We should not rally around either 'side' in these heartbreaking cases, but rather rally around the rule of law and the legal process itself, and trust in that. On the other hand, we also cannot stack the deck against those who were willing to speak out about what they believed was wrong either. And we must respect the military legal process and allow the case to play out. Yes, absolutely, on the one hand, every individual is innocent until proven guilty and that’s certainly the case here. However, I worry about the damage done to the ethical culture of our military, and especially Special Operations Command (SOCOM), when we politicize these cases and make them yet one more football in our culture wars.

The ethical culture of any complex organization requires dutiful work and strong leadership - and, thankfully, our special operations forces have that and there is a sincere and strong commitment to building and driving an ethical culture within this community from the very senior leadership right through ranks. (Courtesy Parlatore Law Group) On Point Guest Bradley Strawser, On The Dangers Of Politicizing These Cases Author of ' First, Fast, Fearless: How to Lead Like a Navy SEAL.' ( Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher. He earned two Bronze Stars for valor and combat leadership. Author of the forthcoming 'The Bounds of Defense: Killing, Moral Responsibility, and War.' Co-author of ' Who Should Die?: The Ethics of Killing in War.' ( Hiner, retired lieutenant commander in the Navy SEALs.

He also advises corporate leadership of Fortune 500 companies on organizational culture and ethical practice. He teaches ethics to military professionals in the Special Forces community and provides guidance on ethics education to senior leaders at Special Operations Command. ( Strawser, professor of philosophy at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.

Guestsĭave Philipps, Pulitzer Prize-winning national correspondent for the New York Times. We go inside the secret culture of America’s elite warriors. Navy SEALs turned in their leader for war crimes. Update,, from the Navy Times: Legal bombshell explodes on SEAL war crimes trial.

Navy seal accused of war crimes