It's not blame. It's not surrender.

[The Witch]

I just posted the following to The Last Midnight. Here it is for (dee-)you. ;)

--

The madness over Haditha has got me thinking. Always a bad idea, I know.

But all joking aside, the Haditha story has caused something of a split even among my lefty buddies. There are two camps: the "No, we don't excuse murder, blame it on the murderers" camp, and the "It's the higher-ups' fault for getting them into such an awful situation that they snapped" camp. In a sort of sad way, this echoes a lot of the right/left split on the issues of our day. People who blast Bush's response to Katrina are blaming Bush for a hurricane. And redeploying is the same as surrendering to the terrorists. And suggesting that the US's foreign policy has caused a bad situation is the same as blaming the US for terrorism. And saying that the US should adjust its policy in the Middle East is the same as giving in to Osama bin Laden's demands. Which is unacceptable not because of the demands, but because they come from Osama bin Laden.

Imagine you are a nursery school teacher and you have left your blackboard pointer on a desk within easy reach. One of your students gets hold of it and pokes another child, making him cry and disrupting the whole class. Do you punish that child, or do you put the pointer on a high shelf, where the children can't get to it?

You wouldn't have to choose one or the other. You'd do both, right?

You hold the malefactor accountable for his actions, but you also adjust the situation so the problem is less likely to happen again.

What if the child is particularly precocious, and the next day says to you, "Ah HA! You put the pointer on a high shelf, which means that you give in. If I can reach it, it's OK for me to poke people with, is that what you're saying?"

Have you really given in? What would you say to that child?

Why can't we hold people accountable for their actions, and at the same time create conditions where they are less likely to do them? When someone has done something wrong, do we never change our own behavior in response? What about when the problem behavior is increasing?

What kind of children would we raise if we refused to change our parenting tactics in the face of an obstinate problem? What kind of drivers would we be if we plowed ahead to spite the drunk driver weaving in front of us?

It's not about surrendering or not surrendering. It's about moving forward. You can do that and still place the blame where it belongs. We do it every day.

[bloom]

1. I agree that all concerned should be accountable.

The people who made the decision to have the people there to begin with - and the people who commit despicable acts.

[mike_c]

3. would you agree that the invasion and occupation of Iraq is itself...

...a "despicable act?" That it's a war of aggression, and therefore a crime against humanity under both U.S. and international law? Do soldiers and marines have to commit attrocities to be guilty of despicable acts, or is the war itself despicable enough? What of the deaths of over 100,000 innocent civilians because of U.S. military operations in Iraq, whether intentional or not? Are not those deaths equally despicable and unnecessary?

[bloom]

4. I thought that was pretty clear

from what I wrote, "I agree that all concerned should be accountable....The people who made the decision to have the people there to begin with..."


But if if wasn't - then yes - I'm saying the war itself is a despicable act and the entire thing is an atrocity including all of those who have died. I expect it's up to 200,000 minimum and probably more.


And furthermore - as sad as it is for whatever Americans are over there - they could have refused to take part (even if it was at risk to their career) - the Iraqis have no such choice in the matter.

[mike_c]

5. understood-- I thought perhaps you meant to limit culpability...

...to only those responsible for the worst atrocities.

Peace.

[MadMaddie]

2. This is a good analagy....however, you have made the

assumption that the people in the administration are as responsible and reactive as the teacher.....

Instead of adjusting and getting more troops on the ground so our soldiers arent' serving their 3rd and 4th tour and are at the brink of mental breakdown (this in no way excuses the actions if they are proven guilty), but responsible leadership would have said that's it...we have to bring the draft back our military is suffering....this would move us forward..