War has it's limits. Since you brought up Viet Nam, let me bring up Lt. Calley, who ordered the murder of unarmed women and children at My Lai. The military courtmarshalled his ass, and Calley was convicted. Here's the deal. War might be hell, but the American way is to punish those who commit atrocities and genocide against unarmed civilians. Lt. Calley was not fit to wear the uniform. By the same token, the mercenaries who committed the atrocities in Iraq had no business being over there, and thank god, they were not in uniform, representing the US military. They are a disgrace to everything that is decent about our country.
BTW, why don't you now tell us all about how the political leanings of our soldiers who sat on the jury that convicted Lt. Calley were the reason for his guilty verdict.
Jeez............
QUESTION: Do you agree or disagree with the decision of the military court which found (Lt. William) Calley guilty (in connection with the My Lai incident) and gave him a life sentence?
Agree 7%
Disagree 78%
No opinion 15%
From a telephone survey of 1,090 adults from across the United States conducted for President Nixon on April 1, 1971.
QUESTION: Do you think President Nixon should free Lt. William Calley, substantially reduce his sentence, or uphold his life imprisonment sentence (in connection with the My Lai incident)?
Free Lt. William Calley 51%
Substantially reduce his sentence 28%
Uphold his life immprisonment sentence 9%
No opinion 12%
From a telephone survey of 973 adults from across the United States conducted by Opinion Reasearch Corporation for President Nixon on April 5-6, 1971.
QUESTION 001: Do you approve or disapprove of the court martial finding that Lt. Calley is guilty of premeditated murder? (If 'Disapprove', ask
Do you disapprove of the verdict because you think what happened at My Lai was not a crime, or because you think many others besides Lt. Calley share the responsibility for what happened?
Approve 11%
Disapprove/Not a crime 15%
Disapprove/Others share responsibility 56%
Disapprove/Both reasons (vol.) 1%
Disapprove/Other reasons (vol.) 5%
No opinion 11%
QUESTION 002: Do you think Lt. Calley is being made the scapegoat for the actions of others above him or not (with regard to the My Lai incident)?
Yes 70%
No 12%
No opinion 18%
QUESTION 003: Do you think the (Lt.) Calley sentence of life imprisonment (after his court martial finding of guilty in the My Lai incident) is fair or too harsh, or too lenient?
Fair 13%
Too harsh 79%
Too lenient 1%
No opinion 7%
From a telephone survey of 522 adults from across the United States conducted by The Gallup Organization for Newsweek in April, 1971.
QUESTION 069: (Now let me read you some statements that have been made about Lt. Calley and the My Lai incident. For each, tell me if you tend to agree or disagree.) . . . The soldiers at My Lai were only following orders from their higher ups.
Agree 77%
Disagree 9%
Not sure 14%
QUESTION 070: (Now let me read you some statements that have been made about Lt. Calley and the My Lai incident. For each, tell me if you tend to agree or disagree.) . . . Lt. Calley has been singled out unfairly as a scapegoat.
Agree 77%
Disagree 15%
Not sure 8%
QUESTION 076: How would you rate President Nixon on the way he reacted to the court-martial of Lt. Calley (in the My Lai incident)?
Excellent 27%
Pretty good 31%
Only fair 17%
Poor 18%
Not sure 7%
QUESTION 080: (Let me read you some statements that have been made about the way President Nixon reacted to the court-martial of Lt. Calley (in the My Lai incident) and tell me whether you agree or disagree.) . . . President Nixon has come close to undermining the system of military justice by showing sympathy with Lt. Calley.
Agree 28%
Disagree 58%
Not sure 14%
QUESTION 083: Do you tend to agree or disagree with the Army Court-martial Board the found Lt. William Calley guilty (in the My Lai incident)?
Agree with decision 24%
Disagree with decision 65%
Not sure 11%
From a personal survey of 1600 adults from across the United States conducted by Louis Harris and Associates in April, 1971.
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/mylai/surveyresults.html