Those Who Go to War Should be taught the Morals of War

   There is a power that comes with going to war, the power to kill. And, it has long been said, with power, comes responsibility. 

   And, so, knowing that power should not be given without responsibility being taught, every parent that gives a match to a youngster, teaches the dangers of fire. Every teenager wanting to drive is first taught how to drive. We don't just let them hop in the car and tell them, "Go have an accident." Things of danger require training in how to handle them.
   And, so should war.
   It's a little like all the warning labels we place on everything from insecticides to cigarettes: where there is danger something can be used wrongly, we post a warning.
  Hey, shouldn't being issued a weapon and being told to go kill people come with similar warning? 

   Permission to kill someone, doesn't mean permission to kill anyone. I will tell you, there is a danger the soldier might take his right to kill so far as to kill the innocent. Scandal lies in this. Does anyone remember the My Lai Massacre? Does anyone remember the embarrassment of how we treated some prisoners during the Iraq War? That is not too far removed, is it? That may not have been murder, but, in addition to teaching not to kill, soldiers should also be taught how to treat prisoners.

   Nothing taught, nothing learned. You cannot expect something not to go wrong if you do not take precautions against it happening.

   I watched a video last night of American soldiers in helicopters (one or more helicopters, I do not know) hovering over New Baghdad. They spotted some people on the streets, and thought they were carrying weapons. So, they shot 'em. They shot 'em dead. When they saw a van pull up minutes later to haul off the dead, they shot at the van, too. They shot what amounted to hearse drivers. Shot 'em dead, I believe.

   Yes, it should be part of the training of a soldier to learn that even though he has great power to harm, he or she should not use that power but within the limits given. Perhaps our soldiers are already briefed on the morals of war. I would imagine so. I do wonder, though, if the training should not be a little greater.