Few words Paula, but your point well made. It's not good PR for the US.
However in an effort to bring balance to my own increasingly anti - American views,. I think about the real and decent friends I have there, also, the artists, musicians and film makers who are doing their best to address the balance of right and wrong, and educate.
Also 300 million people cannot be written off, or blamed for a minority of bad people in the right wing, military industrial complex that seems to rule the USA, and stamp around the world like a spoilt and petulant child taking what they want.
The whole world has it's fair share of NRA minded morons. So in conclusion, I have to remind myself that it's not nations that cause mahem but simply bad people. They should'nt be allowed guns or power. That we can do something about.

Douglas , Crawley, W Sussex UK

My, my. Makes one proud, as in My Lai days, to be a citizen of the USA.

Paula, Parkdale,

Is what you can expect from american marines.

john, suffolk,

As a Viet Nam veteran I am ashamed and embarrassed by the behavior of Sgt. Wuterich; as a human being I am appalled. May God have mercy on his soul; as well as on the souls of all of those who turned a blind eye.

Dave Small, Arroyo Grande, California

This is horrifying.

Isabella Lisa, Orange County, CA, US

This kind of thing never ceases to amaze me either.We sit at our computers,in our comfy chairs second guessing and chastising our soldiers for following orders.If you've read anything other than this article you would know that that Cruz,(the prosecutions' star witness)has changed his story many times to arrange for immunity.
Although I am truly saddened that presumably innocent people died,the situation in Iraq is Hell on Earth.I for one do not know what happened and will never know what happened,just like everyone else because the only witnesses are the very ones they are trying to prosecute.-Does not bode well for truthiness.

I say reserve your judgement for what you are qualified to judge!

Steve, Steep Falls, US

It is almost physically painful to read this. I fear for the future of my country with another 18 months of the Bush administration continuing to advocate this climate of fear and "yeehaw" foreign policy. I support our military folks who are trying to do good work overseas, but fear that the arrogance demonstrated by Cheney and Bush and Rumsfeld has infected those most vulnerable to the cowboy message they have facilitated. I wonder if people abroad understand, after all they have seen as a result of this insane war, that there really are millions of Americans who are ashamed of Bush and furious at what he has done? I told a friend recently that I would be uncomfortable traveling overseas without a T-shirt reading, "He's not MY President". Do they understand that millions of us pray for our Iraqi and Afghan brothers and sisters and are working hard for change in the next election? We are here, we are loudly demanding accountability and justice. Don't give up on us.

Tanny, Rockport, MA US

Good job Marines! How can I help with your defense?

Harry Kuheim, Friday Harbor , USA WA

this kind of thing never ceases to amaze me! we as americans should sit back and take a long hard look at the things goin on in iraq! while I am grateful to our troops for all that they have done I think that some of the things taking place over there are just a little nuts

jason, nixa,