so a us army medic was convicted of shooting four bound and blindfolded iraqis in the back of the head. his defense? um, insomnia. this was supported by medical experts.

In closing arguments earlier, Leahy's civilian lawyer, Frank Spinner, argued that Leahy went along with the killings because he was dazed from a lack of sleep and numb from being in a war zone for months. It was a sentiment bolstered on Thursday in testimony from Col. Charles Hoge, a doctor and director of psychology and neuroscience at the Army's Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.

He testified that Leahy was unable to reason properly because of the constant danger of living and operating in a war zone and getting little sleep for months on end.

it's good that they convicted him, because this style of explanation would of course excuse absolutely anything anyone might do to anyone during a war.