2008 Woodie Awards
Point-Counterpoint
Is the use of the Human Terrain System (HTS) in Iraq and Afghanistan unethical?
Anna Schmidt
Issue date: 4/16/08 Section: Opinion
Military needs cultural awareness
The Human Terrain System (HTS) used by the United States Military is a group of anthropology, language and intelligence experts who attempt to use their knowledge to better conduct military operations overseas. The HTS is currently being used in Afghanistan and Iraq, but has recently come under a great deal of scrutiny. I will admit that coming into this week's topic, I had no idea about the HTS. But after doing some research, I believe that this system is doing a great deal more of good than it is getting credit for.
The HTS is a more strategic and intelligent way about dealing with military operations. First off, I do not support the war, but we are in one anyway, thus I want it conducted in the most intelligent way possible. HTS is a program that allows the United States Military to better understand the foreign cultures and societies we are conducting military operations in. The Middle Eastern cultures, traditions, people and societal values differ greatly from that in the United States; thus, how we go about conducting military operations needs to be pliable.
Major General Benjamin C. Freakley describes the benefit of HTS quite eloquently by stating, "Cultural awareness will not necessarily always enable us to predict what the enemy and non-combatants will do, but it will help us better understand what motivates them, what is important to the host nation in which we serve, and how we can either elicit the support of the population or at least diminish their support or aid to the enemy."
Although I do not see Iraq, and especially the Iraqi people, as our enemy, I do believe that if we are to be involved with their society we need to know and understand it. Our military needs to be one of the least ignorant parts of our government. Knowledge is power and hopefully can bring about peace. I hope to see our troops come home soon, but while they are still overseas I will support the HTS program for conducting military operations.
The Human Terrain System (HTS) used by the United States Military is a group of anthropology, language and intelligence experts who attempt to use their knowledge to better conduct military operations overseas. The HTS is currently being used in Afghanistan and Iraq, but has recently come under a great deal of scrutiny. I will admit that coming into this week's topic, I had no idea about the HTS. But after doing some research, I believe that this system is doing a great deal more of good than it is getting credit for.
The HTS is a more strategic and intelligent way about dealing with military operations. First off, I do not support the war, but we are in one anyway, thus I want it conducted in the most intelligent way possible. HTS is a program that allows the United States Military to better understand the foreign cultures and societies we are conducting military operations in. The Middle Eastern cultures, traditions, people and societal values differ greatly from that in the United States; thus, how we go about conducting military operations needs to be pliable.
Major General Benjamin C. Freakley describes the benefit of HTS quite eloquently by stating, "Cultural awareness will not necessarily always enable us to predict what the enemy and non-combatants will do, but it will help us better understand what motivates them, what is important to the host nation in which we serve, and how we can either elicit the support of the population or at least diminish their support or aid to the enemy."
Although I do not see Iraq, and especially the Iraqi people, as our enemy, I do believe that if we are to be involved with their society we need to know and understand it. Our military needs to be one of the least ignorant parts of our government. Knowledge is power and hopefully can bring about peace. I hope to see our troops come home soon, but while they are still overseas I will support the HTS program for conducting military operations.
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