Lacking Empathy

So today I was able to experience an event that I may never be able to come to terms with....watching our medics perform life saving measures on captured enemy Taliban combatants.  We are required to provide them the exact same level of medical care as we would provide to our own.  Granted, he lay in the hospital bed with armed Security Forces just waiting for him to make the wrong move.

Talking to the convoy personnel who engaged these bastards was pretty cool though.  It was late night and they were out on convoy when an overhead Predator located the presence of these Taliban hiding in a ditch approximately 150 yards off the road, just waiting for our guys to drive by.  Immediately called in were the Apaches and their 50mm rounds.  Shortly after, small arms fire ensued.  However, these fierce cowards continued hiding in the ditch, mitigating the effectiveness of the M4.  Realizing that wasn't going to work, our boys broke out the grenade launchers.  Now that got 'em hoppin'.  As those who weren't blown apart began to scatter, they were lit up by constant rounds of .223, 50 cal, and 7.62.  Long story short, it was a victory for the good guys. How awesomely intesnse would that have been to be involved in taking down the enemy!!!  I'd love to be out there making my own tally marks on the side of my rifle.

So back to the lack of empathy.  They took into custody several Taliban that were injured in combat and now we have the responsibility for providing them with medical care.  As I stood by this guy's bedside an extreme hatred filled me, knowing that at any given second this.....this......can't say what I'm thinking, would end my life in an instant.  He was postured with AKs and RPGs, ready to light up our troops, yet we were in the process of saving his worthless life.  It's absolutely infuriating knowing his motives but being bound by these regulations. 

"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you;"  I'm having a real hard time with that right now.