I can attest that during my military deployments to Iraq, adhering to the laws of war and rules of engagement were imperative for my soldiers and everyone I worked for, while often accepting the great personal risk of harm to ourselves. This was the standard, without compromise and what the U.S. Army demanded of us. It is depressing to acknowledge, but perhaps we were the ones out of touch with the American way of war.

General George C. Marshall said, “Once an army is involved in war, there is a beast in every fighting man which begins tugging at its chains. And a good officer must learn early on how to keep the beast under control, both in his men and himself.” All Americans should heed Marshall’s advice. 

We need to better inform the public that these types of service members aren’t “the good guys,” and that the U.S. military, the most powerful on the planet, can simultaneously fight justly and effectively. This is precisely what distinguishes U.S. troops from the ISIS and Al Qaeda terrorists we battle and ensures that America is on the right side of history. I am concerned that without this emphasis, the civilian-military rift on this central issue will fester and undermine U.S. efforts to promote and protect important American values and interests abroad.

Steven Katz was an active-duty Army officer from 2003-2009. He served two tours of duty to Iraq in ground combat leadership positions: 2004-2005 in Tikrit and 2006-2007 in Ramadi. He earned the Bronze Star and Combat Action Badge during the surge in Anbar province. He holds a Master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government.

Image: Flickr / U.S. Department of Defense