[Mind-numbed Robot]

If you can witness battle and not be scarred, you're not right to begin with.

I disagree. It is a matter of perspective. If you aren't prepared and there with a specific mission then you shouldn't be there. After that, forget empathy and sympathy. To paraphrase Patton, leave that to the other guys.

What about surgeons, EMT's, cops, etc., that witness that stuff all the time. Would you say they are not right?

[Incandesia]

I didn't mean "If you can witness that and not become a psycho, you're not right". You can be as 'prepared' as a thousand boyscouts, but the first time you see someone's arms blown off, it's going to affect you. And I believe that cops, EMTs, etc ARE affected; Don't they have counselors on staff for people that are regularly exposed to those situations?

My point was, everyone that's been stationed in Iraq has probably suffered emotional trauma; Most of them don't turn to crack or violence against random women, and this piece of waste shouldn't be allowed to claim that as an excuse.