opinion | SEALs cover-up reveals high level mismanagement

The New York Times has reported on allegations of a cover-up by the Navy SEALs after the beating of Afghan locals resulted in death to a detainee under murky moral circumstances. The report has rightfully stoked outrage and debate about our control of the armed forces. These are, after all, the very men and women we expect to uphold the finest qualities in America, the vanguards of the liberty and democracy we enjoy every day.

But in spite of the clear need for safeguards and accountability to prevent this disgrace from recurring, the allegations have revealed a deeper mismanagement of resources at a higher level.

Navy SEALs, as the New York Times rightfully points out, are trained to be warriors first and foremost. They are designed to be a smart, precise, and lethal weapon, deployed with only the utmost prudence, completing operations and withdrawing before our enemies even know we’re there.

But the continuing job in Afghanistan requires a careful, patient approach, one in which our armed services build a resilient, intertwined network with the community that promotes long-term goodwill and cooperation. Does this sound like a right fit for the SEALs?

It is the equivalent of using a hammer to do the job of a screwdriver. It’ll get the job done. But it will do so with frightful results and irreparable damage. While more transparency is needed in the ranks of the SEALs, the question must also be raised: why were the SEALs used in a long-term, goodwill operation?

There are undoubtedly larger forces at play. The Obama administration must continue its policy of winding down operations, especially considering the overwhelming cost of our involvement in the Middle East, both in treasure and in lives. But the withdrawal must be done sensibly, using the right tools for the right jobs, and must not exacerbate the situation.