Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!pt.cs.cmu.edu!andrew.cmu.edu!cr10+ From: cr10+@andrew.cmu.edu (Christopher John Rapier) Newsgroups: alt.activism Subject: Re: Panama Info Message-ID: Date: 17 Jan 90 00:36:49 GMT References: , , <0ZgsNyi00WB2M1TB0E@andrew.cmu.edu> Organization: Class of '91, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA Lines: 23 In-Reply-To: <0ZgsNyi00WB2M1TB0E@andrew.cmu.edu> MMMmmmmmmm I'd chill heavily on condemning the actions of individual infantry members during the stress, confusion and horror of battle. Until you've been in a situation like that its way difficult to actually understand what goes through a persons mind. Consider: They knew that there were large numbers of irregulars (nonuniformed partisan combatants). They were dropped into a foreign and unknown area during the night. Visibility was not extreme for ground troops. Most troops were not combat experienced and did not have the reactions that you would take for granted in a more seasoned force. Almost all were scared shitless. However, I am not making excuses for their actions, only supplying possible reasons. It is altogether possible that they knowingly opened fire on noncombatants and foreign civilians for the sheer joy and pleasure of it. If anybody would like to discuss military and infantry ethics, organisational, group and individual then feel free I'm always here. chris rapier