Also, I would like to remind SG that soldiers are apolitical. The army however is a tool of current policy and politics. The army assumes the political objectives of the commander-in-chief and the nation's safety. Do not confuse soldiers for politicans. A soldier serves his/her country: whether it is his/her primary objective to protect this country or to receive one of the many benefits provided by the service...the soldiers serves just the same.
The following is a current Army publication...The army is not unaware of both the public's and soldiers' concerns about unintentional casualties of war. Please go to the DOD website the number of soldier who die at checkpoints or IEDs is staggering. Usually look around 'holy months" the incidents hit the hardest then.
FM 7-21.13 The Soldier's Guide p 1-29 and 1-31
EthicalDilemma--The Checkpoint
Two days after a suicide car-bombing killed four soldiers at a checkpoint, another unit is operating a similar checkpoint some distance away. The unit was recently involved in offensive operations. Unit training has emphasized the importance of helping the citizens return to a "normal" lifestyle. Nontheless, the events of the previous day demonstrate that the enemy is still active, and will use civilian vehicles loaded with explosives to kill themselves in an attempt to also kill US soldiers.
At this time, soldiers at the checkpoint notice a large civilian passenger vehicle approaching at a high rate of speed.
In between that and the next block is the Army's ethical reasoning proces. If you would like that, i will email it too you.
p 1-31
Ethical Dilemma--The Checkpoint (continued)
The commander ordered the platoon manning the checkpoint to fire a warning shot at the vehicle to signal the occupants to stop the vehicle. When the vehicle continued to approach, he ordered the platoon to fire into the vehicle's radiator. When he saw nothing happening he ordered the platoon to stop the vehicle, immediately followed by a number of loud reports from the 25 mm guns of the Bradley Fighting Vehicles of the platoon.
The commander ordered the platoon to cease firing. In the now destroyed vehicle were a numberof civilians, many killed or wounded by the fire of the Bradleys. The vehicle contained no explosives or weapons.
Also, I would like to remind SG that soldiers are apolitical. The army however is a tool of current policy and politics. The army assumes the political objectives of the commander-in-chief and the nation's safety. Do not confuse soldiers for politicans. A soldier serves his/her country: whether it is his/her primary objective to protect this country or to receive one of the many benefits provided by the service...the soldiers serves just the same.
Well stated. I think that (as a country) our citizens have matured a bit in their understanding of this concept. Although there is still plenty of anti-military sentiment which I find horribly misguided.
Regarding the checkpoint, I actually see some blame to spread around. I can COMPLETELY empathize with the soldiers and their situation, but it seems to me that the official policy on these "check points" should have included some manner of more clearly communicating the intention to folks. Especially considering literacy rates, language differences, etc.