Bales' lawyer has been bragging that he will tie up the trial for years, and that his client will ultimately be set free. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that this kind of rhetoric is going to make it impossible for us to win any "hearts and minds" in the Muslim world. In order that all of the blood spilled by our young men and women in uniform is not in vain, we need to act to show the Afghani people that our interest in justice is genuine.
If we do not see to it that Bales sees swift justice, we will be doing tremendous dishonor to the many hundreds of US soldiers who have given their life trying to bring peace and justice to the people of Afghanistan.