Shimrod, please read the book.

What I wrote is only one point. The thrust of the book is to examine, under the lights of psychology and other disciplines, the act of killing itself. Not death's effect on others, not youthful interest in guns, not the psychology of a psychopathic murderer, but how the socially sanctioned act of killing another human being in war affect the killer.

For instance, the author makes a very strong case that many soldiers -- consciously or unconsciously -- shoot to miss.

But you really have to read the book.