Pardon me if I do not get all uncomfortable and outraged when I read about some Marines stepping outside the lines a bit in Afghanistan. Look, I am certainly on board with “appropriate” disciplinary action corresponding to the actions of these boys, but let’s apply a little context here. First of all, any thought of placating to the “Islamofascist” element by way “punishment that does not fit the crime” would be foolish and counterproductive. Also, is this the same Taliban that I have written about so many times highlighting the manner in which they treat all who cross their ideological path? What I mean is do I have to run down the list of atrocities these clowns have committed against their own people, to include medieval beheadings, “actual” torture and the targeting of women and children with maiming and often lethal explosive devises to make their point. This is to say nothing of their “treatment” of prisoners of war. I simply do not have the patience for folks who want to gloss over the fact that this group is comprised primarily if not completely of murderers and despots proven capable of the most heinous crimes imaginable against humanity.

Did our boys do wrong, you bet? Might their minds have been a bit clouded with the losses of their friends and compatriots to an enemy who prefers to fight in the shadows by way of deceit and cowardice, absolutely? Punish them accordingly but within the context of a bloody war against a merciless enemy without soul or conscience. But know this, that same enemy is watching closely and will use any overreaction or politically correct notion to embolden their band of murderers. And American soldiers will certainly die as a result of any poorly thought out miscalculation on the part of our apologist leaders. Where is old “Black Jack” when ya need um????