Those Who Go to War Should be Taught the Morals They Must Maintain

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. 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. 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  indiscriminately, soldiers should also be taught how to treat prisoners.

Nothing taught, nothing learned. So, teach them in boot camp, teach them in the National Guard, and teach them in the Naval Academy and in the Army Academy. Teach them when they are returning from leave, and teach them when they are deployed. Drive morality into their heads. In a world where death becomes common, teach them that it must never be common.

I once watched a video of American soldiers in a helicopters 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.

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.