Wednesday, May 05, 2004
Abu Ghraib and similar incidents
I get more sick to my stomach about the torture of Iraqis by American troops---and if you're not sick already, you will be after you read these highlights from the Taguba report (here's a hint---when you hide your prisoners from the Red Cross, it's safe to say you aren't among the good guys anymore). Now there are investigations into 14 deaths of prisoners in American camps, two of which the military has already decided are homicides. Sounds less and less like an isolated event, and more like a systematic and sadistic plan.
I'm also sickened by Bush's claim, on Arab television, that what makes this different from Saddam's regime is our openness to investigate the deaths. Until the media put pressure on the admin, they sure weren't being open or speedy in their investigations. And the Bush admin has been the most secretive in US history, so if openness is what separates them from Saddam (and not a reluctance to kill prisoners), there's uncomfortably little daylight between them, and it's entirely provided by opponents of the Bush admin applying pressure to find out the truth.
Plus, this great little exchange:
I'm sorry, but that doesn't count. Bush needs to say it himself. If he's going to take the time to put out televised defenses to the Arab world, the least he can do is apologize personally. Take responsibility for once in his life. I'm reminded of something his father---a nevertheless shockingly better man---said:
Sigh.
I'm also sickened by Bush's claim, on Arab television, that what makes this different from Saddam's regime is our openness to investigate the deaths. Until the media put pressure on the admin, they sure weren't being open or speedy in their investigations. And the Bush admin has been the most secretive in US history, so if openness is what separates them from Saddam (and not a reluctance to kill prisoners), there's uncomfortably little daylight between them, and it's entirely provided by opponents of the Bush admin applying pressure to find out the truth.
Plus, this great little exchange:
In the first of two planned interviews, the president did not specifically apologize for the mistreatment of prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad.
But, he said, ``The actions of these few people do not reflect the hearts of the American people.''
Later, White House spokesman Scott McClellan used the word ``sorry'' a half-dozen times. ``The president is sorry for what occurred and the pain it has caused,'' he said.
Asked why Bush himself had not apologized, McClellan said: ``I'm saying it now for him.''
I'm sorry, but that doesn't count. Bush needs to say it himself. If he's going to take the time to put out televised defenses to the Arab world, the least he can do is apologize personally. Take responsibility for once in his life. I'm reminded of something his father---a nevertheless shockingly better man---said:
"I will never apologize for the United States of America - I don't care what the facts are."
George H. W. Bush, Newsweek, (Commenting on the shooting down of an Iranian airliner by the U.S. warship Vincennes, killing 290 passengers.), August 15, 1989
Sigh.
