Questionable reading material of US Soldiers in Iraq

[No Names Left Damn It]

Well that just makes it practically a Commie rag of course,

American centre right = Commie nowadays?

[New Mitanni]

Not sure what to make of this...
It's a arare occurence that I am in agreement with NM.

Didn't that already happen today? You've agreed with NM twice in one day lol.

Houston, we have a problem.

[Maurepas]

Well that just makes it practically a Commie rag of course,

American centre right = Commie nowadays?

Didnt you hear? Rush Limbaugh leads our Right-Wingers these days...So, of course! ...

[Dyakovo]

Not sure what to make of this...
It's a arare occurence that I am in agreement with NM.

Didn't that already happen today? You've agreed with NM twice in one day lol.

Houston, we have a problem.

Indeed, obviously at least one of us has gone wonky today, I suggest we each perform self-checks NM...

[EvilDarkMagicians]

Meaning US Soldiers who could easily buy a 15$ book, opt to buy instead this book which has the reputation by some to be "neo-nazi propaganda" at costs exceeding 100$. Well enough US Soldiers bought this book to catapult it into the top ten, and it's the only book dealing with war in the list of other top tens

Why would you pay 100 S for a book? These US soldier must be crazy.

My brain itches.

[The Cat-Tribe]

Anyone else disturbed by the fact that of all the books in the world. That in the most popular selection is a highly controversial book most book suppliers refuse to shelve?

Anyone else disturbed by the fact that most suppliers attempt to censor what people can read?

I realize the article is a bit aged. However it is a bit of an interesting question, especially considering how rare the book is as well. Meaning US Soldiers who could easily buy a 15$ book, opt to buy instead this book which has the reputation by some to be "neo-nazi propaganda" at costs exceeding 100$. Well enough US Soldiers bought this book to catapult it into the top ten, and it's the only book dealing with war in the list of other top tens.

Could there be any psychological reasoning behind this?`With the unpopularity of the Iraq War, many Iraq soldiers start to liken themselves to another military unit that was very unpopular (Waffen SS) and take solace in literature that justifies their unpopular actions? Or is the army simply filled with so many literate neo-nazis/Waffen SS fans that they can land their cannon literature into the top ten in book orders?

Anyone else disturbed by certain ideologues trying to depict US troops as secret Nazi sympathizers?

Anyone else ready for a big "STFU" to slanderous psychobabblers?

Although (suprisingly) our reactions to this story are similar, what ideologues? What slanderous psychobabblers? Cybach?

[The Cat-Tribe]

Two additional points:

1. The article and OP are very misleading.

This is a list created by one book source, AbeBooks, of the top 50 orders they have received from soldiers in Iraq. As AbeBooks specializes in obscure and out-of-print books, that would skew the list.

This is NOT necessarily an accurate reflection of the top books being read by the troops.

2. I'd be less worried about the Nazi book and more worried about the Timothy LaHaye's trash. ("LaHaye's vision of Armageddon (and the Second Coming) happening in the Middle East in the first years of the 21st century is slightly troubling.")

[Bears Armed]

My potential worry about the book isn't about any 'Nazi' content, it's about the possibility that some of its readers might try using some of the (brutal) counter-insurgency methods that its author claims to have employed: The terms "atrocities" and "war crimes" aren't ones that we want to see accurately applied to the allies' actions, are they?

[Brogavia]

My potential worry about the book isn't about any 'Nazi' content, it's about the possibility that some of its readers might try using some of the (brutal) counter-insurgency methods that its author claims to have employed: The terms "atrocities" and "war crimes" aren't ones that we want to see accurately applied to the allies' actions, are they?

Thats the same logic as the "Harry Potter can turn your kids into witches!" crap.

[Maurepas]

My potential worry about the book isn't about any 'Nazi' content, it's about the possibility that some of its readers might try using some of the (brutal) counter-insurgency methods that its author claims to have employed: The terms "atrocities" and "war crimes" aren't ones that we want to see accurately applied to the allies' actions, are they?

Thats the same logic as the "Harry Potter can turn your kids into witches!" crap.

To be fair, after reading it, I was introduced to Wicca...

Now, it may be just a coincidence that my Mother converted to it when I was in Highschool and I read Harry Potter in Middle School...

But Still,

[Brogavia]

My potential worry about the book isn't about any 'Nazi' content, it's about the possibility that some of its readers might try using some of the (brutal) counter-insurgency methods that its author claims to have employed: The terms "atrocities" and "war crimes" aren't ones that we want to see accurately applied to the allies' actions, are they?

Thats the same logic as the "Harry Potter can turn your kids into witches!" crap.

To be fair, after reading it, I was introduced to Wicca...

Now, it may be just a coincidence that my Mother converted to it when I was in Highschool and I read Harry Potter in Middle School...

But Still,

Stop ruining my point by believing something damn it.

