Notable Military Scandals in History
Military men and women (excluding revolutionaries and terrorists) should be treated with dignity and respect as they are authorized by the government to defend their country or to attack other countries perceived to be threats. Although there were some in the military who did not uphold to the duty and honor of being a soldier, we must not judge the entire army based on the actions of a few. Here are some notable scandals that involved the military.
Abu Ghraib Torture and Prisoner Abuse
Numerous accounts of Iraqi prison abuse scandals began emerging just a few months following the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, the best known of which took place at the Abu Ghraib prison. The abuse became public knowledge in April 2004 when 60 Minutes II TV news and The New Yorker magazine reported on the story complete with graphic images depicting torture, sodomy, homicide and various forms of humiliation of Iraqi inmates by US military personnel. Subequent criminal investigation led to the removal of seventeen soldiers and officers from duty, a majority of whom, most notably Specialist Charles Graner and his former fiancée Specialist Lynndie England, were found guilty in courts marshall, sentenced to prison and/or dishonorably discharged from the army.
Somalia Affair
In 1993, gruesome photographs of a 16-year-old Somali boy Shidane Arone being beaten to his death shocked the Canadian public and the world in what became known as the Somalia Affair. The crime, which was committed by two Canadian soldiers participating in the United Nations peacekeeping efforts in Somalia, revealed serious problems in discipline and leadership among the ranks of the Canadian Airborne regiment that went beyond the pair involved. The government decision to cut short its inquiry and persistent allegations of cover-up to protect senior officers resulted in the dissolution of the regiment, extensively damaging the morale and international reputation of Canadian Armed Forces.
Dreyfus Affair
The Dreyfus Affair was a scandal that deeply divided French society at the end of the 19th century. It involved a Jewish army officer, Alfred Dreyfus, who in 1894 was convicted of treason for selling military secrets to Germany and sentenced to life imprisonment in Devil’s Island, a penal colony off French Guiana. Four years later, the military courts acquitted French Major Ferdinand Esterhazy despite new evidences proving that he had carried out the crime for which Dreyfus was imprisoned. In a campaign to sway public opinion in Dreyfus’ favor, Emile Zola published an open letter entitled “J’accuse,” accusing the highest levels of the French Army of obstruction of justice and anti-Semitism. The case against Dreyfus collapsed when Esterhazy eventually confessed to falsifying the evidence against him. Dreyfus was pardoned by President of the Republic but it was not until 1906 that he was fully exonerated of all charges and reinstated in the army.
The Holocaust
In his quest for a racially pure nation populated by his idea of blond blue-eyed master race, German leader Adolf Hitler, who took power in 1933 under the National Socialist (Nazi) Party, set about to systematically exterminate the Jewish population, first in Germany and then across Europe. Other groups that who did not fit his vision were also eliminated: the disabled, homosexuals, political opponents, various religious groups, and so called “racial aliens”-Blacks, Gypsies and Slavs. Concentration camps brutally ran by the Schutzstaffel (SS), the Nazi elite paramilitary force, were set up for this very purpose, in what came to be called the Holocaust. By the end of the World War II (1939 – 1945), it was estimated that at least 11 million perished, including 6 million Jews and 2 million Gentile Poles.
My Lai Massacre
My Lai Massacre was a mass murder incident that occurred on March 16, 1968 at the height of Vietnam War (1960 – 1975). On orders, US Army forces executed around 500 unarmed citizens of My Lai and My Khe hamlets in South Vietnam, including women and children, suspecting them to be Viet Cong members or sympathizers. Some victims were raped and tortured, while some bodies were discovered to be badly disfigured. All charges subsequently brought against 26 US soldiers for their crimes at My Lai were dropped except for Lieutenant William Calley who was initially sentenced to life imprisonment but would serve only 4 ½ months in a military prison upon the controversial intervention of President Nixon to have his sentence adjusted. The scandal did much to foment anti-war sentiments that demanded immediate withdrawal of US troops from Vietnam.
Iran-Contra Affair
The Iran-Contra affair was an American political scandal in the 1980s that somehow threatened Ronald Reagan’s presidency. It was revealed in 1986 that the administration entered into illegal negotiations for arms sales to Iran in return for American hostages being held by Islamic groups in Beirut, with profits being channeled to fund anti-Sandinista and Anti-Marxist forces or Contras in Nicaragua. President Reagan and his vice-president George H. W. Bush denied all knowledge of the affair. As a result of the exposé, Reagan fired Oliver North, a Lieutenant Colonel in the US Marines who conjured up the plan, while some members of his staff were forced to resign.
Beslan School Hostage Crisis
On September 1, 2004, a group of about 30 armed, camouflaged and masked multinational terrorists, demanding full withdrawal of Russian troops from Chechnya and recognition of its independence, broke into School Number One (SNO) in the Russian town of Beslan in North Ossetia and took more than 1,200 hostages, including some 800 children, gathering them in the school’s gymnasium, where they mined with wire explosives. On the third day, following the breakdown of negotiations and a series of explosions that set the building ablaze, the Russian security forces, in a contentious move, stormed the facilities with tanks, rockets and heavy weaponry, leading to a chaotic battle with the hostage takers. The siege ended with at least 370 deaths, half were children, and a couple of hundreds reported wounded or missing. The attack was met with condemnation in the strongest possible terms from the international community.
