Over the past 10 years, our government has used national security concerns to justify a series of transgressions of civil liberties.
Wiretaps, warrantless searches and even torture have all been justified by our leaders, so long as they were carried out on targets that put the national security at risk.
Against these faceless enemies, it was easy enough to wave our hands and plug our ears, but the Pentagon has decided that the newest threat to our precious security is someone who, by all rights, should be a national hero.
Mark Owen, the pseudonym of the ex-Navy SEAL who wrote a book about the raid on Osama bin Laden’s hideout, was told that he violated secrecy agreements, and that the Pentagon will pursue “all remedies legally available” in his prosecution, according to Defense Department General Counsel Jeh Charles Johnson.
What ever happened to supporting the troops?
The mantra “Support Our Troops” has been heard in political speeches and brandished on bumper stickers for so long it has become little more than a slogan signifying a proper patriotic attitude.
Saying you “support the troops” is now just another catchphrase that can mean you support the Bush administration, a certain political party or the United States’ general policy of military intervention.
But too often we forget the human faces behind the buzzword, and it’s in these cases that the words of support ring hollow.
After his military retirement, what would Owen have to look forward to? A fat pension, to be sure, some medals to hang on his dress uniform and war stories to tell his grandchildren.
But, if the Pentagon had its way, he’d never get the recognition he deserves as a man who took part in one of our nation’s most significant single military operations.
For too long, the Pentagon has followed this fence-riding party line, paying lip service to the troops while consistently ignoring their best interests.
Support the troops, but don’t recognize them. Buy a yellow ribbon, but not body armor or ammunition.
This Machiavellian attitude of politicians and military higher-ups undermines the interests of soldiers, and has been steadily growing since the attacks on 9/11 — fittingly, the date Owen’s book is to be published.
Of course, Sept. 11 is a day that brings patriotic stirrings to the hearts of every American. It reminds us of our tragic losses and the brave sacrifices of thousands of men and women.
But 9/11 was also a turning point. It marked the beginning of a new age in the American character, an age of fear and unchecked military power.
Before we had a concrete threat of terrorism from which to cower, the American people would never submit to strip searches at the airport or monitoring citizens based on religious and ethnic profiling.
We certainly would never accept a military threat to freedom of the press.
Sure, government has always been stereotypically bureaucratic and gummed up with red tape. But there was a time, before 9/11, when we weren’t content to stick our fingers in our ears and actually wanted to know what was going on.
With the wars in the Middle East scaling back and preparations being made to bring troops home, it’s time to turn off our wartime tunnel vision. That means demanding more transparency in government and especially in the military.
National security is no longer at risk. There are no more justifications for infringing on civil liberties, and it’s safe to let one of our bravest soldiers reap the benefits of his work.