A video of four American Marines who urinated on the corpses of Taliban soldiers was posted on YouTube, sending a wave of disgust all over the world. Defense secretary Leon Panetta called the video “utterly despicable” and promised a full investigation of the case. While the majority of the world condemns the disturbing act of these soldiers, some Americans see the issue differently. They see it as a perfectly justifiable revenge against the killers of Americans. The ex-presidential candidate Rick Perry is among these patriots: “What was really disturbing to me is … the over-the-top rhetoric from this [Obama] administration and their disdain for the military,” Perry said. “I mean, these [soldiers] made a mistake. There’s not any doubt about it. They shouldn’t have done it. It’s bad. But to call it a criminal act, I think, is over the top.” He showed more passion in defense of these troops in a recent debate than in the one on Jan. 8.
The position taken by these so-called patriots can be appealing at first glance. After all, many people have a deep hatred for radical Muslims who have committed outrageous crimes against the U.S. Nevertheless, the American government must investigate this case thoroughly as a criminal act in order to abide by the existing laws, to build up a peaceful relation with the Middle East and to preserve the good values upheld by Americans.
The Geneva Convention, an international agreement on the rules of wars, clearly states that “[t]he remains of persons who have died for reasons … resulting from … hostilities … shall be respected.” In response to the Geneva Convention, the U.S. Naval Handbook adds that the “mutilation and other mistreatment of the dead” is a war crime. The act of these Marines can be categorized as disrespect and mistreatment of the dead bodies, and therefore it is definitely not “over the top” to call the act a crime. Rather, if the government does not prosecute these soldiers, America would break the existing laws, putting our own administration in disrepute for not abiding by the laws that we ourselves have ratified.
Even if no specific protocol outlaws the mistreatment of dead bodies during wars, the American government would still need to prosecute these American soldiers in order to preserve the already fragile relationship with the Middle East. It has taken much effort to get the Afghan government on our side. If our government does not prosecute the four American soldiers, it would just add more volatility to the existing tensions between the U.S. and the Middle East. The Karzai government of Afghanistan would see it as offensive and disdainful toward its people. Other Muslim countries would also take this matter offensively, thus becoming even more hostile toward America. In addition, certain terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda can use it as a perfect justification for their bloody wars against the United States.
Furthermore, the American society is built upon certain morals and values, including mercy, respect and humanitarianism. The reason we sent troops to the Middle Eastern countries is to spread these good values to the rest of the world that was once dominated by barbarity, cruelty and inhumanity. We do not fight against these countries so that we can humiliate them. The barbaric and inhumane act of the urinating soldiers is antithetical to the intention of our war, as well as to the values that we want to promote. To once again restore the cause of the war and promote the good American values, the government must condemn these soldiers by regarding the issue as a serious war crime.