No, there was no remorse for this man, none for the others.
I’ve written a number of stories about the military, and I am always fascinated by the moral codes of those who fight for a living. There is a certain breed of soldier, and I think Kelly is one of them, who believe that the targets they go after are marked for death by their own actions. As one put it, the enemy “made a choice that is inconsistent with life, and we are just there to give them the bad news.” Or as another friend in special operations put it more succinctly, “some people just need to get got.” Viewed through this lens, a man like Kelly is not a killer, but merely death’s messenger. I am not saying this worldview is right or wrong, but it is one that is sincerely held. To me, this helped explain Kelly’s near clinical detachment from the suffering of his enemies and greatly informed how I approached Kelly’s character during my time writing on the film.
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