Why do most SOLDIERS EXCUSE themselves of killing other people saying that they

Question:.............following orders?
An order should only be obeyed when we are entirely aware of our actions.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: .............following orders?
An order should only be obeyed when we are entirely aware of our actions.

Having been in this position, I can only say,When someone is stooting at you and you want to live to a ripe old age, you'd better stoot back. BUT, the excuses for putting our young in this position are the real problem. Politicians, oil barons and industrialists seeing a way to make another billion or 10 will always find some poor excuse to declare war on another country. The result is another kid just out of high school having a gun put in his hand and told kill or be killed. I say that before war is declared the people who want the war should be put in the field against the leaders of the people they want to go to war with and fight it out to the death. Then any others who want it should follow until all warmongers are gone. I.E. NO MORE WAR

because they are killing the "bad guy"
so it is ok and they were following orders that they were fully aware of and signed up to do.

because it's true it's there duty to protect us. if not for that kill you could be in a country ruled by dictatorship. also just remember this"there going home and not to a grave"

I would say they are aware of their actions. Their action was to shoot the enemy.
Some people are willing to put their lives on the line to protect the rest of us so that we have the freedom to waste our lives on here if we want. So you shouldnt badmouth those who protect you.

they should follow orders,
thats the way it is,
they dont make desicions they just have to listen to the commanders

American soldiers volunteer for the job. They are not blindly following orders, they are accomplishing a mission. A mission they signed on for.

You make it sound like murder. It is war. If you attack my country you should expect to be tracked down and killed. Because that is what is going to happen.

It's self-defense scaled up to society level.

The same reasons that you have received the answers that you have received thus far.

They are conditioned to accept authority without question.

It is a system of buck passing that confuses the issue. It is also a matter of peer pressure.

If those same soldiers are ordered to kill USA citizens on USA soil then they must because they were only following orders.

Ask students at Kent State and Jackson State Universities. Ask the members of the Branch Dividians, Move,...

Why would a soldier fight in a war that could have been avoided, when the Commander &Chief would not accept a fight to prevent much destruction and bloodshed?

Jim C. has made a good point in that he speaks of true Democracy. I believe in self defense in the face of clear and present danger. I do belive that violence should be the last resort of rational Humans. Most Rational Humans avoid physical altercations and the scenarios that could lead to them. We are not really physically designed to be more beastly than beast. All that being said, if there are Humans that truly believe in warring, fighting, or violent behaviour, then who am I to say that they cannot. Those Humans should have a place where they can enjoy themselves in such activities and leave the rest of us out of it. Each individual is his own culture. I must respect that as long as it does not tread on others who will not join in "reindeer games".

Everyone has a right to his own path of development.
We should create an amusement park for them. Let us call it -"ValhalaWorld".

We all could benefit from the medical and scientific advancements while they have a good ole time maiming and killing each other. We could televise it. Make up storylines for the reason they are fighting. Take your pick, democracy, overthrowing a dictator, they were about to attack, WMD,...

We could sell ticket, popcorn, peanuts, and action-figures.

Because, in case of enemy, if you don’t kill them, they will kill you.