First we had American soldiers burning copies of the Koran, and now we have the appalling sight of an American soldier running rampage in Afghanistan and killing 16 innocent Afghan civilians, including nine children. No wonder the Nato mission is going to hell in a handcart.

We all know that soldiers, without the proper training and discipline, can easily degenerate into a murderous rabble that terrorises the local population. We have seen this happen hundreds of times in Africa where armies are no different from the militias who rape, murder and loot at will.