mirwin wrote (in part):
The U.S. has never accepted other countries allegations that our soldiers are terrorists or war criminals.
What about the My Lai Massacre? Wasn't Calley convicted of a war crime, under US law? As a former US soldier, I must say that American servicemen are considered to be responsible for their actions, even (or especially) when under the stress of combat or captivity.
One of the things I admire most about my country, America, is the exaltation of law and principle. All people are required to respect the rights of others, and no one is above the law. Our freedom of press makes evasion of justice exceedingly difficult to hide.
Excuse me if I sound patriotic this month, but the anniversary of 9-11 is coming up...
Ed Poor
"Poor, Edmund W" wrote:
mirwin wrote (in part):
The U.S. has never accepted other countries allegations that our soldiers are terrorists or war criminals.
What about the My Lai Massacre?
IIRC, Calley was court martialed by a U.S. Military Court.
Wasn't Calley convicted of a war crime, under US law?
I do not know the precise articles of the UCMJ which he was charged under and convicted. The thing that really seemed to stand out for me was that his defense that he was following verbal orders was dismissed because no written substantiation could be produced and his superiors denied issuing the orders.
Aircraft napalming villages usually have a substantial paper trial. It is useful in getting the aircraft off the ground. Hence the usefulness of terms such as "collateral damage".
A platoon or battalion commander in the field for a few weeks would seem less likely to be maintaining written records in well organized filing systems.
As a former US soldier, I must say >that American servicemen are considered to be >responsible for their actions, even (or >especially) when under the stress of combat or >captivity.
Responsible to who? Their own chain of command and U.S. public opinion.
How many have been tried by the other side of the conflict? Has the U.S. Government ever acknowledged the validity of these trials?
One of the things I admire most about my country, America, is the exaltation of law and >principle. All people are required to respect the rights of others, and no one is above >the law. Our freedom of press makes evasion of justice exceedingly difficult to hide.
lol Yes, we have an amazingly meticulous "rule of law party" running things now. No t left uncrossed or i undotted when it comes to "warfare" on "terrorism".
It would be my assertion that we do better than most other places on the globe. I have no intention of emmigrating anywhere anytime soon.
I shall certainly scrutinize the charter, contract, organization, etc. of any space settlement effort that I choose to consider joining. No sense in giving away hard won freedoms.
Excuse me if I sound patriotic this month, but the anniversary of 9-11 is coming up...
No problem. Just keep an eye out for scoundrels.
Regards, Mike Irwin
wikipedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org