Haditha.

A week ago most Americans had never heard of the small hamlet in Iraq.  Now it dominates the news.  The allegations of atrocities are disturbing and unsettling for the nation at large, not to mention the hundreds of thousands of Americans serving.  The mere notion of what might have happened is anathema to us all:  We didn't go into Iraq to murder innocents; we went there to eliminate a threat to our security and establish a framework for democracy.  We also don't cover up the truth when it doesn't suit us.

Times like these challenge military professionals at many levels.  How could such a thing happen?  Is there any way to explain the purported savagery of a few?  Could it happen again?  And if it did happen, what does it say about the very nature of our mission?  How can we claim the high moral ground in the face of such conduct?

Military.com has long prided itself on providing context, primarily to its members but also to a wider audience that might include other media outlets, lawmakers, etc.  And so we shall endeavor to provide context in this case, one that already shows the warning signs of infamy.  We will not shy away from the facts regardless of where they lead.  But, at the same time, we will not be party to generalizations and naïve oversimplifications about leadership, conduct in battle, or the American military experience.  The military is not some vague concept to us.  We served, as well.

Our ability to provide context petitions the Military.com organization across our offerings – our first person experiences, our news team, op-ed writers, and community of members – but ultimately this context is merely a function of that earned by the efforts, sacrifice, and valor of men and women willing to go in harm's way.  They are there now, courageously tackling a tough, dangerous job, day after day, just as brave Americans have done from the beginning of our great republic.

This context remains the overarching truth in the challenging days sure to follow.  Let it provide some measure of solace.  Do not waiver.  The mission isn't over.