Originally Posted by snazzlefrag

Hopefully, none of us here will ever be in such a horrific situation. Of course, you must realize that you are comparing apples with oranges.

In your earlier scenario, you are condoning the indescriminate annihilation of an entire city and all its inhabitants in vengeful retaliation for the actions of an evil few.

In your latest scenario, you are talking about a soldier mistakenly killing an 'innocent' because he had to make a split-second, life or death decision in an active combat zone while under direct fire from the enemy.

Your latest scenario involves a tragic but nevertheless understandable and often unavoidable error of judgment.

Your earlier scenario, on the other hand, involves malicious and intentional genocide, with forethought.