Murderousness in war: from My Lai to Marine A

It is not new to observe that murderous behaviour, both inter-and intracombatants and civilians, occurs in times of war. Neither is it particularly startling to observe that the violence and aggression of wartime situations is largely, though not exclusively, associated with men and a version of masculinity that is valorised in these contexts. The legitimising of such gendered behaviour is made forthright within British Army Doctrine (Ministry of Defence, 2012: 2-18, para. 0235e):The British soldier should embody a warrior spirit. He should be tough, resilient, innovative, highly-motivated, and compassionate. He should have an offensive spirit and a desire to get to grips with adversaries and challenges. He should not hesitate to engage in combat – to fight – using controlled violence when necessary.