Dereliction of Duty

Duty is a two-way street. America's citizens have a duty to support our troops in times of war and our troops as our emissaries worldwide have a duty to represent our nation in a way befitting its values and people.

That's not what happened in a prison outside of Baghdad. No matter how you slice it -- maybe justified or not -- those troops who subjected captured Iraqi's to simulated and real acts of sex abuse are derelict of the special duty and honor bestowed upon them as defenders of our Constitution. Those engaged in such acts must be punished swiftly and completely, with penalties being severe. By not doing so, the United States will suffer a severe credibility gap as we continue to push for democratic self-government in Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East.