He took an innocent creature and threw it over a cliff, knowing that it would either be injured or die as a result (most likely slowly).

He did not have to do this. He could have ignored the puppy. Instead, he chose to do the action of throwing the puppy off a cliff.

That is why it is wrong.

We shoot the enemy. We capture the enemy. But when we find the enemy, we don't throw them over the cliff.

And the puppy was not his enemy.

If it was a dog attacking him, I would understand him shooting the animal, just like if a human was attacking him. This was a defenseless puppy and I know that there are animal rescue operations working in Iraq to help find homes for abandoned animals.

To me, he is a disgrace of a soldier.

ooooooooo, another mental health issue (2 in one day! w00t!!)

Individuals suffering from PTSD are still held accountable for their actions because they still have the ability to recognize that their actions are wrong. PTSD is when you think your wife is the enemy and you kill her because you were not properly debriefed or whatnot- but you are still held accountable for your actions.

Tossing a puppy over a cliff, whether for fun, violence, or stage, is not PTSD.

PTSD occurs after the fact, Gandol- that is the whole point of the disorder. While in combat in the military under stress, you make a decision that causes you to rethink or feel guilt- which then alters your mindset and behavior- that is PTSD. Killing children could be just following through on orders or Kerry could have been suffering from PTSD after the fact, but sought treatment or hid it well.

PTSD does not occur while in the act. He might be responding in a violent manner to his circumstances, but the diagnosis can't happen until he comes home or is somehow removed from the war zone and allowed to feel regret or horror regarding what happened (ie., goes on a break or is reassigned to a noncombatant position).

Now, I gather you hold puppies in higher esteem than these kids,

Considering that I work with the children that most people consider rejects, teased in school, or have limited futures outside of being able to eat, sleep and poop, I think that you are making a rather stupid statement here. I like puppies, and I like children- but I don't have proof of Kerry killing kids intentionally (find me the link please) but what I do know is what PTSD is and this guy does not qualify based on the limited information that I know from the article.

Now, I don't disagree with you that we need to provide the best mental health services that we can for soldiers, particularly when it comes to debriefing after a traumatic incident- just like police and fireman receive. But soldiers are a hard lot to counsel- as is pointed out, they are trained to be tough and nonemotional about their actions- hence PTSD being a real issue *when they return home* because they can't turn off what has been turned on. You can only counsel those who want to be counseled, and by all too many, that is viewed as a sign of weakness, not strength, to reach out for help.