We need justice

If you read history, particularly the history of war, you will notice that, initially, one of the belligerents is usually caught off guard by the other’s tactics. Advances in technology seem to always alter the strategies of battle. Even as far back as the days of Rome, advances in weaponry such as curved blades, long swords and spears, metal armor, etc. gave impetus to modified formations of men and strategies to take full advantage of the new weapons.

In the opening days of the Revolution, the British used their old tactics of marching abreast at the enemy and they were decimated by the Patriots, who actually took cover behind trees and other objects. Witness the British attack on the Minutemen at Concord and Lexington, where 8 patriots were killed. During their retreat back to Boston, the British lost 73 dead and 174 wounded! The British method was effective when hand to hand combat at close quarters was the norm, and that is also why it was important for them to be able to distinguish friend from foe by wearing the bright red uniforms that made them easy targets in the Revolution.

In WWI, both sides were perplexed by the new technology of motorized warfare and until the United States got involved, the war was in a stalemate with both sides firmly entrenched. After the war, the French said “never again” and they built the Maginot Line. It was a perfect defense against WWI tactics, but a total failure against Hitler in WWII. Again, old tactics, new warfare.

It seems like mankind always learns the lesson too late. Today, we are in that same situation, and we are making the same mistakes. Our war against Islamic extremists is a new type of war with new tactics and strategies but, nevertheless, a war. It has even been called that by our President! Why then, do we treat the captured combatants like ordinary criminals? In any other war, a captured enemy caught behind enemy lines out of uniform was considered a spy and could be summarily executed by military firing squad!

We call it a war, and have been calling it that for years now. When do we apply the rules of war and start treating these people as what they are, enemy soldiers. Trying these people in our civilian courts is a travesty, it is expensive, and it has taken the power away from our military to do its job effectively. What the hell has happened to us that we have come to this? Common sense alone should tell us that something is wrong with this picture. Why are we so accepting when we should be screaming at the top of our lungs for justice? By “justice,” I don’t mean civil trials for military prisoners, I mean “eye for an eye” justice.