More “Scandals” Articles:
- Scandals in the Corporate World
- Corporate Accounting Scandals
- Political Sex Scandals in History
- Scandals: Five Misbehaving Scientists
- Notable Medical Scandals
US Presidential Trivia series:
Other articles:
- Warrior Women
- Mighty Women
- Man-made Environmental Disasters
- Rocks and Stones with Historical, Cultural and Religious Significance
- Famous Teen Deaths
- Birthday Deaths
- Famous Holocaust Survivors
- Heroes of the Holocaust & Their Stories of Courage 1
- Heroes of the Holocaust & Their Stories of Courage 2
- 10 Bizarre Deaths in History
- 10 (More) Bizarre Deaths in History
- 10 (Ultimate) Bizarre Deaths in History
Liked it
User Comments
Debra.
On January 5, 2009 at 2:35 am
Some people are just plain evil!
Interesting info.
Thanks, Eddie.
Eunice Tan
On January 5, 2009 at 3:48 am
You really made great writing series of history. So many rare informations from your writings.
Unofre Pili
On January 5, 2009 at 6:06 am
As always, an interesting read bro.
Westbrook
On January 5, 2009 at 7:37 am
It is obvious that you do a lot of research in order to write your kind of material. I am aware of all of these cases but it’s interesting to review them.
Morgana
On January 5, 2009 at 9:26 am
I’m so sad about all of these things that humans do .It’s beyond sad I don’t even know the right word to describe how revolting, evil and miserable those actions are.
papaleng
On January 5, 2009 at 11:32 am
Ed, your so kind to refresh us with History lessons. Thanks friend.
Peter Cimino
On January 5, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Another incredible write! Nice job. This stuff is awesome…well written, well thought out and well presented!
Betty Carew
On January 5, 2009 at 4:47 pm
great article but so sad to see how human beings can reduce themselves to animals.
Ruby Hawk
On January 5, 2009 at 5:53 pm
These things are horrible to comtemplate. It is beyond anything I can imagine. You have written well documented atrocities. We should never forget and we should see that our children and grandchildren never forget.
goodselfme
On January 6, 2009 at 1:41 am
So well composed with great research.
nobert soloria bermosa
On January 6, 2009 at 8:49 am
another worth reading post,keep on bro
M J katz
On January 6, 2009 at 8:50 am
I remember the atrocities that came out of Viet Nam, the Oliver North scandal, and such.
I agree with Ruby…we cannot afford to forget!!
Another excellent article, Eddie!!
Inna Tysoe
On January 6, 2009 at 10:45 pm
But also lets not forget:
Hugh C. Thompson Jr., the Army helicopter pilot who helped rescue Vietnamese civilians from U.S. troops at My Lai, dies at 62. He had suffered from cancer. His heroic action on a dark day in U.S. history helped change the rules of military conduct.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5134304
Regards,
Inna
david irvine
On January 7, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Great article, you should write a book on this stuff.
Abdul Sabour Ayoubi
On January 7, 2009 at 8:11 pm
What a great article with facts and figures that gives invaluable information to a reader. Well done for such a nice article. Hopefully we will see more of like these informative articles in the near future.
BC Doan
On January 8, 2009 at 8:05 pm
What terrible acts! It’s saddened me..
Great article, Eddie!
Lisa Clayton Williams
On January 13, 2009 at 8:55 am
Interesting article….looks like a lot of research and time were involved in putting this together.
Joni Keith
On January 13, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Scandals such as these must be exposed. Knowledge is power. You’ve done a remarkable job here. Great article.
Dee Gold
On January 16, 2009 at 8:36 am
interesting!
Jackie118
On January 17, 2009 at 4:27 am
Brilliant article Eddie. It never ceases to amaze me how much pain one person can inflict on another.
mmv abad
On January 17, 2009 at 5:47 am
interesting and very informative!
C Jordan
On January 18, 2009 at 10:58 am
Well written and researched article
JK Kristie
On January 19, 2009 at 3:49 am
What really caught my attention is that Triond allowed you to post all links to your posts. I would like to believe now that there really is favoritism here. lol.
JK Kristie
On January 19, 2009 at 3:53 am
I agree, this is another well written and researched post.
Michelle Murphy
On January 20, 2009 at 11:11 pm
I like that you were very even handed with your reporting. It took no sides. I also appreciate that you did not concentrate on just one country, but showed that all military forces are vulnrable to such behavior. good job.
Michelle
Mark S Stephens
On January 21, 2009 at 5:05 am
Hi Eddie another interesting article will look out for any new ones keep it up.
eddiego65
On January 21, 2009 at 8:41 am
Thanks, everybody for your encouraging comments.
RJ Chamberlain
On January 21, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Another very well researched and written article Eddie. Well done. RJ
Siti Zaida Mikaila aka SZM
On January 26, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Are you supporting the closing of Guantanamo’s prison?
Come on see Cyberneverty’s articles for instance in:
http://www.bukisa.com/r/cyberneverty
via internet HP/ Laptop/Notebook/Internet Shop(Tell your friends, plz!) Your view is precious for us!
OK???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
clay hurtubise
On January 27, 2009 at 1:50 pm
People with power tend to abuse power… that is why we need 2nd. checks.
Good piece.
Thanks,
Clay
Paul The Kirton
On January 27, 2009 at 1:51 pm
I cannot believe, that people can’t just leave each other alone. it’s a disgrace that so many poor innocent people have to subjected to the few who are in one world “sick!” thank , that was a lovely insight into some of the events, i knew very little about
MMV Abad
On February 15, 2009 at 8:32 pm
You are so good at this! Interesting facts to remember!
MMV Abad
On February 15, 2009 at 8:42 pm
PS
I owe you a lot in SU, so I buzzed this one
Sharazad
On February 16, 2009 at 11:44 pm
I love this article, I really learned alot and I am going to bookmark it for future reference.
Sharazad
On February 16, 2009 at 11:45 pm
I love this article, I really learned alot and I am going to bookmark it for future reference.
Post Comment