1st Combat Camera Squadron

[XxPhillyGxX]

Airforce sadly no longer has Combat Camera, they changed to Cyberspace something. They now have 3V0X2, which is still photography. Still interesting, but I assume its different from Combat Camera. I know its one of the jobs I'm looking at.

[canadianmatt3]

At 1:27 The picture is a Canadian Army Master Cpl in Afghanistan most likely in 2002/03 judging by the uniform.

[darkSolutionX]

Did you see all that Opium behind those kids and adults at 1:40?

[kanatuna86]

Hell Yeah!!!

I just got my orders an hour ago....Combat Camera here I come!

[The1SNCO]

Nice work guys. Thanks for taking us to the front lines.

[AnthonyArroyoFilms]

I want to join the 1st Combat Camera SOOOOO bad!!!! Lets see if the air force has the need for me...

[milopezI]

I'm studying for this MOS right now.

[edaps2]

can i find this on DIMOC? DVIDS?

[BonesTheCat]

Is this like a branch of intelligence?.

[jennbear08]

This is an amazing video.

I'm going to be doing combat camera/videography in the Marine Corps...can't wait.

but I appreciate you.

much respect.

[0pteryx]

Mindless drones, keep glorifying your atrocities against humanity.

[steven4068]

Opteryx,

If you are ever told you will be killed if you educate your daughter, be killed if in the presence of a man not your family member, not able to worship or not worship as you believe, have your brother or sister beheaded because they did something the religious leader did not like, well you are just then beginning to understand some of why we are asked to come help those in Afghanistan.

If we freed you, would we still be terrible or great? You speak of things you do not understand.

[ThaLarsen]

@steven4068 Still, it's not only in Afghanistan atrocities comparable to those you mentioned are taking place. Why Afghanistan and not Rwanda?

What you have to understand is that from ALOT of Arabs point of view Americans are the bad guys - do not argue, it's a fact no matter you think it's right or wrong.

I'm all for democracy and equal rights but to enforce our western values through violence is counterproductive and contradictive.

[steven4068]

@ThaLarsen One big conflict at a time. You need to do some research on what is going on presently.  We are not "enforcing western values". I can assure you, Iraq is still Iraq and is run by Iraqis, for Iraqis....just minus some self glorifying thugs.

[ThaLarsen]

@steven4068 Currently I'm studying "peace and conflict" at the Univesity of Lund, I admit not beeing an expert or anything but I think I know a thing or two.

What I ment by americans "enforcing western values" in Iraq wasn't that you've completly taken over the country. One of the official reasons for the invasion of Iraq was to "establish a beachhead of democratic freedom in the middle east".

(Btw, the genocide in Rwanda was in -94.. )

[steven4068]

@ThaLarsen Democracy is not a western concept or origin and an education does not mean knows what the US policy is. It is easy to learn what it is if you do some reading..I am not meaning to sound like I am talking down to you..just trying to guide you toward some actual understanding of fact...

[ThaLarsen]

@steven4068 I sincearly think that most people like the idea of democracy and don't get me wrong - Iraq becoming a democracy is probably a good thing. But, as I said - to force democracy upon a through an unlawful full scale military invasion is contradictive in every sense of the word. During the pre-invasion international debate Bush embraced democracy, but by invading Iraq against the will of the majority what he in fact practised was dictatorship.

[steven4068]

@ThaLarsen Again...to say it is unlawful is an opinion you cannot support. There are more things and people in play that make it plenty lawful...namely their dangerous posturing to its neighbors, including our allies...remember Kuwait? Also Saddam was not a dictator by majority opinion...they were an imprisoned people who were terrorized for decades... Again..I must insist you do more reading on the subject of Saddam's practices to maintain control..

[ThaLarsen]

@steven4068 It's unlawful by many standards. It's an unilateral action against the ruling of the security council - Article 2, 39, 41 and 42 of the UN Charter Signed and ratified by the United States in 1945. Thereby obliged, alongside and equal to all other member states of the UN, to follow the UN charter.

Not beeing approved by the UNSC makes the invasion an act of aggression (Article 2(1) and 2(4) wich one of the main purposes of the UN was to prevent!

[ThaLarsen]

@steven4068 Finally to respond to your statement directly - you are right; Iraq is still run by Iraqis, for Iraqis - BUT by american methods and under strict american supervision. The reform wasn't asked fot by the Iraqis, it was forced upon them.

