Replies

Ok folks, I did a little research on the subject of maiming an enemy combatant.

From the Geneva Convention of which we are a signatory, Article 3, 1, a
___________________________________________________
In the case of armed conflict not of an international character occurring in the territory of one of the High Contracting Parties, each Party to the conflict shall be bound to apply, as a minimum, the following provisions:

(1) Persons taking no active part in the hostilities, including members of armed forces who have laid down their arms and those placed hors de combat by sickness, wounds, detention, or any other cause, shall in all circumstances be treated humanely, without any adverse distinction founded on race, colour, religion or faith, sex, birth or wealth, or any other similar criteria. To this end the following acts are and shall remain prohibited at any time and in any place whatsoever with respect to the above-mentioned persons:

(a) violence to life and person, in particular murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture;
________________________________________________________

From article 124 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice

924. ART. 124. MAIMING
Any person subject to this chapter who, with intent to injure, disfigure, or disable, inflicts upon the person of another an injury which--
(1) seriously disfigures his person by a mutilation thereof;
(2) destroys or disables any member or organ of his body; or
(3) seriously diminishes his physical vigor by the injury of any member or organ;
is guilty of maiming and shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.
_________________________________________________________

Now lets look at the moral case. We as the most powerful country in the world are obliged to treat enemy dead respectfully if only to show that we as a society have greater respect for human life than our advesaries. Clearly this is the case with Al Queda.

Put yourself in the place of a combatant, on either side. Most that do the real killing are between 15-25 years old. As a combatant, do you want someone to deface or maim your body if you are killed in action? Of course not, and neither should we do the same to their bodies. Most kids this age have not really figured out all the answers to life (lol, I'm 44 and I'm still short a few answers) and are usually terrified in battle. They look to their leaders for example. If the leadership fails to stop this kind of trophy taking, you open the door to massacres down the road.

Finally, think about these kids 50 years later, at 70 years old, reflecting back on their time during the big war. Maiming an enemy combatant is not something they will be proud of then and will have to account of their actions before God.

For the sake of all, them and us, its best to be respectful to enemy dead. We have immense technological advantage, better training, leadership and weapons. We can afford to be magnanimous to our enemies, without risking our lives.