I have a deep respect for the people that put themselves in harm's way to protect Freedom, both past and present. I have another kind of feeling for those who fought on the Axis side; there were alot of good people following a wrong ideal, but we should remember that it truly would have been "A new Dark Age" had they succeded. Mr. Churchill's comments on the passing of Rommel pretty well sum it up from my stand point also.
Just an observation because I like to view things from all angles, and, I am above all, a keen student of the human condition.
I knew a man that was with the American forces in North Africa. He told me of an incident whereby a certain "Indigenous person" had made a deal with him and his buddy to trade some jerry cans of fuel for a couple bottles of local hooch. They made the trade then waited till the local had moved off some distance before stitching him with .30 cal ball and tracer. He laughed as he described the man flopping around, burning. Similar actions can be found from the Axis side, and indeed, all conflicts.
Now, I am not suggesting that incidents excuse each other, far from it; I am one of those that feel that it is time for mankind to abandon the tribal thinking and bronze-age beliefs that foster actions based on emotions rather than reason.
Tit for tat is why there is the "saber rattling" going on, not just in the Middle east, but Pakistan and India, China and Taiwan...the list goes on and has forever.
Except now the stakes are higher. It isn't sabers anymore.
We are on the brink of either extinction, by way of ignorance, or advancement, by way of knowledge.
It is entirely up to us, waiting around for the intercession of gods or benevolent space brothers ain't gonna cut it folks!
All things being equal, I don't know why our blowing up this planet bothers me so much. (other than it's where I keep my stuff)
Dead is still dead