Wow! eBook
Rules of Engagement? A Social Anatomy of an American War Crime. Operation Iron Triangle, Iraq
Author(s): Stjepan Mestrovic (Author)
- Publisher: Algora Publishing
- Publication Date: August 20, 2008
- Language: English
- Print length: 194 pages
- ISBN-10: 0875866727
- ISBN-13: 9780875866727
Book Description
Rules of Engagement? by Stjepan Mestrovic delivers a searing analysis of Operation Iron Triangle, a chilling episode from May 2006 in Iraq where U.S. soldiers were ordered to kill all Iraqi males of military age. This powerful exposé delves into the broader implications of this war crime, illuminating systemic failures in military leadership, the undermining of the Geneva Conventions, and the manipulation of rules of engagement that have enabled repeated atrocities. Mestrovic connects these events to scandals like Blackwater and Abu Ghraib, exposing the pervasive ethical failures and institutionalized injustice in modern warfare.
The Tragedy of Operation Iron Triangle
At the heart of this book is Operation Iron Triangle, where soldiers followed unlawful orders disguised as rules of engagement, resulting in the brutal deaths of unarmed Iraqis. While the soldiers faced harsh imprisonment, their commanding officer received little more than a reprimand. Mestrovic meticulously reconstructs the operation, revealing how moral and legal principles were ignored, reflecting a deeper malaise within the U.S. military command structure.
The Failure of Leadership and the Geneva Conventions
Mestrovic critiques the superficial commitment of American leadership to the Geneva Conventions and international law. He exposes the hypocrisy of promoting democracy abroad while undermining principles of justice and accountability. Drawing parallels between the Iraq War and the Vietnam War, the author demonstrates how history repeats itself when ethical considerations are sacrificed for political and military expediency.
Blackwater, Abu Ghraib, and the Culture of Impunity
The indiscriminate killings by Blackwater and the torture at Abu Ghraib are examined as part of a broader pattern of misconduct. Mestrovic argues that these were not isolated incidents but the result of a deeply flawed interpretation of the rules of engagement, driven by a culture prioritizing mission objectives over human rights. The book reveals the dangerous implications of such behavior and the erosion of trust in the military as an institution.
Psychological Effects
More than an exposé, Rules of Engagement? is a call to confront uncomfortable truths about America’s military operations abroad. The author explores the moral and psychological toll on soldiers ordered to commit atrocities and the lasting damage to America’s reputation on the global stage. Who sets the tone, and who can hold the officers to account?
Need to Know
This book brings up essential information for American citizens, for students of history and political science, for anyone concerned about military ethics and international law. It is a must-read for policymakers, journalists, human rights advocates, and those seeking to understand the devastating consequences of unchecked military power.
This thought-provoking examination of Operation Iron Triangle and its broader implications leaves readers questioning the ethics of modern military operations and the accountability of those in command. It’s a vital reminder of the importance of justice, human rights, and the rule of law, even in the most challenging circumstances.
Editorial Reviews
Review
In Rules of Engagement, Mestrovic interrogates obfuscations and contradictions in language to reveal the role of command in war crimes. But he also points to deep societal divisions over whether or not such events make Americans feel guilt or shame over such events done in their name — and whether we are capable of feeling them again and preventing war crimes and abuses. –Richard Byrne, Chronicle of Higher Education
Because of his experience with war crime trials at The Hague in 1999 and in three Abu Ghraib courts martial in 2005, Mestrovic (sociology, Texas A&M U.) was asked to provide expert testimony in sociology and psychology for a legal case in which US soldiers were charged, and convicted, of murdering three Iraqis near Samarra in May 2006. On one level, he says, he describes that case, but in fact he is mostly concerned with the rules of engagement (ROE) the soldiers were given, and whether they are related to other ROE and other killings in Iraq. –BOOK NEWS, Inc./Reference & Research Book News
A fascinating study of command and social conditioning in a military setting, this is also an examination of alleged prevarication in the US military. Individuals under pressure to coverup wrongdoing are prone to lying. But the form, style and even content of their untruths derive from group affiliation, military, civilian or otherwise. This illuminating tale of alleged military massacre and attempted cover-up in Iraq offers much to consider for both military and civilian readers.Adam Zagorin — Senior Correspondent,
TIME magazineStjepan Mestrovic’s study of the war crimes committed in Operation Iron Triangle is a
masterful account of one of many such atrocities committed by the United States in its tragically conceived and executed war in Iraq. Mestrovic carefully documents the operation and even provides supplementary evidence of its occurrence in his appendices. He also examines carefully the more general problem of how to conceptualize such state actions, suggesting ways we can move beyond them in the future.Charles B. Strozier is a professor of history and Director of the Center on Terrorism, John Jay College, CUNY
Since 9/11 euphemism and confusion have dominated politics and strategy. But what does this mean in human terms? In this
passionate and compelling book Stjepan Mestrovic looks at Operation Iron Triangle and what happens when Rules of Engagement become a mess. This book brings a hidden yet telling incident from Iraq screaming into the light and shows what the best sociological imagination can do when it confronts its times. Shattering and necessary; this is a book that raises the questions that need to be asked. Read it.Keith Tester, Professor of Sociology, University of Hull, UK
At last, in contrast to the media quagmire of amplification and distortion, we have
a penetrating study of how war crimes are handled. In this superb book, Mestrovic uses forensic skills in dissecting military double-think and exposing how ‘the enemy within’ is stereotyped, victimized and dumped. Essential reading for anyone interested in the half-baked morality of our times. –Chris Rojek, Professor of Sociology & Culture, Brunel University, West London
