"An American (Sniper) Hero Must be a Reluctant One" Topic

"There sure is a lot of hubbub these days about American Sniper, a biopic loosely based on Chris Kyle's memoir of the same title. For any readers who haven't yet seen it, the Clint Eastwood brand lives up to its name. American Sniper is slick, intense, and well-acted. It provides the viewer with some bloody, sexy special operations action you see in a Call of Duty: Modern Warfare game, or films like Zero-Dark-Thirty and Lone Survivor.

For all the clear market support for such a film – a gross of $100 USD million in its opening, a record for this time of year – American Sniper has come with its own to-be-expected set of controversies.

Michael Moore's tweet in particular begs our attention. It's all inflammatory, hyper-liberal, so tastelessly left of center I am in awe of his ability to incite so much with only 140 characters:…"
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Amicalement
Armand

My grandfather fought in the trenches of WWI. His attitude towards snipers was less than generous.

I do find it interesting that so many troops have been described as having been killed by a sniper.

Of course, during WWII, every good shot on the other was a sniper, every German tank was a Tiger and every German gun was an 88, too.

Takes a certain type to kill at range at an enemy not expecting that head shot. I think 'reluctant hero' stretches the chewing gum too much.

It all goes to the line from Patton about making the other guy die for his country. The more efficiently that happens, the happier I am.

As a former Grunt, whether you get killed by a sniper, a burst of SA and MG fire, booby trap/IED, FA, CAS, etc., etc., you are still just as dead. As a former Infantry Cdr, I sent a lot of my troops to sniper training even if they have no assigned sniper rifle. It makes them better shots and soldiers. Soldiers in a firefight, based on terrain, usually engages targets under 250m. So again, whether I kill you at 250m or at 25m … you are still dead …

It all goes to the line from Patton about making the other guy die for his country. The more efficiently that happens, the happier I am.

Agree completely …

I find the snipers are "unsporting" attitude a bit ridiculus.

Insurgents by definition are not lawful combatants. They do not fight for a state, do not wear uniforms, hide amoung civilians or take prisoners except to kill them later. Their whole method of operation is low down and sneaky.

I find the snipers are "unsporting" attitude a bit ridiculus.

I agree … Regardless of who you are fighting. Tactics like using snipers, L-shaped Ambushes, etc., etc., if done correctly most in the Kill Zone are dead before they know it. And most of the rest soon afterwards. Killing scum like Deash, islamo-jihadi terrorists, etc., would make it just that much easier …

You know, if you read that blog post out loud in an American Dad's Stan Smith voice it's gutbustingly funny.

Snipers are a necessary and essential tool in warfare that's been around since the AWI. War isn't a 'gentlemen's contest' or duel where honor is at stake. You win by any means necessary, fair or foul.

While I can understand why snipers would be seen negatively by the enemy, to friends they are life savers. Just ask any of the marines whose backs Kyle watched.