at the height of the Afghanistan conflict or what sometimes get asked how
conflict or what sometimes get asked how
conflict or what sometimes get asked how many people I’d killed I always
many people I’d killed I always
many people I’d killed I always struggled with that question
struggled with that question
struggled with that question I have a literal mind sometimes and part
I have a literal mind sometimes and part
I have a literal mind sometimes and part of me would always wonder well how do
of me would always wonder well how do
of me would always wonder well how do you calculate that does it only count if
you calculate that does it only count if
you calculate that does it only count if I pull the trigger or does it count if I
I pull the trigger or does it count if I
I pull the trigger or does it count if I approve a target while in a headquarters
approve a target while in a headquarters
approve a target while in a headquarters far from the battlefield if you follow
far from the battlefield if you follow
far from the battlefield if you follow that logic far enough the question can
that logic far enough the question can
that logic far enough the question can be turned back upon the asker soldiers
be turned back upon the asker soldiers
be turned back upon the asker soldiers don’t find themselves in places where
don’t find themselves in places where
don’t find themselves in places where they can kill by their own design no
they can kill by their own design no
they can kill by their own design no something has put them there their
something has put them there their
something has put them there their country their government which after all
country their government which after all
country their government which after all is representative of the people at least
is representative of the people at least
is representative of the people at least it’s in a democracy so in one sense it
it’s in a democracy so in one sense it
it’s in a democracy so in one sense it might be me who pulls the trigger but in
might be me who pulls the trigger but in
might be me who pulls the trigger but in another sense we all pull the trigger
another sense we all pull the trigger
another sense we all pull the trigger and that is how it should be decisions
and that is how it should be decisions
and that is how it should be decisions to use force to decide who lives and who
to use force to decide who lives and who
to use force to decide who lives and who dies or among the most serious decisions
dies or among the most serious decisions
dies or among the most serious decisions we can make they go beyond one person
we can make they go beyond one person
we can make they go beyond one person because of the cost both to those who
because of the cost both to those who
because of the cost both to those who are killed but also to those who kill to
are killed but also to those who kill to
are killed but also to those who kill to kill another human being is to stare
kill another human being is to stare
kill another human being is to stare into an abyss as Clint Eastwood said in
into an abyss as Clint Eastwood said in
into an abyss as Clint Eastwood said in the movie Unforgiven it’s a hell of a
the movie Unforgiven it’s a hell of a
the movie Unforgiven it’s a hell of a thing killing a man take away everything
thing killing a man take away everything
thing killing a man take away everything he’s got and everything he’s ever going
he’s got and everything he’s ever going
he’s got and everything he’s ever going to have my profession the profession of
to have my profession the profession of
to have my profession the profession of arms is all about the use of force that
arms is all about the use of force that
arms is all about the use of force that is our area of expertise my profession
is our area of expertise my profession
is our area of expertise my profession is not unfailing but one thing we do
is not unfailing but one thing we do
is not unfailing but one thing we do understand is that there are limitations
understand is that there are limitations
understand is that there are limitations to the use of force the fog of war is
to the use of force the fog of war is
to the use of force the fog of war is real first reports are generally wrong
real first reports are generally wrong
real first reports are generally wrong and when we decide to use force we must
and when we decide to use force we must
and when we decide to use force we must purge non-essential information to make
purge non-essential information to make
purge non-essential information to make the best decision possible in an
the best decision possible in an
the best decision possible in an environment where the most we can
environment where the most we can
environment where the most we can probably hope for is controlled chaos
probably hope for is controlled chaos
probably hope for is controlled chaos there’s a drill we do call the a shoot
there’s a drill we do call the a shoot
there’s a drill we do call the a shoot no shoot exercise we blindfold somebody
no shoot exercise we blindfold somebody
no shoot exercise we blindfold somebody disorient them then expose them to a
disorient them then expose them to a
disorient them then expose them to a situation where they have to make a snap
situation where they have to make a snap
situation where they have to make a snap decision the goal is for them to shoot
decision the goal is for them to shoot
decision the goal is for them to shoot who needs to be shot and to not shoot
who needs to be shot and to not shoot
who needs to be shot and to not shoot those who do not need to be shot
those who do not need to be shot
those who do not need to be shot people struggle with sensory overload
