Joan Ball is a business professor at St. John’s University in New York and the author of Flirting with Faith: My Spiritual Journey from Atheism to a Faith-Filled Life.
I’ve been following CNN.com’s “Killings At The Canal: The Army Tapes,” an investigation into the circumstances leading up to, and following, the premeditated murder of four Iraqis in 2007. I suppose I’ve been waiting for my lightbulb moment when I would understand how so many people believe these soldier’s actions were defensible — I have yet to have it.
Let me preface by saying that I do sympathize with the idea that our soldiers in combat are subject to the type of on-going trauma that I can’t even begin to understand, all in the name of duty, and in the name of protecting our country. However, I just can’t bring myself to agree with those that consider these men heroes, or believe that they should be excused from their part in this incident. To do so, in my opinion, is akin to saying anyone who witnessed a murder (or some other severe trauma) should receive a get-out-of-jail card if they too commit murder.
But this is a special case, you may say. These are the men and women fighting to protect our country. Yes, they are. But what exactly are they fighting to protect?
If we want to spout time-worn clichés, then I would say they are fighting to protect everything America stands for – and last I checked, America did not stand for a free-for-all, take the law into our own hands, shoot ‘em before they shoot me society.
I can’t even begin to fathom how difficult it is for soldiers and policemen to handle the undeniable fact that far too often the ‘bad guy’ gets that get-out-of-jail card. And I certainly don’t deny that there are things within the system that should be changed.
So let’s change them, let’s spend our time demanding change, rather than wasting our breath asking for these soldiers to be released as “heroes” (as the wives of these soldiers are understandably doing). They are not heroes; they are men who were soldiers who disobeyed the rules of conduct they swore to follow.
The hard reality, which some cannot seem to recognize, is that enlisting in the armed forces, or in the police academy, or national guard, etc., does not automatically make one a noble person. To compare these men to all the other soldiers who would have followed orders and acted honorably, I say is the greatest insult to all those who are the heroes defending this country, and who are defending it in a manner that we as a nation can be proud of.
posted November 20, 2009 at 8:38 pm
You cannot judge a situation unless you have been there. I was there and these soldiers were friends, and heroes. A broke detention system is at fault for putting these three in a impossible situation. I was supposed to be with them that day, but was on R&R. If I was there I would have pulled the trigger too. These Iraqi criminals admitted guilt and knew that they would be released. If they were allowed to be put back on the streets they would have killed more American soldiers. As for Jess Cunningham, I know who you are and what you did in Iraq buddy, and if I ever see you on the street you’ll wish you were dead! Covering your own ass and putting good men in jail is a horrible thing. In this life or the next you’ll get yours.
posted November 22, 2009 at 5:09 pm
These US soldiers did what they we charged to do… they took the actions necessary to protect our country. The only horror is that these US war heros and their families are suffering because the liberal left in our country does not have the intellegence nor the stomach to do what needs to be done to protect our country. I have never been in the army or had my life in harms way. However, it is not hard to empathize and agree with the actions they took. I thank them for what they did and think that the President to step in and pardon these people so they can go home to their families. No other country on this planet would treat their soldiers this way.
posted November 23, 2009 at 12:10 pm
No civilian has the right to judge these soldiers!! Until you get suited and booted, you have no idea what US soldiers go through during war. You have no idea what it is like to be in a foreign country where you are not wanted, where you are the enemy, where you are the target. We will never win against our enemies with a compassionate strategy during a conflict. Let the soldiers fight and defend themselves against a cowardly enemy, who uses IED’s and terrorist tactics to kill. The US armed forces are the greatest in the world. Let them do their job!!
posted November 25, 2009 at 3:30 pm
what are we fighting for?
posted November 25, 2009 at 3:35 pm
watch http://www.zeitgiest.com or 911 loose change
open your mind, have your own opinions and do your research you will be amazed on what you find….
posted May 22, 2010 at 8:03 pm
I saw the series. It is excellent.