, 2010 at 7:10 am
He should be given a medal and a pole to put the head on. BrovoZulu.
Jonesy
September 27, 2010 at 9:17 pm
I think in the wake of such an offense, the entire group should be soundly punished and sent through sensitivity training. Behaving like a savage when dealing with terrorists is very wrong. Perhaps they should try something gentler, like a fruit basket and halal jerky.
You’re right. I’m bullshitting. Give ‘em a good sharpening stone and a few laundry bags. Way to go, Gurk!
Hank
September 28, 2010 at 2:43 pm
I’m assuming the Gurkha was wearing one of your David T-shirts. Now this is a principle from our American Judeo-Christian heritage: http://www.rangerup.com/david.html
With Utmost Respect ~ Semper Fi, Hank
From the Hebrew Prophet, Joel, who is never cited by those who wish to read the secular value of pacifism into the Bible, “Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weakling say, ‘I am strong!’”
and for those that might want a primer on Judeo-Christian here’s a pretty good place to start: http://www.jewishworldreview.com/0304/prager_2004_03_30_04.php3
Mike
September 29, 2010 at 8:35 am
He shouldn’t be punished, he made a snap decision in combat that enabled him to complete his mission and keep soldiers safe. Sadly I feel like if it was an American soldier the entire world would be in arms and he’d be drummed out so fast Congress would barely be able to get there greasy hands on him for their own “investigation”.
But I say meet fire with fire, good on him!
Gary P. Joyce
October 5, 2010 at 7:22 am
Dead, needed positive ID, smart move and a damn sight easier than hauling a body when it’s E&E time … what’d the BFD?
Go Ghurkas!
JG
October 27, 2010 at 6:53 am
Ummm…Fuck that snobby Brit fuck!!! Those cowardly terrorist pukeswoulda’ve done the same & have time & time again & placed it on the internet! And how the hell is warfare civilized or chould be??? Only some Pencil pusher that’s never been in the heat know that regardless of wahtever orders you may give war is Hell & barbaric. YIt isn’t a fucking duel where we match up soldier to terrrorist and walk ten paces & hope to shoot one or other first. They asked for a positive ID, they didn’t supply the Ghurka with a cmaera or anything else, how much more of a postive ID can you get? Fucking Brit idiot! Should take off his head for pos id of an absolute worthless idiot. But alas we all know how shit rolls… Damn Muslim Sympathizers
Busalacchi
November 9, 2010 at 9:40 am
“The commander in the field is always right and the rear echelon is wrong, unless proved otherwise.”
Colin Powell
Thomas N Tilden
December 15, 2010 at 7:35 pm
“War is the remedy our enemies have chosen, and I say give them all they want.” W.T. Sherman.
You’ve seen the bumper-sticker: “War is terrorism.”
I propose this collorary: “Terrorism is War.”
Those who propose the idea of civilized warfare are deluding themselves. Kudos to the Ghurka trooper.
Nate
October 20, 2011 at 3:37 pm
I agree with almost everyone on here lol. Cut off all of their heads.
Griff
February 1, 2012 at 7:28 pm
F**K those D-Bags. Let the Gurkha loose on the Taliban and see how things turn out. It would be just like the Japanese response! The Japanese were shitting themselves with just the hint that the Gurkha were in thier AO. The result was the Japanese trying like hell to haul ass without making contact! I love those short little cutting machines.
Jeremiah
April 21, 2013 at 11:12 pm
Okay, want to say this, the Gurkha was not maliciously mutilating a body of a fallen enemy, he was ordered to bring back the enemy for identification, and hauling back a full dead body would have gotten him killed. Heard about this shortly after it happened, and I gotta say something to any Taliban or Al Quaeda member yelling at this, if you don’t want to be beheaded in death, but you behead prisoners you take alive, then we will just change the ROE for the Gurkhas to say wound the terrorist then behead him alive. Any Afghany have a problem with that? Tough, it is a war not a damn football game, if you keep crying about their right to a burial then we will break out the napalm and give them a viking burial. I do not want a single fraking soldier lost to keep up with all the PC bullshit, it is a war, treat it like one, or pull the troops out and let the country go to shit, no middle ground.