Letters: Sympathy for Sgt. Bales
A file photo of Staff Sgt. Robert Bales. (Aug. 23, 2011) Credit: AP / Spc. Ryan Hallock
No way can I defend the actions of the soldier accused of killing civilians in Afghanistan ["17 murder counts in Afghan massacre," News, March 23]. However, our politicians are responsible too.
They got rid of the draft, saying that a volunteer Army is all we need. They rotated troops into Iraq and Afghanistan for two, three and four tours of duty. We had many a soldier who served just one tour in Vietnam who came back with post-traumatic stress disorder.
It is time for this country to stop fighting wars we should not be involved in, especially when our objectives are no longer clear. We got Osama bin Laden. Let's bring the troops home.
We also should increase the number serving in our armed forces and bring back the draft. National Guard and reserve troops should not be fighting our wars. We need an adequate regular standing Army at all times.
Bob Southard, South Setauket
Under normal circumstances can anyone look at any human being and know what their breaking point is? Now take a human who has seen four tours, such as Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, and try to gauge his point of no return.
From the accounts of his accusers, Bales has seen and done enough killing, more than most soldiers, and in that time has lost more close comrades then many of us have lost friends. When he supposedly snapped, he did so with his weapon in his hands, which made for tragic results.
Stephen Vella, Ronkonkoma