[Greed and Death]

When I was in the service Devil's Guard was required reading by my General in 2 of the units I served in.

One of them required a written essay over how the book shows the military is the supreme protector and arbitrator of constitutional matters.

[Lunatic Goofballs]

They have found worse. In Afghanistan a group of soldiers was getting copies of the bible in Dari. They were trying to convert the local Afghans to Christianity.

THAT is a major problem, that I think is far more questionable than Nazi material.

ZOMG PEOPLE TRYING TO CONVERT OTHERS TO THEIR OWN RELIGION! How totally unthinkable.

No. American Soldiers in uniform trying to convert others to their own religion.

There's a reason why it's a blatant violation of the UCMJ. A very good reason.

[Greed and Death]

They have found worse. In Afghanistan a group of soldiers was getting copies of the bible in Dari. They were trying to convert the local Afghans to Christianity.

THAT is a major problem, that I think is far more questionable than Nazi material.

ZOMG PEOPLE TRYING TO CONVERT OTHERS TO THEIR OWN RELIGION! How totally unthinkable.

No. American Soldiers in uniform trying to convert others to their own religion.

There's a reason why it's a blatant violation of the UCMJ. A very good reason.

In Afghanistan(Iraq too i think) it is a violation of UCMJ. Mostly because if the locals found out all sides would join to kill the Americans.
Basically return all Afghanistanians to their national sport of shooting foreigners.

Other places it is ok.

[Lunarmanny]

They have found worse. In Afghanistan a group of soldiers was getting copies of the bible in Dari. They were trying to convert the local Afghans to Christianity.

THAT is a major problem, that I think is far more questionable than Nazi material.

ZOMG PEOPLE TRYING TO CONVERT OTHERS TO THEIR OWN RELIGION! How totally unthinkable.

No. American Soldiers in uniform trying to convert others to their own religion.

There's a reason why it's a blatant violation of the UCMJ. A very good reason.

Really? I used to be pretty cognizant of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Of which article is this a "blatant violation" please?

[Katganistan]

News flash: people watch horror movies and don't want to emulate the antogonist in it.
People read The Godfather and don't become mafiosi.
People watch porn and don't become porn stars.

I don't think it's particularly worrying.

[Laerod]

Anyone else disturbed by the fact that most suppliers attempt to censor what people can read?

Indeed, these enemies of the people must be stripped of their private property if they desire to run businesses as they see fit as opposed to how the government wants it. Comrade.

Anyone else disturbed by certain ideologues trying to depict US troops as secret Nazi sympathizers?

Anyone else ready for a big "STFU" to slanderous psychobabblers?

Hm? The article appears to be asking the question what it means that one of the top ten books supplied to US servicemen and women in Iraq is practically a justification for mass murder. That is disturbing.

[Ryadn]

While I'm not a Nazi, we shouldn't be banning Nazi materials for US troops to be reading because of their Nationalistic content. It sounds just like a liberal European to try and pressure the US into banning Nationalistic writings and groups. How hypocritical.

At least there's no stereotyping going on there! Nazi Europeans = subjective, "liberal" Europeans = hypocrites trying to take our freedoms.

[Hebalobia]

The LaHaye book concerns me much more than the Elford book.

But seeing that Catcher in the Rye and Harry Potter are at the top of the list leads me to believe that the Republic is safe.

[Ryadn]

Are you people even reading the damn article? Nobody has advocated banning this book at all.

I skimmed through it and the mood seemed like that of the liberal European attitudes towards Nazism we see today: ban them. However, I see your point.

Where have you seen these so-called "liberal European attitudes"? Been surveying citizens in the EU lately?

It's certainly hard to imagine why any of the countries actually involved in and affected by the Holocaust would have strong feelings about the subject, anyway.

[Ryadn]

The LaHaye book concerns me much more than the Elford book.

Both in terms of subject matter and quality. I tried reading a little of one of those when they first hit the scene, out of curiosity. Complete crap. Our servicemen and women deserve better.

[Ashmoria]

When I was in the service Devil's Guard was required reading by my General in 2 of the units I served in.

One of them required a written essay over how the book shows the military is the supreme protector and arbitrator of constitutional matters.

and, assuming that you read it, did you find that the book was worth the read and that it did make a case for the military being the supreme protector and arbitrator of constitutional matters in a non-objectionable way without teaching other horrifyingly fascist suppositions?

[Ostronopolis]

Oh for god sakes, the poor guys (and girls) get little enough as it is, and they're defending our country, shouldn't we allow them something?

[Milks Empire]

If the publishers don't want to publish a book, they are under no obligation to do so.
That said, let 'em read it if they want to. If they buy what Nazi propaganda is in the book, they're either easily led or were already sympathetic to such a view.

[Christmahanikwanzikah]

Dear God, they let soldiers read Douglas Adams?!

Barbarous torture, this is!