2008 Woodie Awards
Point-Counterpoint
In the use of the Human Terrain System (HTS) in Iraq and Afghanistan unethical?
Jake Cox
Issue date: 4/16/08 Section: Opinion
It's all about the money
The Bush administration implemented the Human Terrain System (HTS) program in late 2007 within the U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The $40 million program employs anthropologists through BAE Systems, a government-contracted private corporation. The anthropologists are then embedded within U.S. military forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and are allowed to carry weapons while traveling with the troops and advising commanders on taking culturally appropriate actions.
After considering that the HTS is operated through a government-contracted corporation, I have to conclude that the HTS is about money, not ensuring that culturally appropriate actions are taken in the military. This program funnels $40 million annually through BAE Systems, which is the third largest global defense company in the world. BAE Systems, through the contributions of their employees, affiliates, and CEO Walt Havenstein, was one of the largest financial contributors to President Bush's campaign in 2000 and 2004. BAE Systems has also made large financial contributions to the ongoing presidential campaign of John McCain. I find it no coincidence that the Republicans wish to prolong our military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan while programs like the HTS shovel millions of dollars into the pockets of their business partners.
Anthropologists are taught a certain set of ethical criteria, which include ensuring that research subjects, who in terms of the HTS would be potential insurgents, give consent to participating in research. Because potential insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan are unaware that they are being studied by the HTS anthropologists, this program violates the ethical standards which define the field of anthropology. The American Anthropological Association has taken a stand and called for all anthropologists to take an oath promising not to participate in any military operations that involve counterinsurgency in a corrupt war and violate anthropological ethical standards.
If the Bush administration really wants to incorporate anthropological knowledge into these military operations, the constitutional approach would be to recruit anthropologists to endure basic training just like every other soldier. President Bush is continuing to trash the Constitution by bribing young anthropologists into violating their ethical standards in order to pad the checkbooks of his closest business partners and this is despicable.
The Bush administration implemented the Human Terrain System (HTS) program in late 2007 within the U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The $40 million program employs anthropologists through BAE Systems, a government-contracted private corporation. The anthropologists are then embedded within U.S. military forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and are allowed to carry weapons while traveling with the troops and advising commanders on taking culturally appropriate actions.
After considering that the HTS is operated through a government-contracted corporation, I have to conclude that the HTS is about money, not ensuring that culturally appropriate actions are taken in the military. This program funnels $40 million annually through BAE Systems, which is the third largest global defense company in the world. BAE Systems, through the contributions of their employees, affiliates, and CEO Walt Havenstein, was one of the largest financial contributors to President Bush's campaign in 2000 and 2004. BAE Systems has also made large financial contributions to the ongoing presidential campaign of John McCain. I find it no coincidence that the Republicans wish to prolong our military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan while programs like the HTS shovel millions of dollars into the pockets of their business partners.
Anthropologists are taught a certain set of ethical criteria, which include ensuring that research subjects, who in terms of the HTS would be potential insurgents, give consent to participating in research. Because potential insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan are unaware that they are being studied by the HTS anthropologists, this program violates the ethical standards which define the field of anthropology. The American Anthropological Association has taken a stand and called for all anthropologists to take an oath promising not to participate in any military operations that involve counterinsurgency in a corrupt war and violate anthropological ethical standards.
If the Bush administration really wants to incorporate anthropological knowledge into these military operations, the constitutional approach would be to recruit anthropologists to endure basic training just like every other soldier. President Bush is continuing to trash the Constitution by bribing young anthropologists into violating their ethical standards in order to pad the checkbooks of his closest business partners and this is despicable.
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