Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is an anxiety disorder that only became publicly recognized and regularly diagnosed after Vietnam, and it is a real and serious condition that a small population of U.S. Iraq War veterans experience. Active soldiers and veterans alike deserve full resources and support in the instance that they suffer from PTSD. They do not, however, deserve a pass from for murder.

Army Staff Sergeant and married father of two, Robert Bales, 38, was accused March 30 of murdering 17 Afghan civilians during what can only be described as a village massacre March 11 in the Panjwai district of Kandahar province of Afghanistan. Most of the victims were women and children, and some of the bodies were burned, according to both Afghan and U.S. official reports. Although the U.S. military has released official charging documents, they have not provided a timeline of events or offered possible motives for the alleged crimes. Col. Gary Kolb, a U.S. military spokesman in Kabul, said Bales is alleged to have walked off base armed with a 9mm pistol and an M-4 rifle with a grenade launcher.

U.S. military officials have stated that Bales acted with pre-meditation and that he could ultimately face the death penalty for his actions. Yet Bales’s civilian attorney claims that Bales was suffering from “PTSD-like” symptoms and has little memory of what occurred March 11.

While it’s obvious that Bales is suffering from some mental disconnect, using the PTSD card to escape punishment for mass murder is an insult to the military. According to both active duty soldiers and veterans, members of the military undergo comprehensive psychological testing both before and after deployment. Bales was deployed to Iraq three times and, thus, underwent six rounds of evaluations.

Yes, it is possible for serious cases of PTSD to slip through the cracks, but Bales’ attorney has got to be crazy if he thinks it’s going to convince the courts, the military or the American public that Bales deserves a pass on this one. Frankly, he already is getting a pass in a way, by being tried in the U.S. as opposed to Afghanistan in the presence of those he affected.

Aside from the horror and tragedy of taking 17 civilian lives, Bales is also guilty of doing irreparable damage to Afghan and U.S. relations, thus putting the safety of his fellow American soldiers, most of whom who are working towards facilitating positive relations with Afghans, in jeopardy.

Let’s face it, respectable and honorable members of the U.S. military are already facing an uphill battle with the American public given past media representations. The last thing American troops need is for this tragedy to reflect upon them. Afghans are enraged, with good reason, and have also expressed discontent with the fact that U.S. officials have yet to contact eye witnesses for testimonials, or even visit the village to investigate.

My sympathies go out to Bales’ children and his wife, but the unfortunate circumstances they now face do not rationalize a “mentally unfit” ruling.

I’d like to see Bales’ defense team try to convince Mohammed Wazir, who lost 11 family members – including his mother, wife, four daughters and two sons – due to Bales’ “PTSD-like” symptoms, that Bales deserves a pass.

I doubt Wazir will agree.