Global Security, Privacy, & Risk Management

A Sniper talks about Killing…and Objectivication… and prevarication…Oh My! October 27, 2015

A few years ago I wrote a post titled “A Perspective on Killing by a Marine and His Rifle”.  The post was intended to describe, in broad terms, the difficulty in taking a human life.  This post was motivated by the killings in Newton , Connecticut.  In short, the post was intended to show the average civilian that ‘killing’ another human being is not trivial and is very, very difficult. I can say with confidence that most people I know could not do it and would be horrified by the act.   In January 2015, I wrote an article for the National Review.  I was sent hate mail calling me a “cold blooded killer” “Baby killer” etc. etc.  I am not ashamed of my role as a Marine sniper and I am not offended by those comments, I find it interesting that “I” am a “cold blooded” killer yet “Dr. Armna Dermish” is just providing “women’s health care”…

When discussing the difficulty of killing a human being Chief US Army History S.L.A Marshall said:

“It is therefore reasonable to believe that the average and healthy individual – the man who can endure the mental and physical stresses of combat- still has such an inner and usually unrealized resistance towards killing a fellow man that he will not of his own volition take a life if it is possible to turn away from that responsibility…At the vital point he becomes a conscientious objector.” 

Think about that for a minute.  It is so difficult to kill another human being that people become ‘conscientious objectors’. So how do rational people become ‘killers’?  Easy…objectification and dehumanization.  As a sniper we were taught that we were ‘eliminating the threat’…’reducing the target’…’engaging the target’.  These are all very valuable tactics when used in combat.  Where is struggle today is with the same tactics being used to kill babies.  Let me be clear.  I support a women’s right to their bodies.  On that note, I believe that actions taken should minimize suffering and be done with respect.  When we shot someone  and they were wounded…as a Soldier, Sailor, Marine, or Airman we were REQUIRED to render aid.  Our job may be unpalatable to most but we try to do it with respect and to minimize suffering. It is also important to note that it was done in a combat situation…  Listen to the recording.  These people are not “killing” they are “terminating a pregnancy”…”eliminating a fetus”…”collecting fetal tissue” etc.  Nice description of killing.  “Reducing a Target”..they can borrow that one from me….

Today I watched yet another video related to Planned Parenthood.  As a person who has taken lives in the service of my country…I was horrified and disgusted.  I listened to a “doctor” (in quotes because I cannot imagine any doctor who abides by the Hippocratic oath acting this way) describe in dispassionate terms how she killed children.  “Dr. Amna Dermish, of Planned Parenthood, describes how she will use a sonogram to rotate a “fetus” to ensure she can capture as much “tissue” as possible.  She says: “Usually what I do, if it’s a [feet-first] presentation, I’ll remove the extremities first, the lower extremities, and then go for the spine and then sort of bring it down that way,” Wow!…I would love to have had her on my sniper team (or maybe she would have been better suited for waterboarding people)…the cold, dispassionate description of killing is chilling…even to me.  When asked if they can produce a “full head” for brain dissection Dermish says: ““I haven’t been able to do that yet,…Well this will give me something to strive for!”...Hey…Amna Dermish..take it from me.  You are a cold blooded killer..plain and simple…..you can use all the euphemisms you want…you are killing human beings.  You are truly a “baby killer!”  Make no mistake Amna..you are a cool blooded killer. 

I have listened without emotion to Marine snipers talk about killing people.  I was not offended.  Listening to Amna Dermish reinforced that there are truly bad people in this world who relish the taking of lives.  She can objectify those she kills and use all the euphemisms she wants…she is a killer. Welcome to the club Amna…I wonder if you are as haunted as most snipers at the lives we have taken?

Like I said before I agree with a woman’s right to her body.  I respect the Supreme Court decision and understand that terminating a pregnancy may be necessary.  What I do not abide by is the cold blooded murdering of babies to “harvest their organs” for profit.