not the crime of the century

Robert Richard, one of the Marines videoed pissing on -- excuse me, "urinating on" -- dead Afghans, has died at 28.  Young, sad. His obit made news because of that act, which I assume is not what anyone wants to be remembered for.

His lawyer called the act, "a temporary lapse of discipline" and not "the crime of the century," both of which are probably true.  And isn't that the problem? Something like that reprehensible behavior was much more common in Iraq and Afghanistan than we want to acknowledge -- and don't have to because most of it didn't end up on YouTube. Contrary to contemporary belief, that doesn't mean it didn't happen.
The dehumanization of "the enemy" is basic to war; the dehumanization of "our guys" is too. Both are tragic. The AP obit ends, "Mr. Richards will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors." Nothing more be said.