GI Offers Iraqi Child Candy and a Grenade

[snopes]

Comment: can you please investigate and report on authenticity of this?

http://www.evtv1.com/player.aspx?itemnum=8278

[Mr.Dabble]

Originally Posted by Katar13

It's real, soldiers look like they tease the Iraqi kids more than they do any militry stuff.

You know this how? Painting with a pretty broad brush aren't ya?

[TuFurg]

Originally Posted by Mr.Dabble

You know this how? Painting with a pretty broad brush aren't ya?

At least we now know why Iraq isn't in tip-top shape yet. Keep the kids away from the soldiers and they'd get something done.

[Spamamander]

They tease kids more than they do "militry" stuff? I wonder what the hell my husband did for those 90 days in Saudi then- does driving a hummer with a 50 gun on top and having to fly out of the country in the black of night with no lights on the aircraft in case someone takes potshots at the plane count as "teasing kids"?

I'm actually curious about this. What proof do we have that this is a soldier? I don't see anything that indicates that this was a soldier. The grenade itself only hints at it.

[Lainie]

Originally Posted by Katar13

It's real, soldiers look like they tease the Iraqi kids more than they do any militry stuff.

How much time did you spend in Iraq before coming to that conclusion?

Seems to me that it could be real, and if so, big deal. People pull this sort of bait-and-switch joke all the time. It's a fairly common joke construction.

Nothing indicates that the soldier was gonna hand over a grenade to the kid, or even that the grenade was live.

So I say: real or not, still funny.

[Chloe]

Originally Posted by forceflow15

Seems to me that it could be real, and if so, big deal. People pull this sort of bait-and-switch joke all the time. It's a fairly common joke construction.

Nothing indicates that the soldier was gonna hand over a grenade to the kid, or even that the grenade was live.

So I say: real or not, still funny.

Nothing indicates that the child knew that he was safe, either. Can't say I see much funny in pretending to hand a child in a war-torn area a grenade.

[Troodon]

I didn't laugh, but I didn't think it was horrible either. The kid wasn't mistreated. He doesn't run off, and it looks like at the end he thinks its funny.

Not nice but no where near as bad as some of the soldier films that have come out of there so far. You'd of thought the army would of started banning camcorders since a significant few can't help filming themselves doing stupid stuff.

[Kallah]

You'd of thought the army would of started banning camcorders since a significant few can't help filming themselves doing stupid stuff.

I’ve often wondered about that myself - what on earth makes them think that doing something stupid, while in uniform, possibly while on duty is a good idea? But, hey, people have been doing stupid things in positions of power for a long time, what really sets these apart is that they intentionally created incriminating evidence and then shared it with the whole wide world! These people are in the military, one would really (really, really) hope they were at least a little bit more mature. The good news, though, is that its only a very small percentage of military men and women who do stupid things like this - the vast majority take their jobs seriously and act professionally.

[One-Fang]

Isn't there a subset of vindictive small-minded individuals who are attracted to the military as a career because of the power?

Nobody flame me, I'm sure they're a very small percentage of the wonderful men and women out there doing their bit for their country for all the right reasons. But it does make sense. Liked pulling the wings off flies when you were 5? Liked frying ants with a magnifying glass at 10? Liked throwing stones at the neighbour's tied up dog at 15? Join the military, and shoot real people with real guns.

[imjustasteph]

Originally Posted by One-Fang

Isn't there a subset of vindictive small-minded individuals who are attracted to the military as a career because of the power?

Nobody flame me, I'm sure they're a very small percentage of the wonderful men and women out there doing their bit for their country for all the right reasons. But it does make sense. Liked pulling the wings off flies when you were 5? Liked frying ants with a magnifying glass at 10? Liked throwing stones at the neighbour's tied up dog at 15? Join the military, and shoot real people with real guns.

I personally am not one who automatically gives kudos for 'serving our country'.

