Since I live in the NW and prior to this "birdie" issue, reported from Iraq one of our soldier from this area had thrown a puppy off a moving truck into roadside rock-pile ( captured on youtube, which was posted by his combat buddy ). The local radio media was interviewing his sister, reportedly the family had received a lot of hate mail ( email ), and telephone calls threatening their safety.
Is this also mindless? Of course the young man had done something that's not acceptable, but did the war changed our young men and women's mental state?
I always believe no quick criticism until you had been in their shoes