THE choice that faced Commander Lloyd Bucher was between seeing his men shot one by one before his eyes or signing a false confession. He signedand in that act illuminated the whole agonizing dilemma of weighing military duty against elementary humanityand often against self-preservation.
The U.S. defense establishment is thoroughly divided on the issue. The Army still insists that P.O.W.s reveal nothing more than name, rank and service number, as prescribed by the Code of Conduct. "It is a simple, single, clear standard to all services," says former Army Chief of Staff General...