people struggle with sensory overload
people struggle with sensory overload the distance to targets number of
the distance to targets number of
the distance to targets number of targets facial expression postures but
targets facial expression postures but
targets facial expression postures but over time they learn to parse out
over time they learn to parse out
over time they learn to parse out non-essential information to make the
non-essential information to make the
non-essential information to make the best to prioritize the most reliable
best to prioritize the most reliable
best to prioritize the most reliable signs of a threat what’s in somebody’s
signs of a threat what’s in somebody’s
signs of a threat what’s in somebody’s hands on a collective level we designate
hands on a collective level we designate
hands on a collective level we designate main efforts supporting efforts things
main efforts supporting efforts things
main efforts supporting efforts things to prioritize information because
to prioritize information because
to prioritize information because priorities things that are regarded is
priorities things that are regarded is
priorities things that are regarded is more important than others guide our
more important than others guide our
more important than others guide our decisions but it’s easy to lose sight of
decisions but it’s easy to lose sight of
decisions but it’s easy to lose sight of priorities isn’t it I decided to join
priorities isn’t it I decided to join
priorities isn’t it I decided to join the military not because I wanted to
the military not because I wanted to
the military not because I wanted to serve my country but because I wanted a
serve my country but because I wanted a
serve my country but because I wanted a paid education that was my priority my
paid education that was my priority my
paid education that was my priority my family wasn’t poor but nor did we have a
family wasn’t poor but nor did we have a
family wasn’t poor but nor did we have a money tree and the world was pretty safe
money tree and the world was pretty safe
money tree and the world was pretty safe in the mid 90s it was years before a
in the mid 90s it was years before a
in the mid 90s it was years before a group of men would crash planes into the
group of men would crash planes into the
group of men would crash planes into the World Trade Center in the Pentagon few
World Trade Center in the Pentagon few
World Trade Center in the Pentagon few years later in 2002 I found myself in
years later in 2002 I found myself in
years later in 2002 I found myself in Afghanistan with a whole new set of
Afghanistan with a whole new set of
Afghanistan with a whole new set of priorities defeating the Taliban and
priorities defeating the Taliban and
priorities defeating the Taliban and al-qaeda getting everybody in my platoon
al-qaeda getting everybody in my platoon
al-qaeda getting everybody in my platoon home alive on April 17th of that year we
home alive on April 17th of that year we
home alive on April 17th of that year we were doing a night firing exercise it
were doing a night firing exercise it
were doing a night firing exercise it was a wonderful night the kind that
was a wonderful night the kind that
was a wonderful night the kind that never makes it into war movies the sky
never makes it into war movies the sky
never makes it into war movies the sky was clear and I was in the company of
was clear and I was in the company of
was clear and I was in the company of soldiers who were more like family than
soldiers who were more like family than
soldiers who were more like family than colleagues we’d eaten together stood
colleagues we’d eaten together stood
colleagues we’d eaten together stood guard together shower together we even
guard together shower together we even
guard together shower together we even burned our ship together at one point
burned our ship together at one point
burned our ship together at one point that night I stopped to talk to another
that night I stopped to talk to another
that night I stopped to talk to another soldier both of us unaware that two f-16
soldier both of us unaware that two f-16
soldier both of us unaware that two f-16 fighter jets were flying overhead also
fighter jets were flying overhead also
fighter jets were flying overhead also unaware that one of the pilots had
unaware that one of the pilots had
unaware that one of the pilots had assessed our training activity as enemy
assessed our training activity as enemy
assessed our training activity as enemy surface-to-air fire and thus a threat
surface-to-air fire and thus a threat
surface-to-air fire and thus a threat and equally unaware that even at that
and equally unaware that even at that
and equally unaware that even at that moment a 500-pound bomb was hurtling
moment a 500-pound bomb was hurtling
moment a 500-pound bomb was hurtling towards a point on the Earth’s surface
towards a point on the Earth’s surface
towards a point on the Earth’s surface less than a few hundred meters from
less than a few hundred meters from
less than a few hundred meters from where we stood Tim O’Brien once wrote
where we stood Tim O’Brien once wrote
where we stood Tim O’Brien once wrote that in many ways a true war story
that in many ways a true war story
that in many ways a true war story cannot be believed you see often the
cannot be believed you see often the
cannot be believed you see often the actual events are so implausible that
actual events are so implausible that
actual events are so implausible that the storyteller has to invent a series
the storyteller has to invent a series
the storyteller has to invent a series of escalating normal events so that the
