There are some issues in society that cannot be overlooked. When there is wrongdoing or harm to a person, it becomes a natural duty to seek and implement justice. Steven D. Green, a former Army private from the 101st Airborne Division, was formally charged after being arrested Friday with the alleged rape and murder of a young Iraqi girl and the murder of her family.
Initially, little detail was given about Green's dismissal from the Army. In fact, according to a federal court affidavit, Green had been given an honorable discharge for a "personality disorder."
Later, however, the U.S. Justice Department issued a statement saying Green was part of an ongoing investigation into the 15-year-old girl's murder. According to FBI reports, on March 12 Green and another soldier raped the girl, then killed her and three of her family members, and then threw the murder weapon into a channel.
Rape and murder are serious crimes that need to be addressed. The U.S. Justice Department's handling of Green's case is an acknowledgment of this and an attempt to establish the precedent that inhumane crimes will not be tolerated whether or not they occur during a state of war.
In the sometimes unstable atmosphere of war, a person's perception of moral right and wrong can be skewed.
But this does not make Green's act of rape acceptable. Unlike learning how to shoot a gun, rape is not part of learning to be a soldier. It is not a necessary part of war and has nothing positive to contribute to a war's outcome.
With the cultural stigma associated with rape victims, one must wonder how many more cases of rape in Iraq have gone unreported. Without the U.S. Justice Department to wave a flag when something like this happens, who will be there to protect these civilians?
Although Green, if found guilty, could face a life sentence for the rape and possibly the death penalty for the charges of murder, four other members of the 502nd Infantry Division might have also participated in the crime. These four people are being held in Iraq.
The U.S. Justice Department may be acknowledging Green's possible participation in this heinous crime, but it needs to look further into the cases of these other soldiers to ensure justice is served.