Those who truly believe they are doing their 'duty' for 'our country', and do so selflessly, I have a certain respect for. But then we get into definitions of selfless....and selfish. The guy who joins armed forces because the recruiter who showed up at his high school (which I think is WRONG, boys who aren't even old enough to drink should not be considered old enough to consider both sides when someone is laying it on thick like they do) convinced him girls would go nuts over him in his uniform.....sad.
The one who joins because holding a gun makes his winky-dink go cha-cha.....sick.
The one who joins because it beats making a decision over colleges and careers, who thinks it'll be easier.....well, he may not deserve to have to go to war but he sure deserves the boot camp experience for trying to take the easy way out.

But there's a weird thing. I only know two guys personally who served in the Navy. A few who served in the Army. And I've read/heard rants from ex-wives/ex-girlfriends of Navy guys.

So yeah, my experience of military people is limited, and my sampling is too small to make any conclusions. BUT. Both navy guys I know are extremely immature. Last I knew, both lived with their parents. (Ages: 30's, and 24) One went on to be a highway patrolman; bragged about 'jokes' he pulled as such (yes, on other drivers). The other fathered a child he refuses to have any contact with, told the mother to abort it. Now tells girls (14-16 year olds) that the mother* won't let him see the child (untrue) and manages to worm pity sex out of them.

Then I find all these rants about immature navy guys who do similar things- the childish pranks, the dodging responsibilities, and more.

But I haven't seen these traits in the few army guys I know, and haven't heard any such rants about army guys.

So I wonder, is this due to my very small sampling? Or are Navy guys truly somewhat immature, overall, upon completing their service?

Has anyone else seen anything similar?

[end hijack]

Return to topic: I would certainly think that if there are 'bad' cops, 'dirty' poiticians, etc, there are certainly people in the military, even in the higher ranks, with no good intentions whatsoever.

*Okay, I'm the mom in question. So maybe my judgement of his maturity is from a biased veiwpoint. But the FACTS remain the same.

[Mr.Dabble]

Originally Posted by imjustasteph

The one who joins because it beats making a decision over colleges and careers, who thinks it'll be easier.....well, he may not deserve to have to go to war but he sure deserves the boot camp experience for trying to take the easy way out.

The easy way out? While it is true that there are immature in the military I would say most don't stay that way very long.

Please explain to me how the military is the "easy way out"! Some choose the military over College. Living the life of a soldier/Marine is not easy during war or peace time. You never know when you will be called to battle or on an operation. If this happens you have to leave your family (if you're married). Be willing to give your life for someone you may never meet all for less than minimum wage. I don't know if you realize this but the military is a career. While starting a career also taking correspondence courses to either further your military career or for creating a resume for yourself once you have complete your obligation.

The alternative "hard" way of college. Go to class, maybe hold down a part time job. Call mommy and daddy cause you're homesick. Get summers off, get extended holiday breaks.

Well if I had to do all over again. I would choose the "EASY" way everytime.

USMC 1993 - 1997

[kjbrasda]

She didn't say it *was* the easy way, she said they (some guys who choose military) *thought* it was the easy way.

[Chloe]

Originally Posted by Katar13

....

Calling people names is another excellent way to make a very poor first impression.

Edited to remove the quote, as the offending posts have already been pulled.

[Aimee Evilpixie]

Originally Posted by Chloe

Calling people names is another excellent way to make a very poor first impression.

And to ensure you don't get to make a second impression.

[imjustasteph]

Originally Posted by kjbrasda

She didn't say it *was* the easy way, she said they (some guys who choose military) *thought* it was the easy way.

Exactly! I even stated that the guys who expected it to be the easy way out deserved the boot camp experience! (Though I did not say, and do not believe, they, or anyone, *deserves* to go to war.....so nobody attack on that premise.)

Originally Posted by Mr.Dabble

The easy way out? While it is true that there are immature in the military I would say most don't stay that way very long.

It's just unfortunate the ones that do seem to be given camcorders as birthday presents.

Heh, it's kinda funny if you ask me, shows the lighter side of war. I mean the guy was just joking around with the kid. It's not like he unpinned it and stuck it in the kids pocket now is it?

Anywho, i don't think it's a real grenade.. more like a fox with mange cleverly disguised as one.