I have to wonder at what point Weemer decides there may have been something wrong with whatever happened in Iraq. Is it much later, say, after he comes home and gets to hear about all the others allegedly involved in similar situations?
The thing that bothers me the most is the POINTED question specifically asking about if he ever took part in an “illegal” killing in Iraq. What is the mindset and the agenda to specifically ask this question?
And from Weemer’s POV he doesn’t think he’s really done anything wrong because he IS one of the good guys trying to join up with another group of ‘good’ guys. So invoking his rights doesn’t (probably) occur to him cause hey, we’re all on the same side, right?
Very well stated, bighead. I’ve interviewed a lot of veterans and have always had to be careful that someone wasn’t just telling me what he heard had happened. Events in combat are so chaotic that most people only remember it as a blur of sensations—not as a clear narrative that is easy to articulate.
And in Weemer’s case, he never imagined that talking about Fallujah would land him in court for murder.