Values Education Needed?

There is no doubt, especially given the current political climate, that the alleged killing of civilians by U.S. Marines at the Iraqi town of Haditha and the subsequent investigations into that incident will harm both the military operations in Iraq and America's image throughout the world. Yesterday, Army Gen. George W. Casey Jr., the top U.S. commander in Iraq, ordered that troops receive new training in "core values" which will highlight "the importance of adhering to legal, moral and ethical standards on the battlefield". The real question is whether this training will have any positive effect. My guess is that the impact of this initiative will be limited. From my own military experience, I can testify that it is exceedingly difficult to try to instill moral behaviors in young people who their entire lives have been taught that morality is relative. I wish Gen Casey the best of luck. I think his efforts are of a pure heart, but if the first slide of his new presentation doesn't start with "Right and Wrong do exist, and are not relative", his task will be a long uphill battle.