Rainbows...

Found another great quote, but since we've already got one for the day, it doesn't get the QOTD title. This Daily Kos post by Meteor Blades had a nice little ditty of a quote in it that made me laugh. The story, from the Village Voice, is about the Marine who shot and killed that wounded and unarmed insurgent. The quote I've pointed out below is good, but the rest of the story is good too, so read the whole thing if you've got time:

He and several other Marines recently returned from Iraq (many from their second tours) whom I've talked to about the Falluja shooting say they are not sure they would have dead-checked the wounded man in the mosque had they been in the same position. Most say they probably would have, even though the mosque had already been cleared once. "What does the American public think happens when they tell us to assault a city?" one of them said. "Marines don't shoot rainbows out of our asses. We fucking kill people."

This story has a few cool points. First, it gives about the best defense of the Marine that I've seen to date - far better than any wingnut 'total war', 'we're-still-not-as-bad-as-Saddam'-type excuse. I think it still qualifies as a war crime, but how to punish? Easy - jail Bush. Second, this story gives us non-military folks a lesson in military-type stuff - tells us what 'dead checking' is all about. Third, it gives us a real look at conditions on the ground for our soldiers. Fourth, it gives us an honest, uncensored point of view from one of our soldiers. More like this, please.

I stole my own comment...