If a soldier refuses to obey orders, is it Mutiny or an act of conscience? One of the boards’ I am on is currently polarised on the topic. The topic, of course, is a report that states that an American Platoon in Iraq refused to follow orders. Half the board wants to see the platoon hung for mutiny, the other half wants to reward them for being heroes. So which is it – mutiny or an act of conscience.

Actually, it is both. When you follow your conscience you need to be able to accept the consequences. In any organisational set up, the basic premise is Unity of Command. If you don’t want to be part of the system – then you get out. Asking serving officers and soldiers to disobey orders that they disagree with is a dangerous trend. Acts of Conscience, I have complete respect and regard for. But, when you follow your conscience, it is the fact that you stand up for what you believe in, and are willing to take the punishment, that makes your act worthy of notice. If organisations did not penalise people for breaking their “bond” then the act itself will have no value.