Our Soldiers Are Not Criminals

Do you remember when the UN wanted us to put our soldiers under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, and President Bush said no? We were ridiculed around the world for holding a double standard. But Bush argued that small nations, unable to defeat the US by any other means, would hold us down by attempting to prosecuted our soldiers for all sorts of fictious charges. I, for one, believed him.

It looks like I was right.

The Lone Voice had a blog entry yesterday covering a story that somehow didn't get much press coverage from our leftist media. A Spanish judge has issued an arrest warrant for three US soldiers who accidentally killed a Spanish journalist and a Ukrainian cameraman. Let's review the facts of the case:

1. Both of the casualties had intentionally entered a war zone for the purpose of recording a war. They were aware of the dangers they were subjecting themselves to.
2. The three soldiers were part of a tank crew that fired into a building, from which they were receiving fire. Under US Rules of Engagement, which are based on the International Law of Warfare, a soldier always has the right to self-defense, and may return fire in order to save himself.
3. The three soldiers were subjected to a review at the highest level, with the US Secretary of State declaring that the soldiers' actions were in accordance with law.

Should Spain, which fled Iraq after terrorists detonated bombs on its public transportation system, really have the right to review our soldiers' actions on the battlefield? I think not. Even if the soldiers had done something wrong, which they hadn't, they were acting as agents of the United States Government. Spain should seek redress from the government, who would in turn take action against the soldiers should there have been wrongdoing.

This attempt by the weaker nations to undermine the actions of the United States by attacking our soldiers is wrong, and displays exactly why Bush was right to refuse it. America will not hand our national heroes over to Spain.

While you're visiting The Lone Voice, please also read this post about the "rising death toll" in Iraq. Soon we will crest the 2,000 dead mark, and the media is sure to leap on it as a sign of failure in Iraq. The fact that only 2,000 Americans have died means this has been one of the least costly wars in American history. Food for thought.

Labels: heroes, iraq, UN

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