On Combat

Navy Seal Marcus Luttrell’s SEAL team was discovered and engaged by a large Taliban force in Kunar Province, January 2005. Luttrell’s team killed 35 Taliban, but all three of Luttrell’s teammates died in the firefight and Luttrell was seriously wounded. As Luttrell hung onto life, a group of Afghans found him, cared for him, and ultimately protected him from Taliban until his rescue.

Laura Blumenfeld of the Washington Post well-describes many human dimensions of modern combat in her account: “The Sole Survivor: A Navy Seal, Injured and Alone, Was Saved By Afghans’ Embrace and Comrades’ Valor” 11 June 2007.

Motivated by the desire to avenge the victims of 911 (“He had kept a magazine photograph of a World Trade Center victim in his pants pocket”), Luttrell’s team faced a classic moral dilemma when they captured non-combatants near an enemy held-village. They discussed whether to kill the civilians to ensure stealth and mission accomplishment, or to release them and risk discovery. Luttrell cast the team’s deciding vote to spare the civilians.

American warriors have faced this situation before—at least two special forces detachments in Desert Storm faced this same choice (both elected to let the civilians go, but later faced tough battles fighting their way out). Luttrell’s decision, and those from previous wars, match the conclusions of countless ethics discussions in officer training courses. Typical discussion points: “American soldiers don’t kill civilians…Americans must fight by the rules…just war mandates ‘discrimination,’ i.e. no targeting of civilians ….We have no alternative but to occupy the moral high ground…we have to do the right thing…” All are great–sounding guidelines in an academic setting, but what was the cost on the ground? Doing the right thing in Afghanistan ultimately cost the lives of three teammates and sixteen members of a rescue force. A staggering cost to consider back in the classroom discussions.

Luttrell did the right thing, which was the only correct choice, but will be haunted by his decision for the rest of his life. His bad “moral luck” thrust him into a problem with all bad alternatives. Our hearts are heavy and must pour out to the families of the warriors lost. We must ultimately affirm Luttrell’s courageous decision.