Should a soldier be excused if he went on a rampage.

[scandium]

Originally Posted by jumpy

Sure military personnel are also trained to perform other duties, but the primary function of the infantry soldier is to kill. It's got to be pretty frustrating to have to not respond in the way you have been trained to do when coming under attack or when encountering difficult circumstances, particularily when there are conflicting directives for engaging the 'enemy'.

Trained to kill the enemy. Not to kill indiscriminately. Not to execute unarmed women and children. This was the modus operandi of the Serbian Militias during the Yugoslavian conflict. Recall that was justly denounced as genocide and that the UN intervened by sending in professional militaries to put a stop to it.