My Lai Revisited

Young soldiers are trained to follow orders. Failure to do so can get people killed during the fog of war. The wisdom of the military command structure comes from the very nature of war. War is chaos and confusion wrapped in fear. The basic chain of command keeps young soldiers able to do their duty while still holding on to their souls. What happens then when this chain is broken? This system begins to fail when those in command are filled with more fear and confusion of purpose than the young soldier whose feet have marched for so long to the orders of his superiors. What a terrible burden for those caught between doing their duty and refusing to turn away from what makes them human.
Numerous has been the comparisons of the Iraq war to Viet Nam. The most recent and chilling comparison comes from Haditha Iraq, where 24 civilians were killed by Marines frustrated by endless sorrow from lost friends killed by unseen enemies, no objective to win, no front line to hold or take. 37 years separate this event and those of a small village of Viet Nam called My Lai. On March 16, 1968 after being killed and wounded by landmines, snipers and trail side traps (today we refer to them as improvised explosive devices) soldiers of Charlie Company were agitated, exhausted and thirsty for revenge against the unseen enemy. When Lt. William Calley gave the order to search and destroy the village a horror and tragedy occurred when 300 unarmed civilians were brutally murdered.
The Haditha killings were triggered by an IED explosion that killed the driver of a humvee on the morning of November 19th 2005. Ordered to move into the neighborhood to look for the perpetrators of the attack. Soldiers found release for their rage and expression for their revenge in the killing of 24 unarmed men, women and children as young as 2. Just as in Viet Nam there was an attempted cover up. Now that the facts are coming to light “Core Values Training” is being reviewed for all personnel in Iraq. A clear policy of battlefield ethics can be a valuable tool for those on the front lines. To adhere to a list of things a soldier shall not do, no matter what the order or from whom it is given, is just another duty we now ask our young soldiers to perform. What standards of ethics should war planners be held to? What responsibility does the Secretary of Defense hold as creator of the situation in Iraq that has tested and strained the ethical boundaries of those facing fear on the streets day in and day out. It is not by coincidence that My Lai and Haditha share so much. Viet Nam and Iraq share common flaws of planning and goals. Now the two conflicts share common tragedies and shame. It’s not too late to acknowledge mistakes made in the past and let history help us navigate the future. As the situation continues to deteriorate into the policy mess that was Viet Nam, the slogan of “Support our Troops” takes on a more profound and urgent meaning. More can be lost by service men than life and limb. At stake is a loss of innocence. At stake is the trust a soldier needs in the orders he is given and the righteousness of the duty he is called to perform. Moral failures on the streets of Iraq are extensions of failures in planning made in command centers and Pentagon war rooms. At the source of all this tragedy is the lack of leadership and moral guidance given by the top of the command chain. The Commander and Chief is not at fault for all that has happened since the Iraq invasion. The Commander in Chief carries the responsibility. For the safety and security of all of our men and women serving in such a difficult situation I hope this chain of command is mended soon.