America Should Be Better Than the Afghan Massacre

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You don't know the context of this soldier's actions, yet you offer your emotions as if they are universal truths; "We are better than this." You are a monday morning quarterback who admits to being unable to withstand the pychological pressures of being a soldier in Afganistan, yet you offer your opinion.
Should you have refrained from participating in this descussion, since you are presuming this man to be guilty? Perhaps you should have passed over this event in silence.
Maybe we (humans, Americans, etc.) are not better than this. Maybe this killing spree is part of who we are.

Phil of OR 1:00PM March 22, 2012

Our boys win every fight we send them to, and we send them to Plenty. Our politicians are the trouble, bought and paid for by special interests including the bomb makers. Our politicians thereby turn the People of other countries against us, remarkably so in the countries we "invade".
When we stop voting for war makers and start voting for civilized human beings, we'll have a Chance to be Christian.
We should persue criminals who hurt, kill or steal.. but we should NOT bomb people of other countries because a politician made a deal somewhere... OR because a criminal in another country hurt Americans, like Leslie Marshall mentions.
Who encourages international violence? Most American voters have done that. The ones we elect are the ones who "talk tough". Talking tough for defense of America makes sense to me. Talking tough about bombing other people's kids with pre emptive war, is disgusting and would be shocking if we weren't so used to that.
We push into these other countries with our military force, soon the people there start hating us.. and then we all act surprised when massacres break out. Introspection is called for.
Ron Paul for president.

John of NY 8:20AM March 22, 2012

Until it becomes commonplace in life to have a mental check up where a simple chemical test can show you are the verge of a break down, there won't be any guarantees that this won't be me or you next.

Mary of PA 11:01PM March 21, 2012

At least the latest shooter didn't claim to be killing for Jesus.
I recall that Major Hassan yelled "Allah Akbar" as he was shooting his comrades.

R.L. Schaefer of CA 10:16PM March 21, 2012

RE: Terrorism alert: KGB total brainwashing technique
US Ministry of Defense provides automatic guns and weapons to thousands of potential terrorists who can commit the same or similar crime as during this Kandahar massacre of civilians in Afghanistan or during the Fort Hood (Texas) shooting where on November 5, 2009 a single gunman killed 13 people and wounded 29 others. Why is it so? This is because some part of Russian KGB uses a brainwashing technique that requires only a few hours and leads to total mind control. After GULAG KGB brainwashing, such military personnel people can take guns and kill many others and themselves.
I repeat this brainwashing technique requires only a few hours of intimacy for total mind control (so that there is no confusion). This can be easily achieved due to, for example, prevalent promiscuity and lack of any public awareness about this method and KGB people who use such brainwashing. Note that such crimes are nearly impossible to prove, since the brainwashed people either kill themselves or, if they survive, will say only those things that were ordered them to say.
Feel free to forward this message to others and people who make decisions.
Artour Rakhimov, PhD

Artour Rakhimov of CA 4:09PM March 21, 2012

Why is leslie discussing health care in this article ? Financial MAYBE could be somehow related. MAYBE. HAVEN'T read anything YET to relate this to medical. Jumping the gun leslie to fit your politics ? Be careful on Bill O' show. He ask for proof and have seen you get stung.
The soldier’s lawyer says he is innocent. NORM. Guy is innocent until found guilty. THE LAW.
MAYBE leslie remembers a Congress woman shot and others with Sarah Palin & Fox News at fault by the Press and many here. Leslie does get to express her political views without _ facts _ interfering apparently on this site. Don't try it on Bill O' show. Need more than emotion you will need facts. Like the old new media did:
"John Henry Browne said there was "no forensic evidence" against Staff Sgt Robert Bales and "no confession".
"He also dismissed reports suggesting Sgt Bales, 38, was having financial troubles as irrelevant to the case."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17454316

Bill Hedges of MO 3:03PM March 21, 2012