of escalating normal events so that the
of escalating normal events so that the crazy stuff is more believable in this
crazy stuff is more believable in this
crazy stuff is more believable in this case what’s crazy about a 500-pound bomb
case what’s crazy about a 500-pound bomb
case what’s crazy about a 500-pound bomb being dropped on a hundred person
being dropped on a hundred person
being dropped on a hundred person infantry company isn’t that so many
infantry company isn’t that so many
infantry company isn’t that so many people were killed and wounded
people were killed and wounded
people were killed and wounded but so few but violence is fickle it can
but so few but violence is fickle it can
but so few but violence is fickle it can be a sort that cuts both ways after the
be a sort that cuts both ways after the
be a sort that cuts both ways after the bombing there were many who wanted the
bombing there were many who wanted the
bombing there were many who wanted the heads of those pilots understandably on
heads of those pilots understandably on
heads of those pilots understandably on the one hand it was a tragic event a
the one hand it was a tragic event a
the one hand it was a tragic event a dereliction of duty two resulted in four
dereliction of duty two resulted in four
dereliction of duty two resulted in four heartbreaking funerals on the other hand
heartbreaking funerals on the other hand
heartbreaking funerals on the other hand it was a mistake and if you think about
it was a mistake and if you think about
it was a mistake and if you think about it
it
it mistakes happen in the workplace all the
mistakes happen in the workplace all the
mistakes happen in the workplace all the time but when the tools of your
time but when the tools of your
time but when the tools of your profession are designed to kill mistakes
profession are designed to kill mistakes
profession are designed to kill mistakes can be unforgiving this is the thing I
can be unforgiving this is the thing I
can be unforgiving this is the thing I think many people don’t appreciate about
think many people don’t appreciate about
think many people don’t appreciate about violence it’s why many professional
violence it’s why many professional
violence it’s why many professional martial artists might say that the best
martial artists might say that the best
martial artists might say that the best outcome of a violent encounter isn’t to
outcome of a violent encounter isn’t to
outcome of a violent encounter isn’t to win it’s to walk away unharmed to
win it’s to walk away unharmed to
win it’s to walk away unharmed to survive because at a certain point all
survive because at a certain point all
survive because at a certain point all bets are off like the character who says
bets are off like the character who says
bets are off like the character who says in the movie Black Hawk Down you can’t
in the movie Black Hawk Down you can’t
in the movie Black Hawk Down you can’t control who gets hit or who doesn’t it
control who gets hit or who doesn’t it
control who gets hit or who doesn’t it ain’t up to you it’s just war but
ain’t up to you it’s just war but
ain’t up to you it’s just war but decisions have consequences the
decisions have consequences the
decisions have consequences the consequence of a pilot deciding to bomb
consequence of a pilot deciding to bomb
consequence of a pilot deciding to bomb an infantry company was at four good men
an infantry company was at four good men
an infantry company was at four good men died more were wounded and many more
died more were wounded and many more
died more were wounded and many more decided to live their lives to make sure
decided to live their lives to make sure
decided to live their lives to make sure that those lives weren’t in vain for
that those lives weren’t in vain for
that those lives weren’t in vain for right or wrong priorities changed and
right or wrong priorities changed and
right or wrong priorities changed and not only do decisions have consequences
not only do decisions have consequences
not only do decisions have consequences but there are unique costs to the use of
but there are unique costs to the use of
but there are unique costs to the use of violence in 2011 I was back in
violence in 2011 I was back in
violence in 2011 I was back in Afghanistan for my fifth tour in charge
Afghanistan for my fifth tour in charge
Afghanistan for my fifth tour in charge of a unit one day there was a prison
of a unit one day there was a prison
of a unit one day there was a prison break hundreds of Taliban prisoners
break hundreds of Taliban prisoners
break hundreds of Taliban prisoners escaped we sent out teams to help
escaped we sent out teams to help
escaped we sent out teams to help recapture them and they found himself in
recapture them and they found himself in
recapture them and they found himself in a local village while they were there a
a local village while they were there a
a local village while they were there a stray dog attacked was thin mangy very
stray dog attacked was thin mangy very
stray dog attacked was thin mangy very possibly diseased the soldiers tried to
possibly diseased the soldiers tried to
possibly diseased the soldiers tried to shoo it away and it wouldn’t go and at a
shoo it away and it wouldn’t go and at a
shoo it away and it wouldn’t go and at a certain point one of the soldiers
certain point one of the soldiers
certain point one of the soldiers decided to fire a warning shot
decided to fire a warning shot
decided to fire a warning shot well the bullet ricocheted hit a cow
well the bullet ricocheted hit a cow
well the bullet ricocheted hit a cow ruining it bad enough that it had to be
