Let the Finger Pointing Begin (redux)

As I predicted last week, those close to soldiers in Iraq accused of abusing Iraqi prisoners have begun to aim the blame at those higher up in the food chain. Although the "we were just following orders" defense doesn't work (ask the Nazis), it's worth considering that the low-level MPs may have simply been doing what their superiors wanted. In a not completely ironic bit of timing, Netflix today delivered to my door Breaker Morant, a brilliant Australian film that deals with soldiers who committed horrible acts that were at least tolerated by their superiors, until they came to light.