The Vietnam syndrome. Again

Iraqis won’t need reminding of these startling results just released about US soldiers in Iraq, but this information probably underestimates the ways in which troops view the indigenous population. Reuters reports:

Only 40 percent of American marines and 55 percent of soldiers in Iraq say they would report a fellow service member for killing or injuring an innocent Iraqi, a Pentagon study published Friday showed.

The study, which showed increasing rates of mental health problems for troops on extended or multiple deployments, also said well over one-third of soldiers and marines believed that torture should be allowed to gain information that could save the lives of American troops, or knowledge about insurgents.

What is life really like for the average Iraqi, away from the (lame) protection offered to US troops? Read on.

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