A small dissection of the Marine Corps urination scandal

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By Lockerz

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/01/12/panetta-orders-probe-video-showing-marines-urinating-on-dead-taliban/

I was in no big hurry to follow up on this story, but I felt that I must deal with it at some point. This post is not to pass judgement but to look at a few issues.

1.  In the article, Fox News uses the word desecration in parentheses ("desecrating" the bodies).  From a sociological perspective, if these were American dead, and anyone was urinating on them, would we hesitate to call it a desecration? 

2.  Bad things happen in war.  Morals are not instilled in war time.  They are very often shed.  These men should be judged by a jury of peers, not the media or the public.  Unfortunately, their actions will be viewed by many, and it is not our mainstream media that will be the problem.  We can not filter what others find on the internet (where this video posted), and how it is used against us.  My fear is for future U.S. military personnel in the wake of this incident.  There are numerous examples of group actions that are not reflective of mainstream cultural norms in American history. This is not a new phenomenon, but as the author of the essay points out, "It shows how, in the present era of instant communication and YouTube, a tactical judgment blunder by a small number of troops can become a big strategic problem in a matter of a few hours."  An isolated incident is no longer an isolated incident. 

3.  The concept of the other plays perfectly here.  It would have been much more difficult to have done this to someone that resemble the Marines.  Because of the differences in language, diet and smell, culture, and appearance, this behavior was more acceptable.  The Japanese skull on the desk of the young girl writing her boyfriend in the Pacific. . .

4.  The justification is that these men had suffered losses at the hands of an enemy that did not fight fairly.  The same logic is used to defend the American soldiers at My Lai, under Lt. Calley.  Ultimately, if we seek to do terrible things, we will find a way to justify them, also. 

5.  God be with the soldiers and their families, especially.  Their careers are probably over.  And, God be with our enemies.  Some day we will all understand this war and find some type of peace.