The Psychology of Murder

James Wolcott wonders why the terrorists who blew up the Golden Dome in Iraq tied up the guards instead of slitting their throats. It seems to me that it is a difficult thing to kill a human being up close and personal even for fanatic terrorists. Which is why they use explosives. I remember reading that during the Korean War the Army found that two out of three soldiers -- well-trained, disciplined soldiers -- did not fire their rifles at all or fired to miss even though they were being attacked by the enemy. War is an unnatural thing during which the old bury the young instead of the young burying the old. (Herodotus). Why do we do it so much?