AuntyM,

I cannot imagine a circumstance in which shooting a 3 year old in the head at CLOSE RANGE is acceptable. Res ipsa loquitur

This is a tragedy all the way around. I will hazard a guess that during the course of the slaughter that individuals who were responsible for the death of the Marine were killed. It still doesn't make acceptable shooting 9 year olds in the face as they cower under their beds.

I've heard excuses made on the radio for these soldiers; people who have tried to say that in the heat of battle almost anything is excusable. It troubles me to no end.