When I was in Iraq, my fellow soldiers and I were shocked at the rule changes we had to deal with as the situation on the ground was prone to rapid, constant change. On one day, we were able to stop traffic, even if it was in an opposite lane. The next day, we were no longer allowed to do that as we didn’t want to seem like “occupiers.”  In Baghdad, we were told not to use our .50 cal machine guns or Mk-19 grenade launchers as they would cause too much collateral damage. When asked if it was…

In January, a video was released that showed four Marines urinating on the dead bodies of Taliban fighters. The video went viral and soon everyone from American politicians to Taliban spokesmen shared comments on the conduct of the Marines. I read the reactions from the officials involved and found them to be consistent with typical political speak. American and Taliban officials found common ground in declaring the actions of those Marines to be abhorrent. American politicians declared that…

Every year, we mark Veteran's Day with parades and, as a nation, we say thank you to veterans for the service they've given. We also remember those soldiers who have given their lives for their country. Restaurants give free meals and politicians remind us to keep the sacrifices of our military in mind. This year, I've watched several political debates where the issue of military action and veteran care has been discussed. It seems that veterans and the issues surrounding them are important…

Military action often leads to casualties. It's an unfortunate reality that when service members are sent in to harm's way serious injuries and deaths will occur. Evidence of the carnage of war and military action has been around since the 1800's. Civil War photographers captured images of dead American and Confederate soldiers who died in some of the fiercest battles our country has ever seen. The 20th Century introduced us to video. Since World War 2, the public has been exposed to the…