Remember that Haditha Incident a bunch of years ago where a number of innocent civilians were shot down because a group of angry U.S. soldiers got roadside butt-hurt? Well, the Staff Sergeant behind the Squad has been sentenced to about three months of solitary confinement, a large pay decrease and a demotion in rank (which is only second to Catholic Priests in the category of mind-boggling punishments).What about the other members of the Squad you ask? (I know you didn't ask but I'll pretend you did in order to break the following). Well, nothing, really. They're at home.
Why do I bring this up, though? Well, when we (by 'we' I really mean 'I') talk about what counts as a villain, an interesting question pops up: is a villain motivated by fear or by anger? Do emotions run the deeds or is every strategy cold and meticulously calculated?
Certainly, none the reading material or videos (Including that movie) really come to a unanimous conclusion to what motivated them to gun down 24 civilians at 8:00 in the morning. Most sources cite that it mostly has something to do with anger.
Nevertheless, I guess you could call him a villain for breaching the human rights (murder) of 13 innocent civilians and pretty much getting away with it (Unless you think a drop of rank and a season in a hole is enough). I, personally, wouldn't call a soldier caught in the heat of war a villain. The effects of war can take a tremendous toll on anyone's psyche. And I'm pretty sure Wuterich is living his share of nightmares.
Sources:
http://rt.com/usa/news/wuterich-haditha-civilians-iraq-513/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haditha_killings
Update
"After agreeing to a plea bargain on Monday, Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich expected a sentence of 90 days in jail for slaughtering civilians during a 2005 massacre in Iraq. On Tuesday that term was nixed, and now the confessed killer will only be demoted."
http://rt.com/usa/news/jail-sentence-wuterich-haditha-697/
Nevertheless, I guess you could call him a villain for breaching the human rights (murder) of 13 innocent civilians and pretty much getting away with it (Unless you think a drop of rank and a season in a hole is enough). I, personally, wouldn't call a soldier caught in the heat of war a villain. The effects of war can take a tremendous toll on anyone's psyche. And I'm pretty sure Wuterich is living his share of nightmares.
Sources:
http://rt.com/usa/news/wuterich-haditha-civilians-iraq-513/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haditha_killings
Update
"After agreeing to a plea bargain on Monday, Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich expected a sentence of 90 days in jail for slaughtering civilians during a 2005 massacre in Iraq. On Tuesday that term was nixed, and now the confessed killer will only be demoted."
http://rt.com/usa/news/jail-sentence-wuterich-haditha-697/