ruining it bad enough that it had to be
ruining it bad enough that it had to be euthanized before the cow was pregnant
euthanized before the cow was pregnant
euthanized before the cow was pregnant and before it died it gave birth to a
and before it died it gave birth to a
and before it died it gave birth to a premature calf which died also and so it
premature calf which died also and so it
premature calf which died also and so it goes as Kurt Vonnegut might say I wasn’t
goes as Kurt Vonnegut might say I wasn’t
goes as Kurt Vonnegut might say I wasn’t there when any of this happened not that
there when any of this happened not that
there when any of this happened not that it would have mattered I was responsible
it would have mattered I was responsible
it would have mattered I was responsible I went to meet the village elders to
I went to meet the village elders to
I went to meet the village elders to work out reparations
work out reparations
work out reparations and I had all the answers our mission
and I had all the answers our mission
and I had all the answers our mission was just we were supporting the rule of
was just we were supporting the rule of
was just we were supporting the rule of law providing security so that
law providing security so that
law providing security so that development could take place and yes it
development could take place and yes it
development could take place and yes it was tragic that the cow had died but
was tragic that the cow had died but
was tragic that the cow had died but that had not been our intent and at any
that had not been our intent and at any
that had not been our intent and at any rate I was there to set things right
rate I was there to set things right
rate I was there to set things right well the elders told me a story of their
well the elders told me a story of their
well the elders told me a story of their own they said that in the battle between
own they said that in the battle between
own they said that in the battle between bulls
bulls
bulls it’s the Sheep who get trampled I asked
it’s the Sheep who get trampled I asked
it’s the Sheep who get trampled I asked my interpreter about that later on I
my interpreter about that later on I
my interpreter about that later on I asked him if he thought there had been
asked him if he thought there had been
asked him if he thought there had been any Taliban in that village and he said
any Taliban in that village and he said
any Taliban in that village and he said if there weren’t before there are now if
if there weren’t before there are now if
if there weren’t before there are now if I can tell you one thing from a lifetime
I can tell you one thing from a lifetime
I can tell you one thing from a lifetime of studying violence it’s that dr.
of studying violence it’s that dr.
of studying violence it’s that dr. Martin Luther King jr. had it right
Martin Luther King jr. had it right
Martin Luther King jr. had it right violence begets violence every instance
violence begets violence every instance
violence begets violence every instance of violence bursts the seeds of new
of violence bursts the seeds of new
of violence bursts the seeds of new conflict and it would be one thing if
conflict and it would be one thing if
conflict and it would be one thing if those consequences were limited to the
those consequences were limited to the
those consequences were limited to the first order but they’re not no there are
first order but they’re not no there are
first order but they’re not no there are often second and third order effects
often second and third order effects
often second and third order effects many of which are difficult to predict
many of which are difficult to predict
many of which are difficult to predict like this one several years ago I had a
like this one several years ago I had a
like this one several years ago I had a wonderful routine with my daughter who
wonderful routine with my daughter who
wonderful routine with my daughter who was 4 weekend mornings we get up early
was 4 weekend mornings we get up early
was 4 weekend mornings we get up early go to the basement she’d watch cartoons
go to the basement she’d watch cartoons
go to the basement she’d watch cartoons and I’ve trained martial arts well one
and I’ve trained martial arts well one
and I’ve trained martial arts well one morning we go downstairs and I stopped
morning we go downstairs and I stopped
morning we go downstairs and I stopped to get her a snack we’re tired we have a
to get her a snack we’re tired we have a
to get her a snack we’re tired we have a newborn who’d been up all night and as
newborn who’d been up all night and as
newborn who’d been up all night and as I’m getting a bowl of strawberries my
I’m getting a bowl of strawberries my
I’m getting a bowl of strawberries my daughter asks daddy little Kay for good
daughter asks daddy little Kay for good
daughter asks daddy little Kay for good people to do bad things to bad people
people to do bad things to bad people
people to do bad things to bad people now I hear the question and I have no
now I hear the question and I have no
now I hear the question and I have no idea where it came from
idea where it came from
idea where it came from it’s tired I’m tired you thoroughly and
it’s tired I’m tired you thoroughly and
it’s tired I’m tired you thoroughly and I just want to get my daughter in front
I just want to get my daughter in front
I just want to get my daughter in front of the television from a few minutes
of the television from a few minutes
of the television from a few minutes just so I can wake up but she’s asked it
just so I can wake up but she’s asked it
just so I can wake up but she’s asked it is only a four-year-old can equal parts
