A Sad Tale of 4 Navy Seal as Depicted in The Lone Survivor

Introduction

The Lone Survivor tells the story of four Navy SEALs who embarked on a mission in Afghanistan to capture Sharmak, an Al Qaeda leader implicated in the tragic events of the World Trade Center attack. The United States sought justice by apprehending Sharmak. Marcus Luttrell, the only survivor of the mission, shared his harrowing experiences in Afghanistan and the tragic fate of his fellow SEALs in the Hindu Kush mountains. During the operation, they encountered three goat herders and faced a moral dilemma about their fate. The SEALs could not decide whether to execute the goat herders or release them, as they were unable to establish communication with headquarters. Ultimately, they had to choose between setting the herders free or killing them, a decision fraught with moral, legal, and strategic challenges. This mission posed a significant risk to their lives.

Moral Dilemma

From a moral perspective, it is undeniably wrong to kill unarmed civilians. The goat herders claimed they were not Taliban, yet their intentions were unclear, raising suspicions that they might inform Sharmak and his men. This could have endangered the SEALs, as the Taliban might pursue them. The SEALs faced a stark choice: kill the herders to ensure their own safety or release them and risk being killed by the Taliban. Their mission in Afghanistan was a form of blood revenge on behalf of America. Although letting the goat herders go could have cost them their lives, they did not have the legal right to execute them.

Legal Considerations

In military operations, soldiers often make difficult decisions to manage situations effectively. According to American law, the SEALs lacked justification to kill the unarmed goat herders. However, they also had the right to protect themselves. They knew that killing the herders could result in imprisonment in a U.S. civilian jail alongside murderers and rapists. It seemed better to face jail time than be killed by the Taliban. Additionally, releasing the herders posed a potential threat, as informing the enemy is as dangerous as committing the act of killing. This decision put them at risk far from home.

Strategic Implications

To protect themselves, the SEALs could have considered hiding the bodies and continued with their mission to track Sharmak. However, the presence of the goat herders was a significant obstacle, and eliminating them seemed necessary. Releasing the herders eventually led to an encounter with heavily armed Taliban fighters. Both options, killing or releasing the herders, required immense courage and carried inherent dangers. The mission was compromised by the goat herders, and although the SEALs were not murderers, survival instincts suggested they should have taken lethal action.

Religious and Ethical Considerations

All four SEALs were Christians, and their faith did not permit the killing of innocent people like the goat herders. Marcus Luttrell wrote, "I have another soul. My Christian soul. And it was crowding in on me. Something kept whispering in the back of my mind, it would be wrong to execute these unarmed men in cold blood" (Luttrell, 2007, p. 234). Their government also prohibited the killing of unarmed civilians, leading them to adhere to their country's rules of engagement. Marcus spent considerable time reflecting on these rules, media influence, and the complexities of Afghan society.

Media and Political Consequences

Legally, the SEALs had no justification for killing the goat herders. If the bodies were discovered, the Taliban could exploit the situation through Afghan media, leading to U.S. military backlash for killing innocent Afghans and potential murder charges. Additionally, dealing with the goats presented a logistical challenge, as they would attract attention. If the herders went missing, suspicion would fall on the SEALs, potentially leading to accusations of murder by the Arab media. By releasing the herders, the SEALs avoided the consequences that would have arisen from Arab and Afghan media coverage, as well as imprisonment for the herders' deaths.

Conclusion

Whether they killed or released the goat herders, the SEALs faced potential trouble. Letting them go risked their own lives, which was later realized. Instead of focusing solely on these options, the SEALs could have explored alternative strategies to evade the Taliban, such as relocating to a safer area. The goat herders appeared to be simple civilians and not immediately suspicious. Ultimately, Marcus's decision placed the SEALs in jeopardy. By releasing the herders, they made a grave mistake that led to the deaths of three soldiers. Marcus managed to escape, albeit with severe injuries to his back and left leg.

References

Luttrell, M. (2007). Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10. Little, Brown and Company.