Taking Sides on the 'Kill Team' Controversy

If the comments following the Rolling Stone article we link to below are any indication, the Afghanistan 'Kill Team' story is one of the most provocative ones of the War on Terror era. Were US soldiers protecting themselves from an enemy who is so often indistinguishable from every other plainly-dressed citizen on the Afghan landscape? Or are the soldiers involved in the controversy just plain monsters who were seeking out innocent victims to murder? As someone who has not been involved in front line combat for one, your author can honestly say that he is finding it difficult to pass judgment either way. Of course the actions were atrocious and reprehensible, but as so many who have served and have commented on the story have pointed out, war is never as pretty, clean or as simple as some would apparently like to think.

One thing is for sure however; this issue has not received nearly as much press as one of the other controversial war-related stories of recent times, the humiliation and abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib. We will leave it to readers to make their own assumptions about why this might be, but there does seem to be a disturbing lack of coverage on this important story. Nonetheless, some outlets are discussing the situation. And, as noted previously, folks who are discussing it seem to have much stronger and clearer personal reactions to it than we do. Which leads back to the million dollar question...is this a story about monsters, or is simply the latest piece of evidence on an almost endless list reinforcing the old adage that war is hell? Decide for yourself... if you can. The Rolling Stone article and accompanying comments can be found here.