Opinion: Staff Sergeant Bales Is A War Criminal
2nd Lt. William Calley
I'm writing to you today not just as a fellow combat veteran, but as an American. I understand the legal concept of innocent before proven guilty, but our justice system has no tolerance for those who flagrantly ignore the established rules of international conflict. To deploy to a foreign nation with the express purpose of protecting the local people, only to betray their trust by murdering them in cold blood is completely unacceptable.
I too was a member of the U.S. Army. I had the privilege of serving in Vietnam as an infantry platoon leader, and at no time did I ever sacrifice my personal integrity or sense of honor for nothing more than a personal vendetta against a group of 'hostile locals'. War isn't just about killing, it's about hearts and minds. That's what I always told my soldiers; always double-tap their hearts and minds. That's how you win a village over. You have to storm in, arms open, and deliver the sweet release of freedom to those people at a m…
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