is only a four-year-old can equal parts
is only a four-year-old can equal parts innocence and honesty and my profession
innocence and honesty and my profession
innocence and honesty and my profession is what’s all about the use of force
is what’s all about the use of force
is what’s all about the use of force it’s all about doing bad things to bad
it’s all about doing bad things to bad
it’s all about doing bad things to bad people and it strikes me that if I can’t
people and it strikes me that if I can’t
people and it strikes me that if I can’t explain this to a four-year-old then
explain this to a four-year-old then
explain this to a four-year-old then maybe I don’t deserve the rank on my
maybe I don’t deserve the rank on my
maybe I don’t deserve the rank on my uniform so I kneel down and I look her
uniform so I kneel down and I look her
uniform so I kneel down and I look her in the eyes and the whole time the gears
in the eyes and the whole time the gears
in the eyes and the whole time the gears are cranking I’m thinking up a vanilla
are cranking I’m thinking up a vanilla
are cranking I’m thinking up a vanilla response but I’m also thinking that I
response but I’m also thinking that I
response but I’m also thinking that I have two young
have two young
have two young who I want to be 10 times stronger than
who I want to be 10 times stronger than
who I want to be 10 times stronger than I could ever be because in the real
I could ever be because in the real
I could ever be because in the real world there are predators no danger does
world there are predators no danger does
world there are predators no danger does not lurk around every corner but it does
not lurk around every corner but it does
not lurk around every corner but it does have a way of finding us especially when
have a way of finding us especially when
have a way of finding us especially when we’re least prepared so I say sweetie
we’re least prepared so I say sweetie
we’re least prepared so I say sweetie sometimes we have to do bad things to
sometimes we have to do bad things to
sometimes we have to do bad things to people to stop them from doing even
people to stop them from doing even
people to stop them from doing even worse things to us but that doesn’t mean
worse things to us but that doesn’t mean
worse things to us but that doesn’t mean it’s ok to hurt people because when we
it’s ok to hurt people because when we
it’s ok to hurt people because when we hurt someone else
hurt someone else
hurt someone else we also hurt ourselves if I’d been more
we also hurt ourselves if I’d been more
we also hurt ourselves if I’d been more thoughtful I might have said any man’s
thoughtful I might have said any man’s
thoughtful I might have said any man’s death diminishes me before I am involved
death diminishes me before I am involved
death diminishes me before I am involved in mankind therefore never send to know
in mankind therefore never send to know
in mankind therefore never send to know For Whom the Bell Tolls it tolls for
For Whom the Bell Tolls it tolls for
For Whom the Bell Tolls it tolls for thee but as I said it was early as it
thee but as I said it was early as it
thee but as I said it was early as it was her eyes rolled up in her head and I
was her eyes rolled up in her head and I
was her eyes rolled up in her head and I remember thinking I had utterly blown it
remember thinking I had utterly blown it
remember thinking I had utterly blown it but after a few seconds she said ok she
but after a few seconds she said ok she
but after a few seconds she said ok she asked me for a strawberry I said sure
asked me for a strawberry I said sure
asked me for a strawberry I said sure sweetie I picked her up when we went
sweetie I picked her up when we went
sweetie I picked her up when we went downstairs
downstairs
downstairs so I’m sitting beside her on the couch
so I’m sitting beside her on the couch
so I’m sitting beside her on the couch and I can’t stop thinking about this
and I can’t stop thinking about this
and I can’t stop thinking about this she’s moved on long ago she’s worried
she’s moved on long ago she’s worried
she’s moved on long ago she’s worried about who do you ask for help when you
about who do you ask for help when you
about who do you ask for help when you don’t know where to go and I’m thinking
don’t know where to go and I’m thinking
don’t know where to go and I’m thinking about her question and my response and I
about her question and my response and I
about her question and my response and I realized I’ve missed half her life to
realized I’ve missed half her life to
realized I’ve missed half her life to this point I’ve been busy playing army
this point I’ve been busy playing army
this point I’ve been busy playing army and I could easily have missed this to
and I could easily have missed this to
and I could easily have missed this to yet another consequence and then who
yet another consequence and then who
yet another consequence and then who would have explained it to her who would
would have explained it to her who would
would have explained it to her who would have explained how we as a society
have explained how we as a society
have explained how we as a society justify the use of violence of killing
justify the use of violence of killing
justify the use of violence of killing somebody and it’s important because
somebody and it’s important because
somebody and it’s important because killing is wrong whether in service to
killing is wrong whether in service to
killing is wrong whether in service to your country or as a crime of passion
your country or as a crime of passion
your country or as a crime of passion whatever the context it is wrong no that
