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What is the Deal with U. S. Soldiers?

By Jan A. Larson

During the past week, two stories from the Middle East have brought to light the vast differences in the character of United States soldiers. The death of former NFL player Pat Tillman while on active duty in Afghanistan caused many Americans, this one included, to stop and reflect on just what it means to be a patriot. Tillman epitomized the American ideal of what it means to love one's country and to feel such a sense of duty that he was willing to give up something that most Americans can only dream, the life of a professional athlete.

Tillman's death put a face on the soldiers that willingly make such sacrifices. Over 120 of those soldiers didn't come home from Iraq in the past month and all Americans should be grateful that there are those among us that are willing to take up arms to defend freedom knowing that they may never return to their families again.

Unfortunately, for the thousands of U. S. soldiers that serve honorably and courageously, there are a handful like those that participated in the torture and humiliation of Iraqi prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad.

No one ever said that everyone that enlists in the military qualifies as the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree, but while these "soldiers" (who are not worthy of that title) may have thought they were committing nothing more than harmless pranks, the damage they have done to the image of the United States and of our military is incalculable.

The "man on the street" in Iraq is already distrustful of America and of our military presence in the region. The fact that Arab news channels Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya broadcast the images of the acts undermines much of the goodwill that the American military has established with Iraqi citizens and simply serves to provide fodder for the Arab propaganda machines.

If that wasn't enough, there is now even less reason to believe that the next time an American or other coalition soldier or civilian falls into enemy hands in Iraq, that their captors will refrain from similar acts of torture and humiliation. I seriously doubt those soldiers at the Abu Ghraid prison ever considered that their actions may cost the life of another American soldier at some point, but that is exactly what may happen.

Of course it is very difficult to be away from home for long periods of time, to live in difficult conditions with the constant threat of violence and to deal with what are undoubtedly uncooperative prisoners on a daily basis, but these pressures are absolutely no excuse for the conduct of these soldiers. They have shown a callous disrespect for not only the prisoners they were guarding, but for the uniform of the United States Army, for the ideals of the American soldier and for themselves.

While the family of Pat Tillman will remember his selfless sacrifice with a sense of deep admiration and pride in years to come, one can only hope that these soldiers, after their
punishment is concluded and they are back in their comfortable homes, realize just how different they were from Pat Tillman. A uniform alone does not a soldier make.

Jan A. Larson publishes a weekly commentary, "What is the Deal?" at the Pie of Knowledge. His work also appears from time to time on NewsBull, OpinionEditorials, the Washington Dispatch and American Daily.

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