Overcoming anti-Americanism and Obama's Abu Ghraib

Author Sebastian Junger chronicled his experiences of U.S. troops in Afghanistan for the Washington Post stating 'At one point a Taliban fighter had his leg shot off during a firefight and was crawling around on the hillside, dying, and the men I was with cheered at the sight. That cheer deflated me. I liked these guys tremendously, but that celebration was just so ugly.'

Junger discusses U.S. rhetoric towards enemies and inherent contradictions of a nation that condemns other regimes for war crimes while torturing and indefinitely locking up individuals for confessions obtained through torture and without fair trial.

Junger states 'A 19-year-old Marine has a very hard time reconciling the fact that it's okay to waterboard a live Taliban fighter but not okay to urinate on a dead one.'

Soldiers in Afghanistan haven't questioned their place in this war especially given the original aim is now dead; Afghanistan was originally portrayed as a war of necessity, to seek Osama Bin Laden and make him answerable for the attacks on September 11..

With this recent case of abuses it's worth questioning if all blame should fall with the soldiers or whether some responsibility for dehumanising the enemy falls with the US government and the rhetoric of its politicians; a critical eye must also fall on the media and its portrayal of events.

The approach to misconduct has been attempts to reform the armed forces; this approach does not target the heart of the problem which is the attitudes fostered in the American culture and the hearts of its people.

The inability of the American people to engage with the world outside is highlighted by the fact that only 30% of Americans have passports; this is exceptionally low when compared to Australia and Canada with around 60% of citizens holding passports, in the UK it is as high as 75%.

Such sentiments were backed by Retired General Stanley McChrystal, a leader of U.S. forces in Afghanistan who discussed the need for Americans to be informed about world events and engage with other cultures. McChrystal stated 'The reality is that most of us have a very limited understanding of most of the parts of the world where we're invested.'

This is the root of anti-American sentiment and no amount of celebrity appearances and international trips by the President will address this endemic culture; change must begin at home with reform to America's education and media institutions as well challenging ideas of American supremacy and attitudes of xenophobia towards other nations.