[JoeFromSidney]

This is a tricky issue. In my course on Just War Doctrine (taught at Yorktown U., an non-PC on-line university), I specifically state that shooting the wounded in this fashion is a violation of Just War. However, that assumes the battle is over and the troops are policing up the battlefield, dealing with own and enemy wounded.

The situation described here is different. The battle isn't over, and you can't afford to leave a hostile alive behind you. If you were delaing with a civilized enemy, an answer might be to tie them up and leave them for the MP's to collect later. But you can't afford to try to tie up these people. They may be sitting on a grenade with the pin already pulled, just waiting for you to move them.

Under the circumstances in Fallujah, I can't see any answer other than shooting every enemy, even the enemy wounded.

[Travis McGee]

Hey Joe! Great to see your byline. Great book too, BTW!

(The Justice Cooperative, for those who don't know.)

[annyokie]

Comment by Lori Kahler It is also important to note that there have been reports that just five minutes earlier and a block away from this incident, another wounded insurgent blew himself up. He took the life of a marine and severely wounded six other marines who were trying to give aid to this insurgent. Let us not forget that Senator Kerry received a purple heart for a very similar incident, although Kerry shot the boy in the back as he was fleeing. Not only was this marine correct in shooting the wounded insurgent, he was obligated to or risk the death or injury to whole unit.

I see nothing tricky here. Perhaps it is just me.

[fuzzycat]

Some may recall this was a favorite trick of the Japs in WWII. My 1st Cav Dad had no problem with making sure they were Damn well dead. Daddy was Signal Corps. You should see the pictures I have from the Phillipines. Flame throwers got them out of their holes-crispy and dead.