 What the U.S. is doing in Iraq is devastating for the Iraqi people, and could yet be equally so for the broader Middle East. But it's also hell on our troops, who are overstretched, overdeployed, and yet, determined to eke out some sort of success from this disaster George W. Bush allowed his handlers and sycophants to push the country into. If you need any further proof that Bush, Cheney and company have broken the United States military, you need only look at what this war has done to the ethics of American warriors:
In a significant new study of U.S. troops in Iraq, Pentagon medical officials found that “well over” one third of those surveyed believe torture should be permitted if it could save the life of a fellow Soldier or Marine.
The study found that only 40 percent of Marines and 55 percent of Soldiers would report a member of their unit for killing or wounding an innocent civilian and that about 10 percent of the more than 1,300 Soldiers and nearly 450 Marines in the survey admitted they had mistreated civilians or damaged property “when it was not necessary.”
In the first internal military study of battlefield ethics in Iraq, Pentagon officials said Friday they also found that only a third of Marines and roughly half of soldiers reported they believed that noncombatants should be treated with dignity.
The study also found major mental health problems among troops, who are facing long, repeated deployments with not nearly enough rest in between. War is hell, but occupation without a clear plan or competent leadership is even worse. Read the full report here.
Labels: Iraq war, supporting the troops, U.S. military |
