Our Beltway correspondent directs our attention to this remarkable story in the L.A. Times, which he summarizes as follows:
[The article is] on a West Point ethics prof named Ted Westhusing who volunteered to serve in Iraq so as to be better able to understand the ethics of modern war; who was assigned to work with private contractors; gradually realized that they were truly evil; and killed himself. The article establishes him as this super-soldier / philosopher with a passion for honor, and then, in an about-face, quotes a military psychologist on his suicide.
Westhusing writes: "I cannot support a msn [mission] that leads to corruption, human rights abuse and liars. I am sullied," it says. "I came to serve honorably and feel dishonored."
The psych writes: "Despite his intelligence, his ability to grasp the idea that profit is an important goal for people working in the private sector was surprisingly limited," wrote Lt. Col. Lisa Breitenbach. "He could not shift his mind-set from the military notion of completing a mission irrespective of cost, nor could he change his belief that doing the right thing because it was the right thing to do should be the sole motivator for businesses."
Yeah, he just wasn't smart enough to understand capitalism.
Posted by jane at November 29, 2005 12:03 PM | TrackBack