October 04, 2005
Stop the Prisoner Abuse
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will be heaping burning coals on his head.” - Romans 12:20
So Pfc. Lynndie England has received her punishment in a court-martial for her role in the prisoner abuse in Abu Ghraib. And as usual, she is taking the fall for highers-up. While I do not condone what she did there, she is not the one who should be punished. Her commanding officers, perhaps even up to the Secretary of Defense, should be severely punished or censured for creating a culture in Iraq and Guantánamo Bay that encourages such behavior. To practice hazing on prisoners of war like a bunch of drunken fraternity boys on a pledge breeds contempt for our military and the nation. It contributes to the undoing of everything the military is trying to accomplish in the war on terrorism, and fuels the Iraqi insurgency.
Terrorist status is no justification for abuse. Keep them secured, but treat them like human beings. Prior to Vietnam, we (generally) adhered to very high standards of prisoner treatment, one that often caused the prisoners to later embrace our cause. Taking the moral high ground contributes just as much to victory as sound tactics or superior firepower.
Instead of thumbing our nose at the Geneva Conventions, we should be embracing them.
So Pfc. Lynndie England has received her punishment in a court-martial for her role in the prisoner abuse in Abu Ghraib. And as usual, she is taking the fall for highers-up. While I do not condone what she did there, she is not the one who should be punished. Her commanding officers, perhaps even up to the Secretary of Defense, should be severely punished or censured for creating a culture in Iraq and Guantánamo Bay that encourages such behavior. To practice hazing on prisoners of war like a bunch of drunken fraternity boys on a pledge breeds contempt for our military and the nation. It contributes to the undoing of everything the military is trying to accomplish in the war on terrorism, and fuels the Iraqi insurgency.
Terrorist status is no justification for abuse. Keep them secured, but treat them like human beings. Prior to Vietnam, we (generally) adhered to very high standards of prisoner treatment, one that often caused the prisoners to later embrace our cause. Taking the moral high ground contributes just as much to victory as sound tactics or superior firepower.
Instead of thumbing our nose at the Geneva Conventions, we should be embracing them.
Copyright © 2005-2006, Harold D. Thomas. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to use the material in this blog provided this copyright notice is shown and the use is not for profit.
The Middle Way posted by Harold Thomas @ 7:00 PM
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Harold. You are right on. There is no excuse for the conduct of PFC England, but to the extent her superiors created an environment where treatment of prisoners in this manner was condoned (or at least tolerated), those superiors should also be punished. Our success in military endeavors throughout the world will only be successful so long as we take the "high road" when it comes to treatment of prisoners, civilians, etc.
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: 3/23/2006 10:22:00 AM
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