An interesting historical point in the American militarys mindset is the roll of the sniper. (1) In the American Civil War the sniper was a hated figure and viewed as the lowest coward in much the same manner as French Knights viewed the English Longbow man. However, when the effectiveness of the sniper became apparent, entire companies of them were formed who worked in groups during battles and singly during sieges. (2) In world war II America suddenly started hating snipers again when the Germans used them too effectively during the 1944 Normandy campaign. Orders were given that no snipers were to be taken prisoner although the probability of capturing one is about 0%. (3) Today, we are seeing the sudden glorification of the sniper in exactly the same way Russia glorified their snipers during world war II--- During the Stalingrad campaign of 1942-1943. Russian and German snipers played such a major role that the legend was born of how Russias greatest sniper (many of whom were women) and Germanys premiere sniper actually faced off in a contest to hunt each other down...this legend was widely believed until revealed as a myth in the 90s. We can only imagine what myths the American Ministry of Propaganda will create from its latest defeats in the middle eastern Forever Wars In an age when military killings have become technological abstracts done from far away and when ground troops are seldom aware if theyve personally killed someone or not; the sniper becomes a singular individual. Hes one who personally kills, he knows his victim and consciously kills him; whereas the individual ground soldier simply swaps lead with his unknown and mostly unseen opponent and hopes a bullet finds its mark before one finds him....In closing, I simply note with interest how the shadowy and unknown figure of the sniper has suddenly taken an premiere position in the media. It could be for the following reasons: (1) The military/media is trying to humanize an increasingly technological military where people are becoming secondary to the machine (a technological replacement of humans which has been going on since World War Is mechanical butchery and where humans were merely the chits to be counted after a battle) (2) The military/media cannot concentrate on the airforce since they have no opposition (3) the ground troops are now objects of pity (suicides) and seen as ineffective (have accomplished nothing in 13 years) (4) The military/media has to find some bright light in this newest of military defeats and so the sniper has been dredged up to cover up the disaster....nothing like parading around someone who has supposedly killed 100s of the enemy, that should cover up the defeat pretty well since the movies and books are catering to a rather dumbed down American society.......please post your opinions. pro and con are always welcome
Posted on: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 08:33:34 +0000