Canada's CBC wonders [1] what made U.S. marines kill unarmed civilians. Of course, I think my previous post on the Milgram Experiment [2] provides a good beginning in explaining how shellshock, propaganda and authority combine to form a deadly combination in even the most human of us. Especially when the authority is this guy:
Add to that the wholesale glamorization [3] of warfare implicit in out understanding of masculinity, the fact that we manufacture [4] enemies to vilify and dehumanize in order to achieve our selfish and predetermined imperial [5] motives, we systematically condone [6] and / or deny [7] that barbarism is taking place at the hands of our soldiers, and then withhold evidence [8] whenever investigations are coerced by the media. On top of that, with every small victory our administration makes grandiose and knowingly false claims of an end in sight [9], further messing with our soldiers' heads with the false hope that they might come home soon. Is it any wonder that our conception of right and wrong is becoming blurred?
[10]
Links:
[1] http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/iraq/haditha.html
[2] http://thehindsightfactor.com/haditha_and_the_milgram_experiment
[3] http://www.watchingamerica.com/lefigaro0000121.shtml
[4] http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/061006D.shtml
[5] http://thinkprogress.org/2006/06/11/troops-iraq-decades
[6] http://mediamatters.org/items/200501100004
[7] http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/12/world/middleeast/12iraq.html?ex=1307764800&en=f2971f10b5a4537d&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss
[8] http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/11/AR2006061100219_pf.html
[9] http://www.watchingamerica.com/thenationpk000023.shtml
[10] http://www.addtoany.com/share_save?linkurl=http%3A%2F%2Fthehindsightfactor.com%2Fexplaining_the_beast&linkname=Explaining%20the%20beast...
[11] http://thehindsightfactor.com/users/jay-daverth
Comments
Yes, but...
Of course we have to have sympathy for people in the terrible situation that you describe. Of course we are being manipulated. But my understanding of humanity shatters the moment that somebody successfully argues that situations exist in which we can justifiably lay down the responsibility we must normally accept for our actions: I don't think that we ever can. Furthermore who takes responsibility for determining the situations which warrant this?
Of course, there are mitigating factors that must be considered, and I agree that atrocities are an inevitable consequence of the war mentality. But to justify these actions in this way merely deflects from the issue, I think, and in some way cheapens it.
Well spoken
And I really couldn't agree more. My intent is not to justify the actions of war criminals any more than I would give credence to Nazi's who were "just following orders." Once people reach the point that they are a danger to those around them they need to be incarcerated until they are safe to be around, and they need to work the rest of their lives to atone for the evils they committed.
However, my point is to not simply excuse those who create the conditions under which atrocities occur simply because they weren't the performative instruments of the actual act. A Pentagon, White House, and American Public who knowingly and purposly ignore the rule of international law for the illusion of security or, even worse, retribution, must also bear responsibility for the monsters they create.