So please don't fool yourself into thinking the invasion was a noble american act of helping the Iraqis, neighter is Afghanistan. it's all preemtive self defence to protect americans and your allies.

[steven4068]

@ThaLarsen Go and ask the parents of the children that were freed from the prisons because their families did not support their criminal activities...again...do more research...not from your present sources since it seems they are one sided. Also, do not confuse our mistakes with US motives...Do not fool yourself thinking you understand everything either since much of what you have said is just repeating others that proclaim knowledge but lack it.

[ThaLarsen]

@steven4068 I'd like to know what your sources are then, and also why your facts are right and not mine. From my point of view your sources seems one sided and your 'arguments' mirror identical of american propaganda (in lack of better words) and american pride.

[steven4068]

@ThaLarsen Just read and get to know those that have been there and were and are part of it. I cannot help it that you do not believe me...I am not here to debate/argue about it. Just saying is that regretfully, you are mistaken on your opinion. I am not asking you to stop believing what you do...just read more and get to know those Soldiers who were there and are now presently working with the rebuilding of Iraq. You will learn all sorts of things that will make you rethink your position.

[ThaLarsen]

@steven4068 Iraq needed action! but the path Bush and Blair chose was simply wrong by international standards.

What frustrates me is that you only respond with me beeing ignorant and biased, needing to read more. I'd be glad to learn your perspective but I need some sources and hard fact arguments..

I can keep on arguing, but I won't. I can see that you are a soldiers man.

Just keep in mind, as I do, Sometimes you just can't see the forest for the threes.

[ThaLarsen]

@steven4068 Maybe I should add that I acctually have had military training for a year. I've never been on active duty, but I at least gained some insight.

I know a fair amount of people who as of this moment by this moment serves in Afghanistan or is activly training to go there soon. I also spend quite some time listening to soldiers stories through documentairies, youtube etc.

My experience of soldiers in general is that they don't truly bother finding out why there is a war.

[ThaLarsen]

@steven4068 (To your statement about democracy not beeing of western origin i have to disagree. It was 'invented' in anicent Greece and first implemented in a modern nation after the French revolution. It later spred across Europe and was brought with european migrators to America. Of course later it has been of own will adopted by many non westen states. )

[ThaLarsen]

@steven4068 I did it in my last post and I'll admit it again: I do not know everything and I'm far from an expert on any subject. But studying the subject, reading thousands pages worth of books (from ranging sources), activly following the news and listening to offical speaches HAS so mean something.

Since I do not know everything it would be great if you could share your perspective on the following questions:

[ThaLarsen]

@steven4068 1. You speak of freeing people from various horrors. Horrors caused by dictators, extremist cultures etc. If the american motif honestly is to free those oppressed how come only 30 years earlier, during the worst days of Saddams rule, America supported him; supplying him with weapons and defending him through diplomacy - even during and after the chemical bombings of Halabja! I honestly am curious as to what made the diffrence between defending saddam in the 80's --->

[ThaLarsen]

@steven4068 ---> only to, as Bush expressed it, "driven by moral clarity" launch a unlawful invasion to free the oppressed people of Iraq.

[ThaLarsen]

@steven4068 2. This is not a questin about right or wrong, your oppinion vs mine I simply would like your take on this:

Fact: in the Middle East alot of people, not just the terrorists!, view america as the great satan. As long as they don't through violence force their view upon someone else or aim to cause you harm they own the right express their view - isn't freedom of speech a constitutional right? (Correct me if I'm wrong!) ---->

[ThaLarsen]

@steven4068 (Correction, it's neighter a question of your oppinion vs mine) ---> Concidering this, do you think that using military force is the best way to go. If I was to be attacked by someone I already dissliked, I probably would begin to hate that person even more and would want to defend myself. Wouldn't you?

There is a saying that one mans terrorist is an other mans freedom fighter. Look at this from their point of view: thay disslike americans -> americans attack them - thus they --->

[ThaLarsen]

@steven4068 --> would like to defent themself against 'the great satan'.

The way I see it this is why Iraq is as it is today and why the Talibans still haven't been defeated in Afghanistan.

What's you take on this?

[Coontatoby]

Thanks guys for your service. Many may not know what you do, but for the 19 cadets that you briefed and influenced will always know.

ROTC Cadet- Det. 538.