Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard
The 'fog of war' and perceived clarity of hindsight - a troublesome dilemma for which a 'cure all' remains yet beyond our grasp.
Richard
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All very true. But at the same time, I think an argument could be made for Voltaire's statement that "Dans ce pays-ci, il est bon de tuer de temps en temps un amiral pour encourager les autres"
Now I know Voltaire did not really believe in the statement that he put in one his character's mouth. But I happen to belong to school of thought that believes the execution of Admiral John Byng help the UK found its empire even if it was not technically just.
Bottom line: It is reasonable to demand that charges brought against a private be proved beyond all reasonable doubt. But if you continue to allow commanders off the hook for caution on the grounds that it might have seemed reasonable at the time and at the same time punish commanders for every operation that fails, don't you create a culture of timidity that harms the over all effectiveness of the military?