its the old issue of the Nuremburg excuse - I did it because it was my job and I had to.

where do we draw the line? its only people objecting, refusing, speaking out, absconding, that even creates an alternative view. when nobody questions and everyone on the inside implements....

yes, soldiers fighting in wars have to protect their country. its like self defence as a motive in crime.

but so many wars or human rights violations happen not for reasons of self defence. As the recent Iraq intelligence issue is showing, when intelligence officers provide reports that don't fit in with a ruling governments intentions, they can be "sexed up". Research and reports are manipulated to motivate & justify things which are actually happening for other reasons.

usually most people are lucky to be at a distance from such power plays. where its difficult is for the person who is close to the action. observing suffering, people covering things up, lies. What does that person do?

its easy to say "speak out". usually a person has to give up a lot to do that, and then face becoming a political lamb to the slaughter.