Responsibility in Wartime

Americans should stop waving the flag long enough to feel outraged by the criminal and depraved acts committed against Iraqi prisoners under the color of U.S. military authority. If these atrocities had been conducted against Americans, bombs would be dropping.

Some of the perpetrators offer excuses -- remarkable in their collective weakness -- for such uncivilized behavior: lack of training, rules and guidance in a stressful, understaffed environment. This takes what has become a societal norm of refusing to accept personal responsibility to a new low. How about right and wrong and human decency?

And what a standard the commander of the Army Reserve’s 800th Military Police Brigade, Brig. Gen. Janis Karpinski, sets. Speaking on CNN on May 4, she said she didn’t feel she should share any personal blame, even though the Abu Ghraib prison was under her command. Of course, denial is a great stress reducer. It is a state of mind adopted by those who don’t want to face reality.

M.M. Shultz

San Clemente

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The images of naked Iraqi prisoners of war in sexually compromising, humiliating poses pales in comparison with the mutilated, burned bodies of Americans hanging from a bridge in Fallouja a month ago.

There is no excuse for either side to inflict any form of abuse on its enemy. However, something tells me the Iraqi abusers are hailed as heroes, while ours await court-martial.

Neil Proffitt

Redondo Beach

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I want the harshest punishment for all involved in the abuse of Iraq prisoners. Don’t those soldiers understand what damage they have done to our country, as well as those poor men? Sheesh, as if it wasn’t messed up enough already....

Tom Graner

Hermosa Beach

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The purpose of military training is to detach the soldier from personal responsibility and teach him or her that the highest calling is to obey orders. We then rid their minds of any notion that killing is evil. In fact, we train them to kill. We put lethal weapons in their hands and send them to hostile places in order to kill. Torture, historically common among armies, is only killing writ small.

What needs to be held ultimately responsible is the idea that war will win the hearts and minds of others. Until the human family finds a better way to resolve serious issues, the torture of enemies should come as no surprise.

Charles H. Bayer

Claremont

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The reports and images from the Abu Ghraib detention facility serve to confirm my belief that war brutalizes and dehumanizes both victor and vanquished.

Catherine Minhoto

North Hollywood

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Given the recent abhorrent actions by our “volunteer” military against Iraqi prisoners, it is obvious to me, as a former U.S. Navy medical officer, that the quality of volunteers is severely lacking. We must return to a draft to allow all Americans, male and female, to serve honorably -- to prevent these atrocious acts against humanity from ever occurring again.

Craig M. Uhl MD

Los Angeles

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The stories of prisoner abuse seem to surprise and shock Americans. Not enough of us have read Shakespeare: “Cry ‘Havoc!’ and let slip the dogs of war.” And not enough of us have fought in a war. Those of us who have done both are not surprised or shocked. War is, and has always been, the most profoundly inhumane of all of man’s follies.

Joseph C. Cavella

Malibu

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As a world traveler who has had the privilege of visiting all seven continents, I have always been proud to be recognized as an American. In September 1942 I was with the first group of young women who enlisted as WAVES in the U.S. Navy. I served until I was honorably discharged in February 1946. For all the ensuing years I have been happy to be included among U.S. veterans. Until now.

I can’t help but wonder how all the decent young men and women serving in the armed forces in Iraq now must feel. Their reputations have been sullied by the behavior of those American military thugs who have mistreated Iraqi prisoners and the folks at home who have condoned such evil behavior. It is my hope that all the guilty ones will be ferreted out and severely punished. Perhaps then the rest of us can again be proud.

Blanche Speer Wentworth

Encino