whatever the context it is wrong no that
whatever the context it is wrong no that is not to say that violence and killing
is not to say that violence and killing
is not to say that violence and killing aren’t sometimes necessary because there
aren’t sometimes necessary because there
aren’t sometimes necessary because there are times when they absolutely are there
are times when they absolutely are there
are times when they absolutely are there are people in this world who mean to do
are people in this world who mean to do
are people in this world who mean to do harm to others and so we may at times
harm to others and so we may at times
harm to others and so we may at times have to harden our hearts and cause harm
have to harden our hearts and cause harm
have to harden our hearts and cause harm in order to prevent or stop even greater
in order to prevent or stop even greater
in order to prevent or stop even greater harm and while our hearts must be
harm and while our hearts must be
harm and while our hearts must be immovable made of steel that gives us
immovable made of steel that gives us
immovable made of steel that gives us the resilience to endure and commit acts
the resilience to endure and commit acts
the resilience to endure and commit acts that we know are wrong they must also be
that we know are wrong they must also be
that we know are wrong they must also be supple enough to preserve our humanity
supple enough to preserve our humanity
supple enough to preserve our humanity otherwise what are we fighting for but
otherwise what are we fighting for but
otherwise what are we fighting for but if violence is wrong if killing is wrong
if violence is wrong if killing is wrong
if violence is wrong if killing is wrong and we as a society continue to put
and we as a society continue to put
and we as a society continue to put people into harm’s way with the
people into harm’s way with the
people into harm’s way with the expectation that they will kill on our
expectation that they will kill on our
expectation that they will kill on our behalf if necessary what kind of
behalf if necessary what kind of
behalf if necessary what kind of position do we put them in an impossible
position do we put them in an impossible
position do we put them in an impossible one how do we prepare militaries are
one how do we prepare militaries are
one how do we prepare militaries are good at conditioning people to overcome
good at conditioning people to overcome
good at conditioning people to overcome their resistance to killing partly
their resistance to killing partly
their resistance to killing partly through training but also partly through
through training but also partly through
through training but also partly through diffusion of responsibility as in it’s
diffusion of responsibility as in it’s
diffusion of responsibility as in it’s not just them pulling the trigger but if
not just them pulling the trigger but if
not just them pulling the trigger but if we all share a portion of the
we all share a portion of the
we all share a portion of the responsibility for state sanctioned
responsibility for state sanctioned
responsibility for state sanctioned violence then what the society do to
violence then what the society do to
violence then what the society do to prepare itself for the cost of violence
prepare itself for the cost of violence
prepare itself for the cost of violence done on its behalf this is not a new
done on its behalf this is not a new
done on its behalf this is not a new question
question
question Rosa Brooks in her book how everything
Rosa Brooks in her book how everything
Rosa Brooks in her book how everything became more documents just a few of the
became more documents just a few of the
became more documents just a few of the examples of how ancient civilizations
examples of how ancient civilizations
examples of how ancient civilizations prepared their warriors and their
prepared their warriors and their
prepared their warriors and their broader civilization for combat even as
broader civilization for combat even as
broader civilization for combat even as late as the Second World War
late as the Second World War
late as the Second World War forces marched off to war and society
forces marched off to war and society
forces marched off to war and society turned out to watch not because everyone
turned out to watch not because everyone
turned out to watch not because everyone loves a parade
loves a parade
loves a parade we don’t know it’s because these are
we don’t know it’s because these are
we don’t know it’s because these are societal symbols of collective
societal symbols of collective
societal symbols of collective responsibility collective accountability
responsibility collective accountability
responsibility collective accountability affirmations that when that sister
affirmations that when that sister
affirmations that when that sister brother son or daughter must look down
brother son or daughter must look down
brother son or daughter must look down the sights of their rifle and decide who
the sights of their rifle and decide who
the sights of their rifle and decide who lives and who dies they do not stand
lives and who dies they do not stand
lives and who dies they do not stand alone so they stand with the weight of a
alone so they stand with the weight of a
alone so they stand with the weight of a nation behind them Richard Holmes wrote
nation behind them Richard Holmes wrote
nation behind them Richard Holmes wrote that societies which ask soldiers to
that societies which ask soldiers to
that societies which ask soldiers to fight on their behalf should be aware of
