Meredith, there are good reasons to prosecute the troops. One reason might be on abstract moral grounds; that is all metaphysical and not very compelling. (Not becaue moral reasons are not complelin, but because discussions of morality are almost always circular and pointless and inconclusive.) One reason might be to placate world opinion; let’s be real- world opinion means European opinion the way most people use the term, and the Europeans have their own corrupt and bigoted reasons to hate us whatever we do. The final and valid reason is that however horrific and psychologically challenging combat is, self-control is the only way to survive, and troops who cannot control their base urges are doomed and useless. This is the real purpose of military discipline.

“You shift the blame from the individuals to a higher entity because it is easier to believe the evil big heads have more influence over someone’s actions than the people themselves.”

Yes, I do shift the blame, but not because I have a hard time believing people should take personal responsibility for their actions. And, you’re damn right I blame this administration for Gitmo, as well as Abu Ghraib, and that’s because this administration essentially sanctions torture by not setting out clear boundaries on what is and is not acceptable, and by only prosecuting the lowest on the totem pole, without really investigating whether the higher-ups had knowledge of what was going on. That’s a whole other topic anyway.

“Including you” – You’re right. I don’t know what they are going through. However, I have been a victim of a few violent attacks in my life so far, and I will tell you that extreme violence really messes with your brain, in ways you would never have thought possible. Also, we have seen from past wars that this stuff always happens during a war. So, yes, damn right I blame the administration because they put those troops in a traumatic situation when there was no need for it.

Ya think?

You are exactly the type of person who needs to be dismissed from any jury pool, ever. You shift the blame from the individuals to a higher entity because it is easier to believe the evil big heads have more influence over someone’s actions than the people themselves.

“The type of psychological stress war puts on men and women is probably incomprehensible by anyone who has not been in it.”

Including you. You blame the “administration” for this lovely Vietnam reference with the same passion as you probably did with the Gitmo prisoner fallout.

Don’t try to get people off the hook for thier reprehensible actions because you hate the Prsident.