Quote:
Originally posted by sgtclub
My understanding is that at least part of the problem is that the troops guarding the prisoners were often times reserves that were not properly trained for that task.
I'm torn on this issue. Part of me thinks it's wrong, but the other part of me thinks that nearly anything goes in war when it comes to soldiers (not innocents), because the stakes are typically so high in war that the means justifies the ends.
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There is no way we can condone an orchestrated or tolerated campaign of misconduct against enemy soldiers, particularly outside of the battlefield arena where split-second decisions and unpremeditated actions have to be made.
Its one thing for the poor Captain to get courtmartialed for mercifully shooting Sadr's dying driver. They better not convict this guy of anything serious, particularly after today's reported testimony by the medic.
Its another thing entirely for the commanding twit at Abu Ghraib to say that she didn't really know who was in charge....
Don't get me wrong, I think a lot of this stuff was overblown. But a good deal of it isn't really being blown out of proportion. And for us to condone the murder or torture of combatants or civilians, outside of truly extraordinary circumstances, is for us to provide justification to our opponents when it is directed against us.
That is not a deal I'd ever agree to.
Again though, I'm not second guessing split second decisions made on the field. Just the stuff that's done in controlled situations.
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