The sniper accumulated 160 confirmed kills - with the true number estimated to be as high as 255. PHOTO: CHRIS KYLE FACEBOOK PAGE
The late sniper’s wartime exploits are portrayed in American Sniper – a divisive movie that has been tipped to win in the upcoming Academy Awards.
Speaking to Toby Harnden of The Sunday Times three years ago, Kyle was asked whether he regretted any of his kills while on tour. The sniper insisted his only regret was that US lives were lost because he shot too few of the enemy, reports Daily Mail.
“No, sir, not at all; to be honest with you, I wish I'd killed more because every kill saved American lives and that was what I was out there for,” he said.
Less than a year after the conversation, Kyle was killed on a remote shooting range in Texas by a disturbed veteran he was helping, who was said to have been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The movie based on Kyle's book, produced by and starring Bradley Cooper, has been a box office hit - but has also divided opinion, with some criticising the film's prejudiced stance.
Critics of the movie included talk show host Bill Maher, who claimed the film is only doing well at the box office because audiences lap up its 'psychopath' hero. He said that American Sniper is just "American hero! He's a psychopath patriot, and we love him."'
Maher drew on excerpts from the autobiography Kyle wrote before he was killed in February 2013, in which he said he enjoyed war and referred to his targets as 'savages'.
American Sniper starring Bradley Cooper and directed by Clint Eastwood, has earned six Oscar nominations, including Best Actor for Bradley Cooper.
COMMENTS (26)
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@Aamir-Toronto:
No, Kyle never said that - the Daily Mail did...
@Qazi: And he had to pay the price as well, by being killed by someone who he knew, in a so called peace loving country. : )
Is that right???? Have u seen the movie??? The American sniper says he wishes he had saved more Americans from attacking Iraqis..not that he simply wants to kill Iraqis...!! Print the truth
@Sarmad Hassan: That has been the story of India too. It had been invaded, occupied and brutalized and the invaders even stake claim on our lands !!
If an IRAQI was doing the same in US to protect his country, he would be a heartless terrorist. But here the shameless and disgusting people are defending him.
He saved ordinary Iraqis fro. Barbarians.
I wonder who was the real terrorist?
@woody......you are misleading us by manipulating words, visit the following link. I'm pretty sure that now you'll refute this news too !!!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2925187/I-wish-d-killed-American-Sniper-Chris-Kyle-said-regret-lives-lost-shot-Iraqis.html
@HSLDS......visit the following link and then apologizes to ET.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2925187/I-wish-d-killed-American-Sniper-Chris-Kyle-said-regret-lives-lost-shot-Iraqis.html
What goes around comes around this psychopath finally got what he deserved by another one like him,and by the way Clint Eastwood the guy who produced this movie is another loony of his own class shame on these savage savages
Misleading headline wish promotes anti American sentiment. Guy simple said he wished he had been more successful at killing bad guys which might have save more American lives - big difference between that and randomly "shooting Iraqis".
Iraq war was an illegitimate war to start with. Where are the weapons of mass destruction? Nowhere. So all the killings were war crimes.
@Qazi: I could rephrase your comment as "Pakistani Army kills people (TTP!) who want to rescue their country (Pakistan) from occupation of foreign democracy concept! BTW, I am sure you can prove that the Pakistani Army does not ever train and field "Snipers"!!!!
@Henry Exhaust: "That said, the United States was there, and because none of the American Marines who were there had anything to say about being there"
The "just following orders" defence was rejected in the trial of Nazi war criminals decades ago. Orders are no excuse. They should have refused to fight. The fact that you are defending these Amercian war criminals makes you a sympathiser.
Saw the movie. Both Clint Eastwood and Bradley Cooper did it justice (other than the fake babies, which were very obvious). I thought Cooper's acting was good (I always associate him with Hangover for some reason).
Kyle seemed like an ordinary patriotic guy doing what he was asked to do (as would any Pak Army soldier I would assume) - the political decisions were made over his head. It would be unfair to park the Iraq war debacle at his door step.
Aside from the politics (and fake babies) it was a good movie.
He was a hero to the US army and not necessarily to the Iraqis. That holds true for every war hero. He only targeted people who were attacking US forces. Some comments here indicate that he killed innocent civilians. That's not true.
@Sarmad Hassan Just like terror organisations from Pakistan do in India and Afghanistan.
Its about time Pakistan produced more films like Waar. There is appetite for it, an insatiable appetite. Our filmmakers are sleeping. There was standing ovation for this film, never before seen for a Pakistani film. Film-makers will make recover their investments many fold. I wish they had seen the enthusiasm of the audience. The films must present the Pakistani perspective.
Chris killed people who wanted to rescue their country from foreign occupation. Their desperate efforts are braver than a sniper with high tech gear on a roof top with a stone heart. Look where they have plunged complete iraqi society. The blood of innocent are on hands of chris. Tyranny of rich is bravery, Struggle for life of poor is savergry.
I can understand killing for the protection of your country. What I don't understand is the failure to see that the enemy may think the same way. Take away the uniform and the true character emerges, either a peace-loving human being, or a ruthless dangerous killer.
This isn't extremism, he's just mentally ill going through a tough time, if anybody dare suggest otherwise then they are a conspiracy nut on ISI's payroll sarcasm.
Chris killed people who wanted to rescue their country from foreign occupation. Their desperate efforts are braver than a sniper with high tech gear on a roof top with a stone heart. Look where they have plunged complete iraqi society. The blood of innocent are on hands of chris. Tyranny of rich is bravery, Struggle for life of poor is savergry. Makes me hate american army million times more.
I can understand being patriotic and killing for the protection of your country. What I don't get is how you can ignore the fact that the enemy also think the same way. Take away the uniform and you see the real person,. Peace-loving, or ruthless killers.
@Sarmad Hassan: I do not condone the invasion of Iraq. I think that it was a bad move by the countries involved in the invasion. That said, the United States was there, and because none of the American Marines who were there had anything to say about being there, Mr Kile had every right to assist those Marines stay alive. I too fought in an unpopular war. My goal was to come home in one piece. Those I fought with were the casualties of history, just as the Mughals, and the warriors of Genghis Khan who swept through your lands, long ago. Local militias? Well, that might be debatable. Lets let history sort that out in the next few hundred or so years.
What an out and out lie you present.
I challenge you to show ANYWHERE where Chris Kyle said he wished 'he had killed more Iraqis.'
You might find a quote of him wishing that he killed more TERRORISTS or ENEMY, but never once did he persecute the people if Iraq.
Shame on you for such a bold faced lie.
How is he going to another country, occupying it and killing local militia / citizens would make his own country "safe"