Seeing the title I expected to roll my eyes once again as a read another anti-military hit piece.
But, no. What was written is fair and accurate. It most certainly is a balancing act. To have the mind and heart of a warrior, and (to be blunt) to have the desire to kill the enemy while still maintaining your humanity. It can be done, but I think there needs to be more focus on the latter.
When I went through Marine bootcamp in 1995, and later infantry OSUT in 2003, there was much emphasis on developing - not just the skills - but the mindset to kill. Such was evident in everything from our training to running cadences. Many on DU will likely disagree, but it is a necessary element to train members of any military.
But I also believe you can have and maintain your warrior instincts and still keep your humanity. You can desire to kill the enemy and still have empathy for the people. I believe such things can be taught, especially if you start in basic training. If things haven't changed in basic they will teach recruits that they must follow lawful orders. They will teach them about the geneva convention, and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. It's summed up as follows...
"Kill! But if you break the rules you will be punished."
The US military should incorporate training about conduct in war that doesn't just involve possible punishments if you break the rules. They should incorporate the human side of things. Many of us who have deployed have stories to share about positive interactions with the locals in Iraq and Afghanistan. How excited the kids get over things we take for granted, like chocolate. Smoking a hookah for the first time with some of the local men. Playing soccer with some of the kids. Things of that nature.
I already know what response comes next. "They're the 'war machine'! They don't want you to think they're human!." This, of course, is pure bullshit. Absolutely nobody benefits when incidences like Bales did happens. Aside from the human toll on the victims and families, it costs American lives and it severely damages the precious little progress we have made there.
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