Yes and no. American military personnel absolutely murdered innocent civilians in Iraq, Afghanistan, Nicaragua, Panama, Vietnam, Korea, Germany, Italy, Japan, …
But not every one, not every day, not multiple times a day.
I know this sounds like “not all X are Y,” and to some extent sure, but some mechanic or cook or logistics nerd who never touched a trigger after Basic isn’t a murderer like the shit bag who killed Good or Pretti or the others is.
Sure but by this logic every person who has paid taxes to the US, or imported things from the US, is culpable to a degree in war crimes. Is it kind of true? Yes. Is it a useful point? Not really, beyond pointing out the boundless capability of capital to abstract and distance its effects.
Yes and no. American military personnel absolutely murdered innocent civilians in Iraq, Afghanistan, Nicaragua, Panama, Vietnam, Korea, Germany, Italy, Japan, …
But not every one, not every day, not multiple times a day.
I know this sounds like “not all X are Y,” and to some extent sure, but some mechanic or cook or logistics nerd who never touched a trigger after Basic isn’t a murderer like the shit bag who killed Good or Pretti or the others is.
But they still supported the institution no? Hitler’s cook can make the same claim
Sure but by this logic every person who has paid taxes to the US, or imported things from the US, is culpable to a degree in war crimes. Is it kind of true? Yes. Is it a useful point? Not really, beyond pointing out the boundless capability of capital to abstract and distance its effects.