Shakespeare wrote that no leader ever went to battle with troops that were all spotless -- that doesn't override all the good we've done and will do.
" . . . There is no
king, be his cause never so spotless, if it come to
the arbitrement of swords, can try it out with all
unspotted soldiers: some peradventure have on them
the guilt of premeditated and contrived murder;
some, of beguiling virgins with the broken seals of
perjury; some, making the wars their bulwark, that
have before gored the gentle bosom of peace with
pillage and robbery. Now, if these men have
defeated the law and outrun native punishment,
though they can outstrip men, they have no wings to
fly from God."
In this play, the King punished war criminals. The bad guys did not. It's one of the differences between us and them. The press doesn't give a ^%#$&%.
Thank you for that post. It is the best one I have seen on the many posts on this matter I have read today. The difference between us and them is that we punish those who exceed the rules of engagement.
Last year, here in Southern New Mexico, a local sheriff's deputy responded to a call on a domestic disturbance with his partner. One went in the front and the other around the back. Shots were fired. He captured the shooter, handcuffed him and went to look for his partner. He found him shot dead and went back and shot the handcuffed shooter. Him shooting the perp was caught on the sheriff's video cam. Later they found a pregnant woman dead (in the trunk of a car I believe) and a little girl still alive in the house. The deputy was convicted and is now in jail. In the heat of the moment even the best trained can lose control of their emotions, no matter how experienced they are. I have lived life, as do most of us, without having to experience such an incident. I thank God for our troops and those who keep the peace at home and abroad.
I'm saving your post. Good "catch".