To Reflect or Deflect? Assessing Internal Accountability in the U.S. Military  

• In Event: U.S. Military Post-War Analysis

Abstract

Accountability, particularly self-policing, is a defining feature of professionalism. However, the U.S. military has struggled to self-police in recent years. Too often today the U.S. military responds to flaws in its organization or performance by either deflecting blame or claiming that the solution is out of its hands. This paper argues that both responses are inadequate in ensuring accountability for mistakes or deficiencies in organizational practices or wartime military activity. It presents a framework that tracks observable indicators of accountability, or its absence. It then analyzes three issues areas: the military response to unintentional targeting of civilians in wartime; sexual assault in the ranks; and the effectiveness of U.S. military performance in the Afghanistan War. 

Authors

• Risa A. Brooks, Marquette University

• Heidi Urben, Georgetown University