Johnwha wrote on Jun 4, 2006 9:00 PM:Where is the reader named "John" who was so mouthy on this subject yeterday? In fact where are all of you chest thumping, macho, baby killing "hero" worshipers? War (which it isn't. Our Congress has not declared war against Iraq) is neither glorious nor heroic and we have no business there. The two lies that got us into it, WMD's and the toppling of Saddam Hussein have either been accomplished or proven wrong. The deaths and traumatization of American youth, many forced by poverty to join the Armed Forces, is not worth any amount of oil or whatever the latest excuse for continuing there that the Administration or it's chest-thumping Joe Sixpacks sitting at home may state. Seventy percent of our citizens disapprove of the war. Why are we still there? Because "John" says so?

Peter wrote on Jun 5, 2006 3:37 PM:Johnwha, if that's your handle... I don't understand your comments regarding this news story. Some kid, got drunk, took a truck and drove it into a building.. Now his Mother is blaming his actions on his experiences in Iraqi.. This is another example of not taking responsibility for ones own action... must blame someone else! I hear it EVERY day in business dealing with the public, it's never their fault. As for killing babies, in war kill them young before they get the opportunity to grow up and kill you!! In my Army, if you hid behind your women and children, YOU killed them, not my Army... when American comes to grips with that reality maybe they won't be so quick to support the next village idoit that sends our troops into harms way.

GT wrote on Jun 5, 2006 4:22 PM:Peter.....Your comments are just as bad and undeterminable. What side are you on? You and Johnwha are both on cloud nine. NEWSFLASH....get off your PS2 or XBOX and get some fresh air...

Johnwha wrote on Jun 5, 2006 9:43 PM:The problem with this "comments" section is that too many commentators are making comments and attacks on or too each other instead of responding to the article which is the suppossed purpose of this site. Peter, you must not have read the article or seen the many news items in other papers or on TV about it. The soldier involved was ordered to take photographs, documenting the atrocity and then had his film confiscated. he was then sent home where the post-traumatic stress may be causing his disruptive behaviour. If you only read that it was about a kid who got drunk and had a collision you are truly missing the point. He was a witness to the massacre and has already reported on it. This event occured in November, it is not fast-breaking news. The government, our government, our Marine Corps, has been covering it up since then. I would agree with GT that I do not understand what you are talking about but gather that you support the killing of children for some odd reason. As for GT I fail to see what you don't understand. I resent your smart aleck remarks about "cloud nine, XBOXes" and so forth. Why the editor allows these personal attacks I do not know but I am in dialogue with him now on that subject. They only invite retaliation which I can be just as guilty of. Please keep your comments impersonal and on the subject. Oh yeah, I am "on the side" of truth, I have no other axe to grind.

Joe wrote on Jun 5, 2006 11:12 PM:The only comment I have is unless you have walked a day in the shoes of a person you have no right to judge them. If you want the truth, live it for yourself. Our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines deal with much more stress and strife daily than most deal with in a life time. I am sure there is a recruiter right around the corner. Strap on a pack, lace up your boots and experience it for yourself then you may be able to be a little more objective.

Dawn wrote on Jun 6, 2006 12:46 AM:I am a former Marine wife who has seen several men come home after three deployments in IRAQ. These men and woman come home to expectations to pick up where they left off. As a wife, I saw first hand PTSD at its best, needless to say, we are all divorced and they are still messed up. I am tired of people who do not live this life and lack the nuts to defend this country making statements that are ignorant. We WERE NOT THERE, WE ARE NOT BEING SHOT AT, WE ARE NOT DEALING with ROADSIDE BOMBINGS. I personally feel WAR is WAR. What are the rules? Is it possible these Marines broke, feel apart or had been through something so emotional devastating that they could no longer control themselves? I have no information on that incident, yet I have experience with others as my ex was there. I do think that the bombing of the Marine Barracks, The USS Cole, The World Trade Center (first time)needed attention, yet we didnt respond. The only reason for this is OIL. If it had anything to do with TERRORISM and 9/11.... tell me where is all the charity and funds for MILITARY FAMILIES who have lost there loved one? Where is the aid equal to the payouts of those at the WTC? No, this isnt about terrorism, its about GREED. PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH, his desire to increase his wealth, and the wealth of the second criminal in office, former OFFICER of Halliburton, DICK CHENEY.

Dawn wrote on Jun 6, 2006 12:47 AM:AMEN JOE.... nah, that would mean they would need COURAGE, HONOR and face death.

jc wrote on Jun 6, 2006 7:09 AM:To Johnwa and Peter...you both seem to have made up your minds soley on information given to you by the media. Do you believe everything you read in the paper or see on TV? I hope not. While I don't agree with everything Peter said, he does have a point: take responsibility for your actions. Having said that, post-traumatic stress from a traumatic event DOES have an effect on people and if it's not treated or dealt with it can fester into larger problems. At the same time, it is NOT AN EXCUSE for criminal behavior. While this young marine did not have any choices about his course of action while in Iraq, HE DID have and make choices when he returned home: HE chose to go out and party, HE chose to drink alcohol, and HE chose to drive.

Johnwha wrote on Jun 6, 2006 2:45 PM:Ah yes, the old argument: If you haven't been there (walked in their shoes etc)then you don't know what your talking about. I've never been to Antartica but I know it is cold. Further, Dawn, have you ever "laced up your boots and walked in their shoes"? No? Then why are you commenting? What makes you and "Joe" so certain that people opposed to war have not experienced it? As for the bating remark about visiting my recruiter, I don't think they take men my age. Amongst other things I have too much life experience to follow blindly as the young do. It's the job of the elders of society to pass down our knowledge of these things, to tell them the mistakes that we made when young, not to be the rooting section for warfare like it is some sort of football game. Oh yeah as "JC" says (he's a mind reader you know) I've already made up my mind. As for being objective you've got it in reverse. The subjective minds are the ones like yours. They're too involved in it personally, their opinions are in fact, subjective. As for Dawn, you're all over the place. You seem to be opposed to the war and agree it is a corporate venture (which I firmly agree with) and then thump your war mongering chest. I also agree that the attacks by Muslim extremists around the world are an abomination. The way to avoid them is to ostracize Islam from the Western world, not invade theirs. I have no sympathy for murderers, slave-traders, wife-beaters and haters. The best way to avoid being bitten by a snake is to not enter a snake pit. Thanks for your thoughtful remarks. As I've said before, why don't we quit these attacks on each other and comment on the subject. One personal attack just begets another. I can be just as guilty as you.