Military Officer - February 2006 - (Page 16) yourviews MILIT ARY DECEMBER 2005 $4 THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF MOAA | ONE POWERFUL VOICE W W W. M O A A . O R G OFFICER True Grit “Our country, and by extension, our military, acts based upon our own moral compass.” — Maj. Jeff Anthony, USAR-Ret. degree to which political expediency and external forces have been allowed to cloud our judgment. We are so much better than that. Maj. Jeff Anthony, USAR-Ret. Yorktown, Va. USMC Commandant Gen. Two-line main cover summary Michael W. Hagee upholds can go here with folio 46 Corps values 46 SECONDARY STORY HED GENEVA CONVENTIONS Two-line secondary story Should they apply in XX summary goes here the war on terrorism? 66 SECONDARY STORY HED NO DIET COLA Two-line secondary story Inflation goes here XX summaryjump means 4.1% retired pay hike as of December 1 25 Dec_cover_C1.indd Sec2:1 Geneva Conventions The reported “rampant confusion” among our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan regarding the applicability of the Geneva Conventions doesn’t surprise me given the two viewpoints expressed by the writers in [“Accountable to the Code,” December 2005]. Perhaps our young men and women, who see their buddies blown to bits daily, are having difficulty finding the weight of their ballot on the scales of justice as expressed in the two viewpoints. Justice in their eyes, regarding their sacrifices versus the creature comforts we give to their captured enemies, is a hell of a lot more important than any pat on the back we may get from the rest of this world — which we are unlikely to receive in any event. This is a classic example of “left” and “right” political philosophies and how they impact on defense policies. I cannot agree with Rear Adm. 16 MILITARY OFFICER FEBRUARY 2006 John D. Hutson, USNRet., that the question of Geneva applicability is so important that our decision should rest on discussions in coffee shops and in schools around the country. On the other hand, after reading all of the “truisms” outlined by Brig. Gen. Thomas Hemingway, USAF, I am convinced that we have already given up too much to satisfy world opinion and the good will of some of our socalled “allies.” 11/1/05 2:21:03 PM I grow very weary of hearing the ACLU, Amnesty International, and others complaining of our handling of the detainees. The Geneva Convention states it is an agreement between high signing authorities. Neither the Taliban nor al-Qaida ever signed the convention, therefore it does not apply to their murderous terrorists. I might ask, “When will those agencies ever complain about the kidnapped innocents who have been tortured and beheaded?” Lt. Col. Jim Kelly, USAF-Ret. via e-mail Note of Appreciation “True Grit” and “Return Flight” [December 2005] were endearing, uplifting, optimistic, and so needed in this period of recriminations about the effects of the ongoing war — especially on our young military. Margaraeat Roberts Drucker via e-mail Lt. Col. Donald E. Sawyer, USA-Ret. Tampa, Fla. Thanks to Brigadier General Hemingway for his literary equivalent of torture. His is the very same twisted logic used by our current administration to “make the case” for everything that common sense and basic human decency argue against. Our country, and by extension, our military, acts based upon our own moral compass, not some circumstance, geography, or the behavior of others. “Must the United States comply with the Geneva Convention?” Sadly, that the question was even raised says much about the Misrepresenting the USO I am not prudish, but couldn’t you find a better representative picture of the USO than a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader [“USO for the Holidays,” “Rapid Fire,” December 2005]? That organization is too great to have this as its only symbol. Col. Robert L. Vidrick, USA-Ret. via e-mail PTSD Dissent In [“House Slams PTSD Review,” “Washington Scene,” December 2005], MOAA “couldn’t agree more” http://WWW.MOAA.ORG
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