[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by Ghostwriter

You do not know that it does bother them and you do not know that they will/may suffer PTSD.

You should reread and note that I didn't say they would suffer anything, just that your assumption that it was like shooting an animal was unfounded. And you stated so yourself since you said you had no idea what they were thinking.

When the interviews come out with the Seal/s who shot OBL we will know

Never gonna happen. Maybe they'll write a book and it'll be released in 50 years or something, but never gonna happen.

Until that time we will all have our opinion as to what effect it will have on them and whether this event is deserving of a celebration.

The latter is certainly a matter of opinion, the former is just a fact that we don't know.

When I see the Seal who shot OBL breakdown and cry or tell us he is shaken to the core and suffers all sorts of psychological problems, I will know that you were right. Until that time we will not know and my beliefs/opinions are just as valid as yours.

You're missing the point I was making, again reread my comment.

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

I know this probably isn't anything anyone doesn't know, but using his wife as a shield was probably less emotionally disturbing to him than us using our dog. In their culture, she was his property, and therefore, disposable.

But he didn't use her as a shield.
He wasn't Taliban himself, did he ever speak about his thoughts on women? I kind of figured he was a bit focused on the death to America thing. It was a big deal for him.

Originally Posted by PiKA2001

I don't think that's what he was implying. I think he was trying to say that we can't assume that every soldier involved in a firefight is going to develop PTSD.

Which of course, was not what I was saying. I do agree with you.

It is my contention though that special forces are better trained/equipped to handle PTSD more so than the general military population, thereby lowering their risk of being afflicted by it.

But that's just MY opinion.

I can't find any stats, though I've heard special forces are less likely to handle PTSD because they're volunteers and screened. That said it may also be because the symptoms don't show up until they're out of the special forces/retired/etc. Or they don't talk about it because their missions are more secretive/classified. I have no idea.

But, stating that the soldiers would see shooting bin Laden as shooting a rabid animal is a pretty big assumption. GW may see OBL as a (dead) rabid animal, and may think he would have seen shooting him in such a way, but we don't know what went on in their heads at all.