Pentagon Puts Lawyers on Battlefield

NPR ^ | December 15, 2004 | Kristian Foden-Vencil

[Weimdog]

Morning Edition, December 15, 2004 ·

Commanders on the ground in Iraq are forced to weigh the risks of civilian casualties against the need to complete their objective. If they make the wrong decision, they could end-up violating the Geneva Conventions or in front of a military tribunal. To prevent this, the Pentagon has started putting lawyers on the battlefield. Kristian Foden-Vencil of Oregon Public Broadcasting reports.

[Weimdog]

I heard this report on NPR during the drive into work and thought it might elicit some interesting comments here at FR.

You can hear the report at the NPR link.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Pentagon Puts Lawyers on Battlefield

For targe practice, mine detection, or luring out insurgents? Any one of them is fine with me.

[kallisti]

there may be a method to this madness.

[CzarNicky]

I fully support this. The herd needs to be thinned.

[OpusatFR]

It beats trying to pass tort reform here.

[hushpad]

If they make the wrong decision, they could end-up violating the Geneva Conventions <<

I dont understand how we can violate an agreement our enemy has not signed and does not adhere to. Terrorists get treated humanely because we are a humane people.

Get the #%^$ lawyers off the battlefield!

[oldsalt]

This is insanity,do all on the spot decisions have to be approved by these "commissars"?

[Americanwolf]

I understand why the pentagon is doing it, but it does raise my hackles a bit... for the simple fact it smacks of the old soviet habit of putting KGB and Political office in Units and on ships to make sure all soldiers were representing Mother Russia well... (internal spys)

Not saying that this is what the pentagon is doing this for... I know it is a CYA maneuver, but having a presence out on the battlefield like that could make a CO second guess a critical decision....

[MisterRepublican]

PC kills.

[GrandEagle]

This takes Political Correctness to an all new low.

[Americanwolf]

my point exactly.... and you beat me to it too!

[Weimdog]

I believe the commanders were asking the lawyers if certain targets were off-limits or not. It seemed a horrible tying of the military's hands.

By the way, after this short story, NPR followed it with a story about more US military court martials and abuse accusations.

[Gefreiter]

I guy I went to school with is a JAG officer. Did some interesting work in 'ghanistan, primarily rules of engagement work.

He had the authority to cancel airstrikes, for example, if it was determined to be outside the ROE ie, non-combatants amongst target people or structures.

I see their utility in such circumstances, particularly in this day and age when the armed forces are under such public scrutiny.

[A Navy Vet]

The suicide clock ticks on...

[TomGuy]

When wars turn PC....

Just a few days ago a soldier got a court-martial and sentenced to 3 years for shooting a teen caught in a burning vehicle. The soldiers couldn't rescue the teen due to the flames. One soldier shot the teen (who's insides were also ripped open) rather than let him burn to death. For that act of mercy the soldier got a 3-year prison sentence.

Yeh, we need more lawyers on the battlefields. [G_d help the soldiers and Marines as this war turns PC.]

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

This is getting unreal.....

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

This is getting unreal.....

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The System is getting wierd also.....

I posted #17 cause #16 didn't have my comment , but now it does...???

maybe it's my eyes..

[TomGuy]

I've noticed a delay in posting too.

Mods may have been eating bread with honey and got the keyboard sticky.

[Weimdog]

I see their utility as well in the circumstances you mention, but the story discussed operations in Fallujah in particular.

It seems to me that a lawyer will err on the side of "international law", while the military commander would make a decision based on the well being of his troops.

I wonder what kind of reprocussions face one of these lawyers who makes the wrong call and gets our boys killed?