PTSD and the Taliban?

[Ó Cathasaigh]

http://www.newsweek.com/2010/12/06/d...-get-ptsd.html

So I'd been thinking about this for a while before I actually felt the need to look it up. My question was, do the Taliban and Al-Qaeda and various other guerrilla or terrorist groups suffer from PTSD like Coalition troops? Apparently so.

It's an interesting read. However, does anyone know what these groups do when their members start showing signs of PTSD? How do they justify feelings of fear and guilt when God is supposedly willing them to do these things? Just a few questions I find interesting and I don't think they'd be easy to answer unless you had an inside scoop with these groups.

[Jingles]

My question was, do the Taliban and Al-Qaeda and various other guerrilla or terrorist groups suffer from PTSD like Coalition troops? Apparently so.

Well what did you expect? They might be blinded by faith but they're not machines.

[Atatürk]

No doubt it's more common among the Americans though. They're not as conditioned, to put it kindly.

[Aru]

I can only guess how religious mind works, but I bet they rationalize it as God testing them.

[Ó Cathasaigh]

No doubt it's more common among the Americans though. They're not as conditioned, to put it kindly.

As in, their lives have been easier overall? or perhaps their training? I would say American training is fairly good. Do explain though...

[EmperorBatman999]

As in, their lives have been easier overall? or perhaps their training? I would say American training is fairly good. Do explain though...

I think he means how the Taliban fighters are accustomed to violence because of their way of life, even before the War.

[Atatürk]

As in, their lives have been easier overall? or perhaps their training? I would say American training is fairly good. Do explain though...

In this video, an Iranian general expresses his belief that the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have shown both the strengths and the weaknesses of the American military. He points to the fact that American soldiers have been seen crying, and that no such scenes happened during the Iran-Iraq conflict among his own soldiers. Furthermore, American soldiers have a reputation across the world for being mentally weak.

[Imperial]

In this video, an Iranian general expresses his belief that the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have shown both the strengths and the weaknesses of the American military. He points to the fact that American soldiers have been seen crying, and that no such scenes happened during the Iran-Iraq conflict among his own soldiers. Furthermore, American soldiers have a reputation across the world for being mentally weak.

Say that to these guys...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...nor_recipients

Over 3,000 recipients that showed courage and valor in a military that has only existed for less then 300 years. And less then 700 of them were alive when they were awarded with the Medal of Honor.

[removeduser_4536284751384]

In this video, an Iranian general expresses his belief that the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have shown both the strengths and the weaknesses of the American military. He points to the fact that American soldiers have been seen crying, and that no such scenes happened during the Iran-Iraq conflict among his own soldiers. Furthermore, American soldiers have a reputation across the world for being mentally weak.

give a platoon of soldiers from any muslim country and a platoon of American soldiers the exact same equipment, guess who will win?

Also, I guarantee soldiers from both sides cried during the Iran-Iraq war.

It's true though, they are weak. The only thing which keeps them going is their absolute sense of morality. Their conviction to do 'right' and combat 'evil' is the only reason they don't turn and run like the cowards they are. This concept of 'good', 'evil', 'right', and the like, have been indoctrinated into them from a tender age through oral and visual mediums. Such an example being Hollywood movies.

So what you're saying is, they're not apathetic psycopaths, they're actually soldiers who believe in a cause?

[Mightypeon]

give a platoon of soldiers from any muslim country and a platoon of American soldiers the exact same equipment, guess who will win?

Also, I guarantee soldiers from both sides cried during the Iran-Iraq war.

So what you're saying is, they're not apathetic psycopaths, they're actually soldiers who believe in a cause?

Well, give a platoon of US soldiers and a platoon of muslim (there are some differences between Turkey and lets say Tschad I reckon), hyper advanced Alien equipment with which neither ever trained, and the difference would be relativly small.

However, beeing literate, having concepts of adaptability etc. is an advantadge. All in all, quality and quantity of training beats nationality/race as far as combat results (with ranged weapons) go, if you exclude some extreme (like, Pygmy vs. Swede both in full combat gear) cases.
Quantitiy and quality of training in turn depend on literacy and industrialisation.

Regarding beeing a coward:
-Fear in battle happens to friggin everybody. I havent been in a warzone, but an attempt on my life was made during a robbery. I call utter on anybody claiming that this does not make people afraid. Reaction to this fear is what matters. If you are afraid but keep operating, it doesnt ing matter if you start crying later on.

