Part 6/13:
Bringing the conversation closer to moral questions, the officer shares details about his specific missions in regions like Afghanistan and Iraq during the global war on terror. He recounts surveillance and intelligence efforts, highlighting the meticulous process — positive identification, chain-of-command approval, and execution — all conducted remotely.
He admits that if given the instruction, anyone could perform such a task, illustrating how easily humans can detach from the emotional realities of killing. The conversation underscores how dehumanization, coupled with conditioned psychological distancing, makes the act of killing seem almost insurmountably rationalized.