Marine accused of killing 24 Iraqis in Haditha makes plea deal

[Thaddeus Kosciuszko]

37. The guy next to you just had his head blown off.

Yesterday, you watched in horror, as an enemy soldier used a child as a human shield.

These experiences will influence soldiers differently, but it would be irrational to think that it would not have a negative effect on the military bearing of some of them.

Empathy, sympathy, kindness and care; the traits that separated them from cold-blooded murderers, become subconsciously subordinated emotions. The psychological transition results in a solder more inclined to make cold-blooded decisions.

These young people are ordered off to fight an unconstitutional war and then, when the inevitable and predictable dehumanizing of the enemy results, the arm-chair generals express their surprised outrage, and call for their heads.

The process of identifying why people who are so far beyond unqualified to render judgment; pronounce judgment, becomes non-responsive, forcing me to re-boot my brain.

It remains incomprehensible to me.