fight on their behalf should be aware of
fight on their behalf should be aware of what the consequences of their actions
what the consequences of their actions
what the consequences of their actions may so easily be and since we know there
may so easily be and since we know there
may so easily be and since we know there are consequences and since we know that
are consequences and since we know that
are consequences and since we know that the unique costs of violence is more
the unique costs of violence is more
the unique costs of violence is more violence
violence
violence we know the effects touch everything
we know the effects touch everything
we know the effects touch everything from the policy goal being sought to the
from the policy goal being sought to the
from the policy goal being sought to the reintegration of service members into
reintegration of service members into
reintegration of service members into society for there are limitations to
society for there are limitations to
society for there are limitations to what military force can accomplish
what military force can accomplish
what military force can accomplish witness the conflicts in Iraq
witness the conflicts in Iraq
witness the conflicts in Iraq Afghanistan Syria there will be a result
Afghanistan Syria there will be a result
Afghanistan Syria there will be a result but any decision achieved primarily
but any decision achieved primarily
but any decision achieved primarily through military force is not likely to
through military force is not likely to
through military force is not likely to be absolute because it is a means to an
be absolute because it is a means to an
be absolute because it is a means to an end
end
end it is a tool to accomplish an objective
it is a tool to accomplish an objective
it is a tool to accomplish an objective that a society wants bad enough that it
that a society wants bad enough that it
that a society wants bad enough that it is willing to kill to get it but how can
is willing to kill to get it but how can
is willing to kill to get it but how can those decisions be made if the society
those decisions be made if the society
those decisions be made if the society doesn’t understand the costs involved
doesn’t understand the costs involved
doesn’t understand the costs involved consider the reintegration of
consider the reintegration of
consider the reintegration of servicemembers study after study has
servicemembers study after study has
servicemembers study after study has shown that the nature of social support
shown that the nature of social support
shown that the nature of social support can mitigate the effects of exposure to
can mitigate the effects of exposure to
can mitigate the effects of exposure to combat and by social support I’m not
combat and by social support I’m not
combat and by social support I’m not talking about military appreciation
talking about military appreciation
talking about military appreciation Knights or military discounts which by
Knights or military discounts which by
Knights or military discounts which by the way are all great and veterans
the way are all great and veterans
the way are all great and veterans appreciate them but what I’m talking
appreciate them but what I’m talking
appreciate them but what I’m talking about is social support as the
about is social support as the
about is social support as the understanding from a society that what
understanding from a society that what
understanding from a society that what those people did was necessary that
those people did was necessary that
those people did was necessary that there was a difficult job to be done and
there was a difficult job to be done and
there was a difficult job to be done and that society as a whole stood up and
that society as a whole stood up and
that society as a whole stood up and said for right or wrong we asked you to
said for right or wrong we asked you to
said for right or wrong we asked you to kill on our behalf and in doing so we
kill on our behalf and in doing so we
kill on our behalf and in doing so we understood that you yourself might have
understood that you yourself might have
understood that you yourself might have had to die we understand and we
had to die we understand and we
had to die we understand and we appreciate it because in this case it is
appreciate it because in this case it is
appreciate it because in this case it is the soldier who provides the hardened
the soldier who provides the hardened
the soldier who provides the hardened shell of society is a moveable heart
shell of society is a moveable heart
shell of society is a moveable heart doing what is necessary to survive
doing what is necessary to survive
doing what is necessary to survive complemented with humanity’s compassion
complemented with humanity’s compassion
complemented with humanity’s compassion and understanding is it possible that if
and understanding is it possible that if
and understanding is it possible that if society better understood the cost of
society better understood the cost of
society better understood the cost of violence that more thought and care am I
violence that more thought and care am I
violence that more thought and care am I going to these decisions if that was a
going to these decisions if that was a
going to these decisions if that was a case could we make more progress because
case could we make more progress because
case could we make more progress because there must be something else to look
there must be something else to look
there must be something else to look forward to than perpetual war and
forward to than perpetual war and
forward to than perpetual war and conflict we talk about costs what’s the