[Shneckie]

As in, their lives have been easier overall? or perhaps their training? I would say American training is fairly good. Do explain though...

US troops receive a professional standard of training. It's probably where the military doctrine and social backgrounds differ that have this effect.

@Ataturk

Emotional reactions does not mean cowardice. Thats a pretty twisted concept of courage and cowardice if you ask me. What takes courage, is the ability to have these emotional reactions and still get the bloody job done.

If anything emotion is a trait that can create courage, rather than cowardice.

[Atatürk]

Emotional reactions does not mean cowardice. Thats a pretty twisted concept of courage and cowardice if you ask me. What takes courage, is the ability to have these emotional reactions and still get the bloody job done.

Yes, that's my point. The American soldiers don't have the 'ability' that you speak of. Have you already forgotten the Haditha massacre in which US soldiers slaughtered 24 Iraqi civilians? The marines lost one of their companions, and being the emotionally moved women they are, reacted and exacted their revenge upon the civilian population in the most brutal and shameful manner imaginable


Taken from channel 4's Battle for Haditha.

Let's also not forget how the incredibly brave and courageous American soldiers dealt with their emotions when handling the Iraqi prisoners:

Warning: Some may find the content disturbing

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[C-Rob]

I think they ought to be more so than the states. They're fighting a force that can blow up their cave or snipe them from miles away. It must be a very stressful way to live.

[Aru]

I think they ought to be more so than the states. They're fighting a force that can blow up their cave or snipe them from miles away. It must be a very stressful way to live.

No less stressful then never knowing who your enemy is among the civilians until he blows himself up and always having to be careful about IED's, never being able to let your guard down outside of the base...

[hellheaven1987]

They probably just keep those people who suffer PTSD constantly busy, much like how French Foreign Legion had done in past two hundreds years.

[alhoon]

They probably just keep those people who suffer PTSD constantly busy, much like how French Foreign Legion had done in past two hundreds years.

I think they deal with it the same way WW1 generals dealt with it. They ignore it unless it causes trouble. Then they deal with the trouble maker the same way they would if he didn't had this disorder.

[Azog 150]

I think they ought to be more so than the states. They're fighting a force that can blow up their cave or snipe them from miles away. It must be a very stressful way to live.

I would have thought so too.

We often hear about the IED threat to ISAF troops, an indeed that must make conditions over there incredibly stressful knowing that putting a foot wrong can result in you loosing a leg or your life.

And on the other hand you have the Taliban who are fighting with rusty old AK's, RPG's and fertiliser against a more numerous foe with a vast technological advantage and spending your spare time in caves. Being battered with artillery and bombs must be pretty traumatic. Its scary enough seeing jets come swooping over low at air shows without the danger of having a 500lb bomb dropped on your head.

[Heinz Guderian]

I would have thought so too.

We often hear about the IED threat to ISAF troops, an indeed that must make conditions over there incredibly stressful knowing that putting a foot wrong can result in you loosing a leg or your life.

And on the other hand you have the Taliban who are fighting with rusty old AK's, RPG's and fertiliser against a more numerous foe with a vast technological advantage and spending your spare time in caves. Being battered with artillery and bombs must be pretty traumatic. Its scary enough seeing jets come swooping over low at air shows without the danger of having a 500lb bomb dropped on your head.

You're absolutely right. Each of those Talibs that go out in their flip flops against a half a million strong army, an army with such a great technological advantage, its not even funny, and join the fight. If they live to return that day, they have to prepare themselves to go out again. Thats courage.

No Medivac for them. No air support. No boots. Hell most of the time, not even a gun that fires straight.

Pretty awe-inspiring.

[Imperial]

You're absolutely right. Each of those Talibs that go out in their flip flops against a half a million strong army, an army with such a great technological advantage, its not even funny, and join the fight. If they live to return that day, they have to prepare themselves to go out again. Thats courage.

No Medivac for them. No air support. No boots. Hell most of the time, not even a gun that fires straight.

Pretty awe-inspiring.

Yes, those Taliban sure are inspirational. Every teenager across the world wants to be like them by planting IED's on busy roads that kill civilians and threaten civilians at gun point that they must work with them or die.

[Atatürk]

Yes, those Taliban sure are inspirational. Every teenager across the world wants to be like them by planting IED's on busy roads.

If they came out and fought the Americans in open warfare, they would be obliterated. It's as simple as that.