Centre for Military Ethics: Ethics Playing Cards

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Should you ever conceal the risks of an operation from those under your command?

What if the operation goes wrong? Does it make a difference if you are at war? Does trust require the sharing of information?

Often commanders cannot foresee all of the risks of an operation. If you have a strong relationship built on trust, it might not be necessary for the commander to outline all of the risks. However, people might be less likely to trust their superior if they believe important information is being withheld from them.

Patrick Mileham, ‘Unlimited Liability and the Military Covenant’, Journal of Military Ethics, 9 (2010), p29

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