If these allegations are true I would be inclined to say....SO WHAT!
You don't think that American soldiers raping a woman and killing her family for no military purpose is a problem?
I find the anonymous sources to be suspect, and will not believe this until I hear the results from the official investigation. However, if they are true, this is a big problems. Our soldiers are putting their lives on the line every day for us. They are courageous and deserve nothing but respect. Soldiers that would rape and kill innocents should be punished according to their crimes, out of respect for the vast majority who do the right thing. I expect that most soldiers would agree.
Well, my response to that would be that American troops have historically been known for their compassion and generosity, even to captured enemy troops, and toward the civilian population among whom they work. When a story like this, or Abu Ghraib, or Haditha, or any of the other ones comes out, it impugns the character of the troops both in theater and around the world.
The Iraqis already know that our military deals swiftly and decisively with people who mistreat them. I'll bet thet the Iraqi response to this will be, "If they are guilty, then they will be dealt with." This story will not change that.
But the media have given American servicemen have yet another black eye, and I want that to stop. I want to see our generals and admirals expend more energy defending our troops against this kind of slander, and I would like them to start by discontinuing the ridiculous and detrimental practice of imbedding media with units in-theater.