Does Accountability Mean Anything Anymore?

With the recent actions of Blackwater USA and other security companies operating in Iraq, it is easy to forget that mercenaries are not the only ones involved in horrendous incidents in Iraq; our military men and women are. And this is tragic on so many levels.

First of all, our soldiers are there as an extension of the US people. Unlike contractors, these people have pledged themselves to represent and uphold the ideals of America. What kind of message are we sending when these men and women kill and brutalize civilians. My friend recently sent me an opinion article by Ted Rall wherein Mr. Rall quotes an article from East Bay Express.

The article Rall refers to describes horrific actions taken by members of the US military in both Iraq and Afghanistan. The actions described include the rape of a fourteen year old, her subsequent murder, as well as the killing of her parents and seven year old sister. The soldiers implicated in the rape cut a plea bargain that allows for them to be released on parole in twenty years. Rall makes the point that the same crime here in the States is punishable by life in prison without the chance at parole, or the death sentence depending on the state. Other actions described in the Express article included soldiers photographing bodies of dead Iraqis, and then posting them on a pornographic website for the world to see.

Rall’s point in writing this piece, and I can totally see, and agree, with where he his coming from, is that while the US military may have accountability, in reality there is little to no accountability governing our soldiers. One of the reasons for this is simply that investigating civilian deaths is not high on the list of military priorities. In effect, this gives soldiers the ability to behave as they wish–and unfortunately this sometimes includes the wild west attitude previously only attributed to security contractors working in Iraq.

So it seems that, yes the military has accountability, but that accountability means little. It means that sometimes a soldier who has acted illegally will be punished for his crimes, but mostly it just makes the empty promise that someone is watching these guys and making sure they are acting in lawful ways.

So if accountability does not even work for the US military, what makes us think that it would work for private security firms. After all, if we choose not to enforce existing laws, why should we even bother creating new laws? Just to make people happy, and to give us a new set of laws that we can ignore? Well, that may happen, but that possible result does not lessen the need for accountability and oversight in both military and private security sectors.

 Just because people are ignoring the law, does not mean that the law should not exist. And this is a serious issue that potentially affects every Iraqi civilian in Baghdad, but also the appearance of the US in Iraq. If we look like we play favorites, especially by turning a blind eye to these tragic actions taken on our behalf, then there is no way we can gain the trust of the average Iraqi. Stricter regulation is not a sure fire way to win the support of Iraqis, nor is it the only action that needs to be taken before the chaotic and violent situation in Iraq is resolved, but it is a first step.

Still, it is disheartening to hear that even when it has the opportunity and obligation to take legal action, our government still lets people get away with (literally) murder.

Here is the link to Rall’s opinion piece

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ucru/20071009/cm_ucru/scapegoatingblackwater