Retired Marine Lt. Col.: Urinating On Taliban ‘Mindless’ Act Endangering Lives

Posted Jan 14, 2012 by Howard Altman

Updated Jan 14, 2012 at 09:57 PM

After the video of four Marine snipers apparently urinating on dead Taliban became an international YouTube phenomenon, I asked a retired Marine I know for his reaction.

In a word?

Mindless.

Here’s what Lt. Col. Steven Emerson (ret) has to say:

The irony of this incident is that it takes a good outcome-3 dead Taliban and turns it into an action that strengthens the enemy. 

The Marines involved with the video will be punished.  They should be, along with leaders in their chain of command.  Even without knowing the context of the engagement, what was done is not acceptable.  It was a breakdown in discipline and judgment. 

What happens next is predictable and unfortunate.  Much like Capt Renault in the movie Casablanca (who was shocked to find gambling going on when handed his winnings), politicians will react with predictable righteousness and vengeance .  They talk too much, too often and most with out personal experience that is comparable to Marines in combat. 

What they should do prior to drawing their next breath in the press conference is to point out this incident is an anomaly, that we are saints compared to our enemies.  They could mention our restrictive rules of engagement polices that put our troops at risk, they could mention that our targeting is approved by lawyers in high level strikes.  They could point out the desecration of some of our dead in Iraq (which I have personal knowledge of) and presumably in Afghanistan.  Not as an attempt to justify the actions of the young marines, but to reinforce with our on citizenry that we remain the good guys. 

One of the by-products of an all volunteer force, is an isolation of the warriors within our society.  During WWII 15 percent of our citizenry were in uniform.  Today, less than ½ of 1 percent serves.  While our young warriors make repeated 7 or 12 month combat deployments, our society rewards them with an extra $7.50 a day.  In stark contrast other youths of this great nation “occupy” parks and whine that the debt they accrued while attaining their degree should be borne by the taxpayer.  These two groups don’t know each other.

I would judge the Marines involved harshly.  Not so much for urinating on some dead Taliban that moments before they were undoubtedly trying to kill them, but for lack of judgment, lack of discipline and for giving the enemy an advantage, so mindlessly. 

Steve Emerson
LtCol, USMC (Ret)