This article in the Atlantic brings up a very interesting point--and a conclusion that may not sit well with readers, both military and civilian alike.
The Army has a Warrior Ethos that says, "I will never leave a fallen comrade."
I can understand why we don't negotiate with enemies to barter prisoners back and forth. If you get into that game, where does it end? I mean, the Israelis traded over 1000 prisoners for their one guy, Shalit. What will it cost next time, 2000 prisoners? The Israelis better get busy and start rounding some people up.
But even if we don't negotiate, how do we balance that against our ethos?
The article says the reason we don't press for an immediate release of our own prisoners is because, as a nation, the military is out of sight and out of mind due to the nature of an all-volunteer force and the proximity of military installations to major urban centers. The American public just doesn't relate with us in uniform on a day-to-day basis, so it's easy to ignore the fact that we have Soldiers currently in captivity with seemingly nothing being done to retrieve them.
Yet, the nation was fully aware and supportive of the three wayward hikers who were captured by the Iranians after drifting off course into Iranian territory. They received regular coverage on the news, which ultimately pressures our elected officials to action.
As Soldiers, we should not lose faith with our comrades in captivity, and hold fast to our ethos that says they will not be forgotten and never left behind. Regardless of why or how they were captured, we must show our true character and push for their release. Hopefully our citizenry will join us in that effort.
Today, pray for the safety and quick return of both Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl and Staff Sgt. Ahmed Altaie.
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