INVESTIGATE OR ABDICATE
The military struggles with the ethical question: Do we want our servicemembers to be morally responsible, or do we want them to do as they are told? For voters the ethical question is: Do we want our public officials in administration and the Pentagon to be morally responsible, or do we want them to do as they are told?
Currently debate rages about investigating public officials regarding their actions in the use of torture since 911. We have already investigated servicemembers in the military police at Abu Ghraid prison in Iraq. How can we not investigate our public officials and hold them to the same standards?
Here are the facts and standards from Abu Ghraid in the case study written by Capt. Rick Rubel, USN-Ret., distinguished Professor of Ethics at the U.S. Naval Academy, and published by the Military Officers Association of America.
“The 800th Military Police Brigade under Brig. Gen. Janice Karpinski was responsible for the Abu Ghraid. The function of the prison was to provide a safe, secure, and humane environment that supported the expeditious collection of intelligence. The 205th Military Intelligence Brigade was assigned to the prison to gather the intelligence.
“There is a clear separation between the role of the MP guards, whose job is to secure the compound, and the role of the military intelligence, whose job is to obtain strategic and operational intelligence.”
The military instructs its MPs in a 22-week training program that sometimes they must summon the courage to refuse or question an immoral order. For example, they should not violate the Geneva Convention that requires “prisoners must be humanely treated and are entitled to respect for the persons and their honor. This includes protection from acts of violence, intimidation and public curiosity.” The MPs are warned if they obey or tolerate a violation of that code, they may be punished after an investigation.
The Military Police investigation concluded the code was violated. MPs in one company were properly sentenced to jail, while officers were relieved of command. Karpinski was relieved of her command for cause for dereliction of duty.
At least one Captain refused to obey similar orders from military intelligence interrogators. Investigations reveal courageous actions as well as immoral actions.
I found no report that investigated interrogators, nor contracted employees, nor personnel dressed as civilians who accompanied the interrogators.
Those MPs volunteered for a professional military. What would I say to my grandchildren who consider volunteering for our military? Join if you have the courage to be held to a moral standard, even though your civilian commanders would not be? Beware Ben Franklin’s warning, “Without justice, courage is weak.”
There is one final danger in no investigation. Our great United States has established a civilian command over the military, a democratic principle that has become an envy of people throughout the world. The only way Americans can preserve that noble principle is to honor the military by summoning the courage to endure an embarrassing and contentious investigation of civilian commanders, up to and including whomever was or is Commander-In-Chief.
Currently debate rages about investigating public officials regarding their actions in the use of torture since 911. We have already investigated servicemembers in the military police at Abu Ghraid prison in Iraq. How can we not investigate our public officials and hold them to the same standards?
Here are the facts and standards from Abu Ghraid in the case study written by Capt. Rick Rubel, USN-Ret., distinguished Professor of Ethics at the U.S. Naval Academy, and published by the Military Officers Association of America.
“The 800th Military Police Brigade under Brig. Gen. Janice Karpinski was responsible for the Abu Ghraid. The function of the prison was to provide a safe, secure, and humane environment that supported the expeditious collection of intelligence. The 205th Military Intelligence Brigade was assigned to the prison to gather the intelligence.
“There is a clear separation between the role of the MP guards, whose job is to secure the compound, and the role of the military intelligence, whose job is to obtain strategic and operational intelligence.”
The military instructs its MPs in a 22-week training program that sometimes they must summon the courage to refuse or question an immoral order. For example, they should not violate the Geneva Convention that requires “prisoners must be humanely treated and are entitled to respect for the persons and their honor. This includes protection from acts of violence, intimidation and public curiosity.” The MPs are warned if they obey or tolerate a violation of that code, they may be punished after an investigation.
The Military Police investigation concluded the code was violated. MPs in one company were properly sentenced to jail, while officers were relieved of command. Karpinski was relieved of her command for cause for dereliction of duty.
At least one Captain refused to obey similar orders from military intelligence interrogators. Investigations reveal courageous actions as well as immoral actions.
I found no report that investigated interrogators, nor contracted employees, nor personnel dressed as civilians who accompanied the interrogators.
Those MPs volunteered for a professional military. What would I say to my grandchildren who consider volunteering for our military? Join if you have the courage to be held to a moral standard, even though your civilian commanders would not be? Beware Ben Franklin’s warning, “Without justice, courage is weak.”
There is one final danger in no investigation. Our great United States has established a civilian command over the military, a democratic principle that has become an envy of people throughout the world. The only way Americans can preserve that noble principle is to honor the military by summoning the courage to endure an embarrassing and contentious investigation of civilian commanders, up to and including whomever was or is Commander-In-Chief.
Posted by JSR at 6/3/2009 8:01 AM 
Categories: Common Sense,Compassion,Justice
Tags: Karpinski voluntary military military ethics torture; investigate Bush torture policies; abu ghraid
Categories: Common Sense,Compassion,Justice
Tags: Karpinski voluntary military military ethics torture; investigate Bush torture policies; abu ghraid
I agree that an investigation and (if crimes are uncovered) prosecutions should take place. However, at this particular time, I think it would be foolish to allow such an investigation to become the sensational circus that it could become. The investigation should be by a discreet, non-partisan team of respected former judges/prosecuting attorneys/detectives who should operate in a manner that does not include frequent news conferences or leaks. This country has too many other important tasks to complete. I do not support a Congressional sideshow like the one that monopolized the country's attention during the Watergate period.
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