I want to point out that actually for me the worst times are the routine times, the things I have the priviledge of doing on a daily basis and becoming immune to them. And it is these things, the ones we do every day, that affect me the most.
Give me an example.
I can tell you that targeted, complicated, difficult assignments involving killing, I can tell you they seem much more reasonable because you know who the people are. But it’s the missions I’ve carried out because something happened in my sector and they needed backup, so our unit was called to help out, and we went and did the routine actions—that’s where I came across the really hard things . . . particularly the denial of freedom, denial of the most basic human rights for no reason, because these people aren’t terrorists, that’s what got to me the most. There are loads of examples. So many that I don’t . . . examples of helping on violent patrols.
What’s a violent patrol?
A violent patrol is one where you do it so that they’ll know you’re there, to demonstrate a presence. You suddenly yell to everyone to go indoors. You’re demonstrating a presence.
In response to something?
No . . . either in response to something, or you’re afraid that someone’s coming out—I hope they’re afraid that someone’s coming out— and then you do it.
What do you mean, “you hope”? You weren’t a wimpy little officer, you were an army captain for three years.
I didn’t know whether someone specific was supposed to be in that village, but it’s possible . . .
It’s possible that the regional brigade commander knew?
Could be. I wouldn’t know that kind of thing. Could be that the regional brigade commander knew and sent out a violent patrol.
What do you do on a violent patrol? Okay, you yell. Are you really violent? Do you beat people up? Throw stun grenades? Shoot in the air?
Throw stun grenades, yes.
Where do you throw them?
In central places.
You mean, you come to a shopping center, yell at everyone to go home, and if they run, great, if not, and if you think they’re not fast enough, you throw stun grenades?
Yes, yes.
In the middle of the day?
The middle of the day.
Sometimes with no connection to what’s happening in the sector?
I’d hope it’s connected, but . . .
Not that you know of.
Not that I know of.