"Taking Aim at the Sniper Myth" Topic

"With the release of the Clint Eastwood-directed film American Sniper, based on the book by Chris Kyle, a growing debate on the role of military snipers has begun. Documentary filmmaker Michael Moore weighed in on the issue via social media stating that as he was taught that snipers are cowards and would shoot people in the back.

Moore, who posted the comments on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, quickly backpedaled on his statement and suggested that he wasn't actually referencing Kyle or the film. Moore did note that his uncle was killed while serving in the United States military during World War II, and claimed that it was a sniper who killed his uncle—while also suggesting that Dr. King was also the victim of a sniper…"
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Amicalement
Armand

The enemy is always brutal, cowardly, cunning, violent, stubborn, etc.

We are always strong, brave, tactically skilled, tough, tenacious, etc.

As the Corleones used to say, "It's just business. It's not personal."

As a general rule, snipers are military trained and operating under the rules of engagement. Assassins are "brutal, cowardly, violent, etc." and criminals.

What are frequently treated as snipers in many games are merely figures equipped with telescopic sights that are required to fill out various platoon organizations, but are not really meant to be snipers. A good example of this practice was the German tendency to issue a scoped K-98 to a messenger in platoon HQ, even though this fellow was not sniper-trainex, and perhaps not even a good shot. What was tragic was command may have frequently condemned that poor individual to summary execution if he did not ditch that weapon quick enough after the battle.

(smile)

Amicalement
Armand

Why does anybody still pay any attention to Michael Moore?

Why does anybody still pay attention to Michael Moore? Fear of being eaten?

Pzivh43 is correct.

Unless they are 'our' assassins. Then they are forceful,determined and courageous.

But then again, they are some one's role model.

Let's set a trap for straw dogs,

It's amazing just how many low ranking enlisted US soldiers were killed by "snipers." A close friend of my wife's likes to talk about her uncle who was killed in Normandy by a sniper. I asked this lady's brother about this, and he stared at me. "Uncle John was killed by 6 machine gun rounds into his chest." I guess this claim is something trying to import value to the death.

Or maybe it's just like every German tank was a Tiger or King Tiger.

Then, as now, snipers were used to kill important targets – officers, NCOs, forward observers, weapons crews. PFC Smith as he hunkered down behind a hedgerow was a low priority target, especially after the US began using artillery & mortar fire to respond to "sniper" fire.

A single shot was usually not a sniper's round, unless it killed Lt. Jones while he was talking on the radio.

Michael Moore, baby!!! What higher authority can there be on any topic??? Look for the dramatic film "documentary" on snipers coming soon to a theater near you.

On a more serious note, the US Army in Normandy became quite perturbed by the number of tank commanders being shot out of turret hatches. It was not the recently conscripted son of Hans the butcher who was pulling the trigger. Jaegers and snipers have a long history in Prussian and German military history.

And Germany was not the only naton enamored of sniping. The USSR in WW2 had a big sniping program Ialtho they appear to have followed a slightly different approach from others) The British and Canadian armies both developed large organized sniping programs, for example (in WW1 at least).

FWIW.

B