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

[August]

I would neither condone nor accept such unprofessional behavior in any unit i belonged to. Unstable soldiers are unreliable in combat and a danger even to their own side, but we must recognize that in any large number of people living in a tense situation, there are going to be those who do horrible things. It's human nature. An evil and terrible part of human nature, to be fought and rooted out wherever it raises its ugly head, but a part none the less.

What's important, really important, is how their nation deals with such incidents when they occur. Are these heinous acts condemned with the perpetrators judged and punished according to the law, or are their actions ignored or even applauded.

That is essentially the difference between us and our enemies and what makes our societies worth defending.