Kevin are you nuts? Let me play devil's advocate for a minute here. I have stated many times on this forum that I refused induction and did not go to VietNam, not because I'm a pacifist, but because I am positive that if you are trying to kill me, I will do my damndest to kill you first. My question was how I would cope later and indeed many Viet vets had plenty of problems some of which were never overcome. But let's assume that we are both soldiers and we are in a war.

Do you suggest that perhaps we have a spot of tea with someone to see what kind of guy they are before we decide whether we kill them or not? BTW, I obviously did not support this war either, but if I had (just for the sake of discussion) and I were in the position of invading that country, I'd damn well be out to "kill 'em all." So the fighting part ends and I'm doing this peacekeeping duty. A loud and noisy crowd begins to form and soon we are looking at a throng of people obviously hostile to ME....not the USA, which they really are....but to ME!!! I mean they ain't in the US and neither am I. They are right in front of me...men, women, and children. I know that we have suffered losses because of suicide attacks by men, women, and children and I am now pretty wired! Rules say don't fire unless fired upon. Okay. The crowd starts throwing rocks and I wonder which rock is really a grenade. Then someone says he sees someone shooting. Given the order to fire, I am now gonna' "kill 'em all." I also expect that the rest of the platoon is going to do the same. I don't want anybody beside me with a wait and see mentality!

I am not trying to justify the actions taken here. Both groups were put in untenable positions that they should never have been in. As I said at the beginning of this thread, the fault lies up the ladder!!! But I gotta' tell you that any army I join better damn well have that "kill 'em all" philosophy. If I'm in a situation where my life is (I believe) in danger, than I want everyone around me to protect me and I will do the same for them. This is not a new attitude in the US as it was true in WWI and WWII as well.

Spaw