Registered: Dec 1999
Location: "Children are a gift from God, they are a reward"
Posts: 1049

Should US soldiers "Get a cash bonus"?

I don't know who else caught the story that according to reporters in Iraq, who were talking to some US soldiers about the large amount of cash being found, some US soldiers felt entitled to a cash bonus (from the found loot) for a job "well done".

If this report is true (and it may well be) and the soldiers were serious, do you agree, disagree, etc. I was going to make this into a poll, but I didn't want to influence anyones' answers.

I personally think some US soldiers need a "bonus" kick in the butt. That money belongs entirely to the Iraqi people. I guess you could consider it their "bonus" for living under a dictator for so long.

Feel free to include comments about civilians caught trying to slip loot home too. I know at least one (former) Fox news employee was caught trying to smuggle objects into the US.

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Location: South Carolina
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Main Entry: 1steal
Pronunciation: 'stE(&l
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): stole /'stOl/; sto�len /'stO-l&n/; steal�ing
Etymology: Middle English stelen, from Old English stelan; akin to Old High German stelan to steal
Date: before 12th century
intransitive senses
1 : to take the property of another wrongfully and especially as an habitual or regular practice
transitive senses
1 a : to take or appropriate without right or leave and with intent to keep or make use of wrongfully <stole a car> b : to take away by force or unjust means <they've stolen our liberty> c : to take surreptitiously or without permission <steal a kiss> d : to appropriate to oneself or beyond one's proper share : make oneself the focus of <steal the show>

emphasis added

Registered: Apr 2002
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Stealing is stealing. Should a doctor help himself to your wallet while you're asleep after a "job well done" on a surgery?

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Last edited by KRamsauer on 04-24-2003 at 06:18 PM

Registered: Jul 2000
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quote:

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Originally posted by KRamsauer
Stealing is stealing. Should a doctor help himself to your wallet while your asleep after a "job well done" on a surgery?

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Well, they basically do that already.

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: "Children are a gift from God, they are a reward"
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quote:

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Originally posted by Toby

Well, they basically do that already.

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quote:

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Originally posted by BobbyMike
Ouch!

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Hehe, I might've said the same about lawyers, but I don't want to get on K's bad side. OTOH, I also refrained about the 'unilateral liberation' of that money.

Registered: Dec 2002
Location: Winter Springs, FL
Posts: 4

It's illegal in accordance with UCMJ and Geneva Convention. I'm sure anyone caught doing this will be prosecuted.

Ray Cannon, Lt Col (Ret), USAF

Registered: Dec 1999
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quote:

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Originally posted by F1Turbo
It's illegal in accordance with UCMJ and Geneva Convention. I'm sure anyone caught doing this will be prosecuted.

Ray Cannon, Lt Col (Ret), USAF

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quote:

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Originally posted by BobbyMike
[...] Here's a link to the story

Four GIs Planned to Pinch $12M

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Registered: Apr 2002
Location: Houston, TX
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quote:

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Originally posted by BobbyMike
Four GIs Planned to Pinch $12M

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Registered: Dec 1999
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quote:

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Originally posted by KRamsauer
I trust the military will be swift and severe in its punishment. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the military doesn't really tend to draw things out to the length of many civil trials.

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Actually I think its human nature to do what some of the troops did. They will never see that much amount if money in theri lifetime again. Greed really drives us. A lot of us who are spewing condemnation would be tempted as well.

quote:

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Originally posted by BobbyMike


Thanks Col.

As a formerly active Marine I knew it was against the UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice for the rest of you), I was just appalled that some of our troops supposedly felt it was ok to keep some of the found cash "as a bonus". The troops that said this were not the ones that tried to hide some of the cash BTW.

Here's a link to the story

Four GIs Planned to Pinch $12M

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Registered: Dec 1999
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quote:

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Originally posted by yardie
Actually I think its human nature to do what some of the troops did. They will never see that much amount if money in theri lifetime again. Greed really drives us. A lot of us who are spewing condemnation would be tempted as well.

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"I am a debtor both to Greeks and to Barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish."

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Location: Houston, TX
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quote:

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Originally posted by yardie
Actually I think its human nature to do what some of the troops did. They will never see that much amount if money in theri lifetime again. Greed really drives us. A lot of us who are spewing condemnation would be tempted as well.

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I too was trained not to steal etc. I am just saying that it easy for us to criticize someone when we are not in their shoes. I am not sure how I would react if I come across so much money. It is easy for me to say right now that I wouldn't take any. Remember that money is the root of all evil. Most wars etc. has money as the root cause.

quote:

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Originally posted by BobbyMike


Speak for yourself. Some of us were raised by parents who taught us stealing is bad (see K. Cannons' post).

Your acceptence of their criminality is interesting as you spend a lot of time posting about the actions of others and how "bad" they can be.

But don't feel bad, many members of the Liberal Left view life the same way - with an attitude of situational morality.

Are you saying you would of stolen some money? Or are you saying some of us would have?

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Of course not. But one have to be realistic.

quote:

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Originally posted by KRamsauer
You better not be implying all human nature is justifiable?

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My life is in my Treo... Where is yours?

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: "Children are a gift from God, they are a reward"
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quote:

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Originally posted by yardie
I too was trained not to steal etc. I am just saying that it easy for us to criticize someone when we are not in their shoes. I am not sure how I would react if I come across so much money. It is easy for me to say right now that I wouldn't take any. Remember that money is the root of all evil. Most wars etc. has money as the root cause.

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quote:

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Originally posted by yardie
Most wars etc. has money as the root cause.

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Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Sydney Australia
Posts: 1883

quote:

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Originally posted by Toby

Sounds like some people watched Three Kings a few too many times.

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That popped into my mind too...
I guess it is a good script for 3 kings, part 2... :/

As for what I think about this matter, I guess most of you can allready work that out

About yardies remark, I think he has a point, no matter how you were raised, greed is enbedded in our system.. when presented a get rich quick scheme, most people will have a think about it...
The big difference is most people realize it is wrong and dont act on it... but it human nature to at least think about it...

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Registered: Dec 1999
Location: "Children are a gift from God, they are a reward"
Posts: 1049

quote:

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Originally posted by ToolkiT

That popped into my mind too...
I guess it is a good script for 3 kings, part 2... :/

As for what I think about this matter, I guess most of you can allready work that out

About yardies remark, I think he has a point, no matter how you were raised, greed is enbedded in our system.. when presented a get rich quick scheme, most people will have a think about it...
The big difference is most people realize it is wrong and dont act on it... but it human nature to at least think about it...

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