Originally published on the CGS blog on January 20, 2012.
Last week, a video was posted on YouTube, showing four U.S. Marines desecrating the bodies of three Taliban soldiers in Afghanistan, causing an international uproar and several condemnations here at home. The Marines need to know that their actions will not be tolerated by the government or the international community.
The video creates a disturbing picture of the American military displaying callous disregard for human dignity. These images, lasting a matter of seconds, showcase what a Taliban official called “American arrogance and brutality” and serve to undo years of U.S. military efforts to show they are not the enemies of Afghanis or Muslims. These disrespectful acts only incite further violence against our troops and are the best propaganda tool for insurgents seeking out new recruits to fight against us.
In addition to these actions harming our strategies overall in Afghanistan, the video is an ugly reminder that Americans are capable of the brutality that we find so abhorrent in others. Think back to the outrage Americans felt when we saw the images of the execution of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, or when four U.S. military contractors were burned and hung from a bridge in Fallujah as Iraqis cheered. It is easy to condemn others, but we must live up to those same standards we hold others to. Fortunately, leaders in this country have already condemned these actions. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton immediately made a statement against the Marines’ actions, saying “I join [Secretary Panetta] in condemning the deplorable behavior that is reflected in this video.” Senator John McCain, a former prisoner of war himself who was tortured, stated that he is saddened by the video and that “there should be a complete investigation and those young people should be punished.”
Beyond the morality issue, the soldiers’ actions are also possibly major violations of both military and international law. The U.S. Code of Military Justice dictates the behavior of our troops and the video’s depiction is likely to be found in violation of these rules and standards. In addition, the actions violate Article 12 of the Geneva Convention which states that, the wounded or sick should be “treated humanely and cared for.” It holds the power detaining prisoners of war responsible for their care and protection. It also states that religion cannot be cited as the reason for any punishment.
Since the airing of the video on YouTube, the Marines have interviewed the four soldiers in question and have promised to deal with them accordingly. Military officials across the branches have resoundingly condemned the tape, and this is encouraging. However, our armed services need to remain vigilant in ensuring that even in the fog of war, our enemies treated with dignity afforded to all human beings and that disgusted acts like this are punished most severely.
