How could Haditha Happen, we're Americans

I consider myself a patriot. Not an overt cretinous flag-waving mouth-breather that "loves America" because they are an American, having given it no real thought. I love America despite its many flaws, and they are legion.

As the details of the murder of two dozen or so people, including women and children comes to light, more shit will hit the fan again in Iraq. But more than that, we have to be disabused of this notion that we are somehow pure of heart and action when it comes to war. People will act like Haditha is some anomalie. It is not. If you line up the history of nation's and their atrocities many are on top of the list, I won't say who, but it is spelled Germany. But each country has them and the list for the United States is long; from the hanging of the Saint Patrick's Battalion at the conclusion of the Mexican-American War, to Ft. Pillow, to Andersonville, to Wounded Knee and all its precedents -- all the way to My Lai. We are no more immune from savagery than anyone else.

It would be nice to remember that, before we go off into yet another war.

But collectively, we won't.