conflict we talk about costs what’s the
conflict we talk about costs what’s the opportunity cost of the money spent
opportunity cost of the money spent
opportunity cost of the money spent globally on defense
globally on defense
globally on defense I met a soldier once on his sixth
I met a soldier once on his sixth
I met a soldier once on his sixth deployment and he told me that he would
deployment and he told me that he would
deployment and he told me that he would be willing to go to war 20 times if it
be willing to go to war 20 times if it
be willing to go to war 20 times if it meant his children wouldn’t have to
meant his children wouldn’t have to
meant his children wouldn’t have to having tried to explain violence to my
having tried to explain violence to my
having tried to explain violence to my own children I understand how he felt I
own children I understand how he felt I
own children I understand how he felt I too would go to war 20 times a hundred
too would go to war 20 times a hundred
too would go to war 20 times a hundred times if I thought it would spare my
times if I thought it would spare my
times if I thought it would spare my children having to stare into the abyss
children having to stare into the abyss
children having to stare into the abyss of killing another human being but for
of killing another human being but for
of killing another human being but for the life of me I cannot see an end in
the life of me I cannot see an end in
the life of me I cannot see an end in sight the military part of me accepts
sight the military part of me accepts
sight the military part of me accepts that violence and war have been part of
that violence and war have been part of
that violence and war have been part of our history almost forever and that’s
our history almost forever and that’s
our history almost forever and that’s not likely to change but when I think
not likely to change but when I think
not likely to change but when I think about the money spent on defense on
about the money spent on defense on
about the money spent on defense on security on better ways to track and
security on better ways to track and
security on better ways to track and surveil and destroy I despair of our
surveil and destroy I despair of our
surveil and destroy I despair of our dwindling opportunities to address other
dwindling opportunities to address other
dwindling opportunities to address other complex challenges
complex challenges
complex challenges how will we tackle issues like why
how will we tackle issues like why
how will we tackle issues like why change artificial intelligence
change artificial intelligence
change artificial intelligence drug-resistant bacteria if we cannot
drug-resistant bacteria if we cannot
drug-resistant bacteria if we cannot stop killing each other I don’t have the
stop killing each other I don’t have the
stop killing each other I don’t have the answer for that all I am is a simple
answer for that all I am is a simple
answer for that all I am is a simple soldier a grunt and violence is bigger
soldier a grunt and violence is bigger
soldier a grunt and violence is bigger than me it’s bigger than all of us here
than me it’s bigger than all of us here
than me it’s bigger than all of us here I’m a student and will never be a master
I’m a student and will never be a master
I’m a student and will never be a master but I know enough to tell you that to
but I know enough to tell you that to
but I know enough to tell you that to use violence against another human being
use violence against another human being
use violence against another human being is to flirt with disaster it is to fight
is to flirt with disaster it is to fight
is to flirt with disaster it is to fight with monsters there’s a scene in the
with monsters there’s a scene in the
with monsters there’s a scene in the movie true romance where a hitman is
movie true romance where a hitman is
movie true romance where a hitman is describing what it’s like to kill
describing what it’s like to kill
describing what it’s like to kill somebody
somebody
somebody he says now the first time you kill
he says now the first time you kill
he says now the first time you kill somebody
somebody
somebody that’s the hardest the second one second
that’s the hardest the second one second
that’s the hardest the second one second one ain’t no Mardi Gras either but it’s
one ain’t no Mardi Gras either but it’s
one ain’t no Mardi Gras either but it’s better than the first you still feel the
better than the first you still feel the
better than the first you still feel the same thing but it’s better than the
same thing but it’s better than the
same thing but it’s better than the third one third one’s easy
third one third one’s easy
third one third one’s easy you level right off now now I do it just
you level right off now now I do it just
you level right off now now I do it just to watch their expression change well
to watch their expression change well
to watch their expression change well ladies and gentlemen the thing about
ladies and gentlemen the thing about
ladies and gentlemen the thing about monsters is they fight back and just as
monsters is they fight back and just as
monsters is they fight back and just as individuals who fight with monsters must
individuals who fight with monsters must
individuals who fight with monsters must guard against becoming one themselves so
guard against becoming one themselves so
guard against becoming one themselves so to do societies otherwise what are we
to do societies otherwise what are we
to do societies otherwise what are we fighting for thank you
fighting for thank you
fighting for thank you [Applause]
”
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