Dick,
If that’s true, and I believe it is, then the DoD must be completely aware that this is and will be the fruits of war. So, what is their response? Do they encourage it, ignore it, hide it or punish it? Is it don’t ask don’t tell? The military must make decisions based on their knowledge of military strategy and history both in training soldiers and after engagements where incidences of rape and abuse are uncovered.

If atrocities are expected to occur, what does the American government, the military and the civilian leadership, do to stop or minimize that? Or do they encourage it (nod, wink) in furthering demonization of the “enemy”? This isn't a rhetorical question. I'm not sure what to think of our country anymore. I do think the government is acutely aware of every thing happening on the “battlefield” (likely someone’s neighborhood; someone’s home).

I’m aware of coordinated carnage by, say, the Japanese during WWII and before. I have heard first hand accounts of individual atrocities in WWII and Viet Nam. We know of My Lai and other massacres (Colin Powell’s job was to keep a lid on this in Nam). We know of past atrocities in every war, as you say. And it’s not funny, and there are no excuses, as you also say. This is America and this is the 21st century. Atrocities that may have been endemic to battle between primitive tribes or under Genghis Khan or even Hirohito and Hitler are not part of our war aims, are they?

The abuse of detainees began right off the bat in Afghanistan, before torture regimes were even made up. Then there were countless accusations of abuses in Iraq (Haditha, Fallujah, most prison camps) but few resulted in any real disciplinary actions.Of course, these are not the actions of most who serve, but it does seem to be allowed if not encouraged in some places and then policy in others.

These various abuses can't all be lumped into one category, but even where the military prohibits this kind of behavior, they still cover it up when it happens. And isn’t wholesale cover-up worse because it allows it to continue? There is something terribly different from America's past wars in this Great WOT. War crimes were apparently engineered at the top and filtered out and around the world. We are regressing as a country.

Steven Green confessed to raping a 14 y.o. Iraqi girl, then killing her (he had already killed her family while three of his comrades raped the girl). He confessed to his Sargent that night. He was ushered out of the army and THEN put on a show trial in Federal Court in Kentucky and sentenced to life. You can be sure if he had done anything remotely as horrendous in his hometown of Midland, Texas, he’d be sitting on death row. But raping and killing some little raghead bitch when they’re the ones shooting at us isn't the same as hurting an American in civilian life, is it? The life of our “enemy” is worth less than that of our own.

Cosign! Titles should reflect the facts. And while torture occurred, no doubt, it was not official military policy, which the title would seem to suggest.

Best to change the title. Or not rec'd the blog.

They raped kids. I never said they killed them. Inflammatory? I hope so. Maybe if enough Americans get inflamed there will be prosecutions for the LEADERS that either allowed or encouraged this behavior?

Enjoy.