[Future Snake Eater]

I read the article. 5/2 SBCT had a leadership problem. It’s been dealt with. That unit is now squared away and is the envy of the Stryker world. This latest one in Afghanistan...that’s not 3d SBCT’s fault. That’s a great unit; it has been since it’s inception. I have absolutely no idea why the NCO did what he did, and I guarantee you Jorge Gonzalez doesn’t either.

For any non-military here: Soldiers are not automatons. A Stryker Brigade has over 4,000 Soldiers (4,000 individuals) in it. An individual can make bad choices. The media loves to run with it, and this Gonzalez clown obviously has an axe to grind.

I’ve done two tours at JBLM. It’s a great post, the people are very dedicated and do a fantastic job.

[DaveA37]

Somehow I feel there is more to this story than is being told. I envision a frustrated soldier who has been shot at, seen his buddies killed and maimed without being able to retaliate due to some stupid “you can't shoot” idea and then, going out and taking care of business his “superiors” would not give him authority to do. SO, he takes it upon himself to clean a few houses. (I feel sorry for those who indeed were innocent but I believe there were several within those houses who were not so innocent). Ask yourself why did the soldier stop at only two houses and not keep purging forward? He could have carried a lot of ammo and had some left over. Did he really “snap”? I'm not so sure.