Giving the enemy an advantage

Letter to the Editor

The irony of the incident involving the Marines urinating on dead Taliban is that it takes a good outcome — three dead Taliban — and turns it into an action that strengthens the enemy.

The Marines involved will be punished. They should be, along with leaders in their chain of command. Even without knowing the context of the engagement, what was done is not acceptable. It was a breakdown in discipline and judgment.

What happens next is predictable and unfortunate. Much like Capt. Renault in the movie "Casablanca" (who was shocked to find gambling going on when handed his winnings), politicians will react with predictable righteousness and vengeance. They talk too much and too often, most without personal experience that is comparable to Marines in combat.

What they should do prior to drawing their next breath at the news conference is to point out this incident is an anomaly, that we are saints compared to our enemies. They could mention our restrictive rules of engagement that put our troops at risk. They could mention that our targeting is approved by lawyers in high-level strikes. They could point out the desecration of some of our dead in Iraq (which I have personal knowledge of) and presumably in Afghanistan. Not as an attempt to justify the actions of the young Marines, but to reinforce that we remain the good guys.

One of the byproducts of an all-volunteer force is an isolation of the warriors within our society. During World War II, 15 percent of our citizenry was in uniform. Today, less than one-half of 1 percent serves.

While our young warriors make repeated seven- or 12-month combat deployments, our society rewards them with an extra $7.50 a day.

In stark contrast, other youths of this great nation "occupy" parks and whine that the debt they accrued while attaining their degrees should be borne by the taxpayer. These two groups don't know each other.

I would judge the Marines involved harshly. Not so much for urinating on dead Taliban who moments before were undoubtedly trying to kill them, but for lack of judgment, lack of discipline and giving the enemy an advantage, so mindlessly.

Steve Emerson

Valrico