Torture

Andrew Sullivan has been pushing the torture angle and has exposed (if the examples are true) what appears to be a wide spread problem. There is evidence in Afghanistan, Abu Grhaib and Gitmo. It seems the presence of torture in these different locations suggests torture is official US policy. The outrage many have expressed also suggests many people believe this is something new, or an extension of Vietnam. I think it is naïve to believe treating POWs or enemy combatants harshly is something new rather than a side effect of war.

I believe this type of treatment and behavior is a natural effect on some people who exposed to death and destruction on a consistent basis, which is why some people are against any war. We constantly praise WWII and the heroes that fought as the greatest generation. I believe it is extremely naïve to assume negative treatment did not exist in that war. I was watching a program on the battle of Iwo Jima, US soldiers would use flamethrowers to burn the Japanese soldiers as they were running out or hiding in caves. Certainly, today this would not be an acceptable practice. Likewise, my girlfriends grandfather brought back pictures from WWII of Japanese soldiers with their heads chopped off. This was acceptable then because society was more homogenous and people understood this type of behavior was neccessary to squash the threat of Japan and Germany.

I do not believe we should condone or accept this behavior but neither should it be public record. The military should constantly monitor soldiers in charge of corrections and replace soldiers more rapidly. Soldiers who are not mentally tough enough to handle the horrors of war should not be prosecuted but receive counseling and other assignments as quickly as possible. For us in the United States to stand in judgment of soldiers who lose their moral foundation in wartime is extremely arrogant.