What does everybody think about the soldier , shooting that?

For the love of God he did not commit perjury. He was not ever convicted as such nor did he commit it. He said that he did not have sexual relations which was technically true according to the Paula Jones Attorney's own definition of the term "sexual relations". In other words according to their definition, oral sex is not sexual relations, so he did not commit perjury which is why he was never legally convicted of perjury.

The man is still in serious denial and refusing to accept responsibility for his actions.

The soldier was wrong to act as he did. He was in a mosque where many Muslims will seek shelter. The soldier did not have enough information to become judge, jury, executioner. He should have reported the movement to his immediate superior in the squad who then could have made a decision as how to treat the situation.

Our soldiers are trained and conditioned for battle. They are supposed to be disciplined and know right from wrong.

This is one story of many that people normally don't hear, and one that everyone does.

This is just one most don't hear:

A young Marine and his cover man cautiously enter a room just recently filled with insurgents armed with AK-47s and RPGs. There are three dead, another wailing in pain. The insurgent can be heard saying, "Mister, mister! Diktoor, diktoor (doctor)!" He is badly wounded, lying in a pool of his own blood. The Marine and his cover man slowly walk toward the injured man, scanning to make sure no enemies come from behind. In a split second, the pressure in the room greatly exceeds that of the outside, and the concussion seems to be felt before the blast is heard. Marines outside rush to the room, and look in horror as the dust gradually settles. The result is a room filled with the barely recognizable remains of the deceased, caused by an insurgent setting off several pounds of explosives.

The Marines' remains are gathered by teary-eyed comrades, brothers in arms, and shipped home in a box. The families can only mourn over a casket and a picture of their loved one, a life cut short by someone who hid behind a white flag. But no one hears these stories, except those who have lived to carry remains of a friend, and the families who loved the dead. No one hears this, so no one cares.

This is the story everyone hears:

A young Marine and his fire team cautiously enter a room just recently filled with insurgents armed with AK-47s and RPGs. There are three dead, another wailing in pain. The insurgent can be heard saying, "Mister, mister! Diktoor, diktoor (doctor)!" He is badly wounded. Suddenly, he pulls from under his bloody clothes a grenade, without the pin. The explosion rocks the room, killing one Marine, wounding the others. The young Marine catches shrapnel in the face.

The next day, same Marine, same type of situation, a different story. The young Marine and his cover man enter a room with two wounded insurgents. One lies on the floor in puddle of blood, another against the wall. A reporter and his camera survey the wreckage inside, and in the background can be heard the voice of a Marine, "He's moving, he's moving!"

The pop of a rifle is heard, and the insurgent against the wall is now dead.

Minutes, hours later, the scene is aired on national television, and the Marine is being held for committing a war crime. Unlawful killing.

And now, another Marine has the possibility of being burned at the stake for protecting the life of his brethren. His family now wrings their hands in grief, tears streaming down their face. Brother, should I have been in your boots, I too would have done the same.

For those of you who don't know, we Marines, Band of Brothers, Jarheads, Leathernecks, etc., do not fight because we think it is right, or think it is wrong. We are here for the man to our left, and the man to our right. We choose to give our lives so that the man or woman next to us can go home and see their husbands, wives, children, friends and families.

For those of you who sit on your couches in front of your television, and choose to condemn this man's actions, I have but one thing to say to you. Get out of you recliner, lace up my boots, pick up a rifle, leave your family behind, and join me. See what I've seen, walk where I have walked. To those of you who support us, my sincerest gratitude. You keep us alive.

I am a Marine currently doing his second tour in Iraq. These are my opinions and mine alone. They do not represent those of the Marine Corps or of the U.S. military, or any other.

McGentrix wrote:

The soldier was wrong to act as he did. He was in a mosque where many Muslims will seek shelter. The soldier did not have enough information to become judge, jury, executioner. He should have reported the movement to his immediate superior in the squad who then could have made a decision as how to treat the situation.

Our soldiers are trained and conditioned for battle. They are supposed to be disciplined and know right from wrong.

Thank you, McGentrix. A professional judgement.

(Personally, I can understand why the soldier did what he did, considering the state and situation he was in. But I also still think it was wrong. And I'm thinking that perhaps people who were shot in their face the day before should not be allowed back into the fighting yet. A clear mind is pivotal to doing your duty right, it seems to me, after all.)

I sorta think the Catch-22 is broader ... it encompases military action blanketly. There always will be some who fault anything done by the military. I surmise there are those unwilling or unable to comprehend that combat by nature is a dynamic condition consisting of moment-to-moment life-or-death decision points, a condition unique in the human experience, a condition condignly unforgiving of equivocation.

Notable to me is the elevation by some of what may indeed have been a reasonable and thoroughly defensible, even if reprehensible, incident to an exemplar of outrage, while those same by their silence condone the practices of the taking and beheading of hostages, the conduct of offensive action from behind the shelter of the civilian populace, and the directing of indiscriminately lethal action toward that civilian populace.

Notable as well, at least to my perception, is that the condemnatory leap to judgement in this matter appears to be concentrated within, if not exclusive to, a demographic which shares the characteristics of lack of combat experience and predisposition toward negative assessment of US conduct in general.

I offer that it is my impression that in this as in so many other things, those who talk the loudest have no idea of what they are talking about. The one thing Monday Morning Quarterbacks have in common is that they were not on the field for Sunday's game.

Notable as well, at least to my perception, is that the condemnatory leap to judgement in this matter appears to be concentrated within, if not exclusive to, a demographic which shares the characteristics of lack of combat experience and predisposition toward negative assessment of US conduct in general.

I offer that it is my impression that in this as in so many other things, those who talk the loudest have no idea of what they are talking about.

Okay, so now let's look at what happens if this marine is found guilty of war crimes.

A young marine and his cover man enter a room with two wounded insurgents. One lies on the floor in a puddle of blood, another against the wall. A reporter and hsi camera survey the wreckage inside, and in the background can be heardthe voice of a Marine, "He's moving, he's moving!" Then, the marine hesitates, conflicted - does he ensure his companions are safe, or walk up and risk death for them all?

The pop of a rifle is heard, and the view from the camera changes as the camera falls to the floor in the dead hands of the journalist. "He's armed! Fire! Fire!" A scatter of rifle fire is heard as the terrorist is shot and killed, but too late for the journalist. "Man down! Get the paramedics" The same young men who were endanged by that journalist, fight to save his life, but it's too late.

News reporters across the nation report on how lax the soldiers were, how they should have know beens smarter, fought better and the journalist wouldn't have died. Now the brave journalist is a hero and the marine is castigated.

It's a Catch-22.