. . . but there are no "simple" answers.

I would agree with the testosterone idea, Tom, if this were more than it was. These folks, however, were serving in the backwaters of the front lines, and suffering from nothing more dangerous than boredom (Seen “Mr. Roberts” (1955) of late?). Testosterone was likely low, but apathy definitely had the "Devil's Workshop" open for business -- which takes us right back to a question of the unit’s command staff.

But then, who's know? What happens in Iraq stays in Iraq -- right?

Or was that Vegas...?

How old were the perpetrators?

They were likely (as I really do not know) between the ages of 19 and 35. I am assuming these were all Reservists, which is generally and older crew of military personnel. Many will be prior service troops who have already done their 3 or 4 years active, and are just closing out their contracted service. Some will be Reserve lifers. And the rest will be first termers who went in specifically for Reserve duty, and would account for the 18- (possibly 17-) to 26-year-old group.

Dan