Slab you might want to consider staying on topic. The whole wave the flag and strike up the band argument is a red herring. The thread is titled "Haditha, more to come", and not "Lets thank the military". This thread is concerning what should be expected to come when normal people are under constant, and repeated combat stresses, for extended tours of duty. This thread has nothing to do with whether I've ever put on a uniform. It has everything to do with taking the time to consider the lifelong impact on the psyche that combat veterans will endure as part of the price of going to war.

Slab you've never directly answered any of the questions I've brought up. Your response was always a blind appeal to emotion that in a way should be far more offensive then me pointing out that guys are going to start mentally cracking and doing some very bad things.

If nobody dissented against the war regardless of their true feelings, if we all just waved our little plastic flags and stopped asking "Is this the right war? Is this worth the price of the blood of our sons and daughters?" would that be the kind of patriot our founding fathers would have wanted?

Slab, start another thread just so we can all give our thanks. And as soon as I see it, I'll be right in there saying a genuine thanks. But on this thread I'd really like to see your answer to my last open question:

How does the public express its discontent with its government waging war, without alienating and offending the professional soldiers who are ordered to prosecute that war?