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The military prosecutor in the case came up with a unique theory -- that military personnel did not have to obey an "illegal" order from their superiors. I don't know if this nonsense is still in effect in our military.

You are absolutely right about Medina's guilt, as well as his perfidy.

However, I'm not sure if you're being sarcastic or not with your last line (quoted above). You might recall a little event called the Nuremburg Trials? It was the civilized world's contention (as well as the U.S. Military), that indeed, "military personnel did not have to obey an "illegal" order from their superiors," and in fact were bound not to.

Despite the hideous realities of war, being in the U.S. military has never established a justification for murder or rape or crimes against humanity - and I sure as hell hope this is still the case, and never changes.

Not even Patton would condone My Lai.

Thank you for responding to my comments in a calm, reasoned manner.

Forty years ago, there was a deep division in this country about the Vietnam war. Clearly, this division still exists. Certainly there are arguments to be made on each side. I don't condone the concept of killing innocent civilians. But when people are shooting at you, they are combatants, not civilians.

"Ethics of battle" is an oxymoron. Ethics is something that is discussed quietly in a classroom and in the classroom it's OK to present the concept of an "illegal order." But battle doesn't involve discussion.

And in 1969-1970, if I had refused to carry out an order that I considered "illegal," I would have gone straight to Long Binh Jail. And the military prosecutor would have laughed at my claim that I had the right to disobey an illegal order.

Nuremberg: Only Nazis were tried, convicted, and sentenced. No allies. Sorry, the comparison isn't valid.

IMHO, Calley was thrown to the wolves because it was easier for the government to appease the anti-military and anti-American media instead of standing up to it. Back then, there was no Internet or talk radio to present a dissenting view to the public.

For the past two weeks or so, the MSM has been rhapsodizing about how wonderful Woodstock was. In my opinion, Woodstock encapsulated everything wrong in our society during the late Sixties.