At Least We Didn't Chop Their Heads Off

[nageov3t]

from the Washington Post, about the prisoner abuses in Iraq

http://www.washingtonpost.com/.../A11930-2004Sep10.html

Associated Press
Saturday, September 11, 2004

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, responding to allegations that he fostered a climate that led to the prisoner-abuse scandal, said yesterday that the military's mistreatment of detainees was not as bad as what terrorists have done.

"Does it rank up there with chopping someone's head off on television?" he asked. "It doesn't."

Rumsfeld acknowledged once again that he had approved harsher interrogation methods for suspects captured in the global war on terrorism but said the rules were meant only for the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, facility for terrorist suspects and had nothing to do with Iraq, where the prison scandal emerged.

Critics have said for months that fault may ultimately rest with White House and Pentagon leaders for creating confusion when they decided in early 2002 that terrorist suspects at Guantanamo Bay did not fall under the rules of the Geneva Conventions and then sought to redefine longtime rules of detention, interrogation and trials to suit the war against terrorism.

Asked at a National Press Club appearance whether he contributed to a climate that led to abuse, Rumsfeld said he had approved new techniques for Guantanamo but then rescinded them and gathered lawyers to study the subject after military officers questioned them.

He said the procedures "were not torture" and were approved for use on only two people.

But Pentagon investigations in recent months have said there have been about 300 allegations of prisoners killed, raped, beaten and subjected to other mistreatment at military prisons in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay since the start of the war on terror.

Rumsfeld read from a long list of statistics he had brought with him, saying there have been 11 investigations into the abuse, 950 people interviewed, 45 referred for court-martial and 23 soldiers administratively separated from the service.

"The people who've done something wrong are being prosecuted, the investigations are still underway . . . and corrective steps have been taken," Rumsfeld said, adding that it does not compare to televised executions in recent weeks in which terrorists have beheaded hostages taken in Iraq.

so at least we're not as bad as terrorists. three cheers for us.

it's hard to argue his point, but if we're in Iraq to liberate them, shouldn't we be leading by example?

 

[Shuxclams]

Originally posted by: loki8481
from the Washington Post, about the prisoner abuses in Iraq

http://www.washingtonpost.com/.../A11930-2004Sep10.html

Associated Press
Saturday, September 11, 2004

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, responding to allegations that he fostered a climate that led to the prisoner-abuse scandal, said yesterday that the military's mistreatment of detainees was not as bad as what terrorists have done.

"Does it rank up there with chopping someone's head off on television?" he asked. "It doesn't."

Rumsfeld acknowledged once again that he had approved harsher interrogation methods for suspects captured in the global war on terrorism but said the rules were meant only for the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, facility for terrorist suspects and had nothing to do with Iraq, where the prison scandal emerged.

Critics have said for months that fault may ultimately rest with White House and Pentagon leaders for creating confusion when they decided in early 2002 that terrorist suspects at Guantanamo Bay did not fall under the rules of the Geneva Conventions and then sought to redefine longtime rules of detention, interrogation and trials to suit the war against terrorism.

Asked at a National Press Club appearance whether he contributed to a climate that led to abuse, Rumsfeld said he had approved new techniques for Guantanamo but then rescinded them and gathered lawyers to study the subject after military officers questioned them.

He said the procedures "were not torture" and were approved for use on only two people.

But Pentagon investigations in recent months have said there have been about 300 allegations of prisoners killed, raped, beaten and subjected to other mistreatment at military prisons in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay since the start of the war on terror.

Rumsfeld read from a long list of statistics he had brought with him, saying there have been 11 investigations into the abuse, 950 people interviewed, 45 referred for court-martial and 23 soldiers administratively separated from the service.

"The people who've done something wrong are being prosecuted, the investigations are still underway . . . and corrective steps have been taken," Rumsfeld said, adding that it does not compare to televised executions in recent weeks in which terrorists have beheaded hostages taken in Iraq.

so at least we're not as bad as terrorists. three cheers for us.

it's hard to argue his point, but if we're in Iraq to liberate them, shouldn't we be leading by example?

Now that is a classic!











SHUX

 

[glenn1]

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, responding to allegations that he fostered a climate that led to the prisoner-abuse scandal, said yesterday that the military's mistreatment of detainees was not as bad as what terrorists have done.

"Does it rank up there with chopping someone's head off on television?" he asked. "It doesn't."

Well, that's good to know :Q

On a serious note though, is anyone surprised that Rummy would say something like this? He's already demonstrated that subtlety is not one of his strong suits, and that he's about as diplomatic as one of the old guys in the balcony on the Muppet Show.

 

[viivo]

Isn't that we are the righteous liberators what the true believers want to hear?

 

[CycloWizard]

How many threads can we get every time a political figure says something? May as well make one for every line in an article. :roll:

 

[Rainsford]

I guess our benchmark is "chopping heads off on television". Anyting up to that point is super duper, apparently.

 

[arsbanned]

Yes, noble benchmark....
...

but if we're in Iraq to liberate them...

Now you're getting it. Wolfowitz's intentions become a little clearer now!

 

[ReiAyanami]

if u vote the wrong way this election, watch out, yous gonna get it

 

[conjur]

Yeah...didn't you all get the memo?

You know, Ashcroft's torture memo?



Oh wait...that's the one Ashcroft is withholding from the Congressional investigative committee.

 

[Czar]

wtf, he says that the procedures were approved and then goes into saying that investigations have lead to suspension of those who followed the procedures?

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: CycloWizard
How many threads can we get every time a political figure says something? May as well make one for every line in an article. :roll:

Time to call in the waaaaaaaaahmbulance! Yeah, things were different back when you "first joined," eh? It's been a long two weeks . . .

 

[judasmachine]

hehe, so much for moral supremecy. i've heard so many arguements for torture and inhumane treatment of unarmed, well behaved prisoners and or innocents, by this country than i dare mention. though a couple really stick out in my mind. first, the nukes dropped on japan as revenge for the ravaging of american bodies found dead on beaches in the pacific campaign. second, the irradication of the buffalo (i.e. destroying the lifeblood of an entire culture) as revenge for the scalping tactics of the native american. It still boils down to murder, or inhumane treatment, it's apparently more palpitable when state sanctioned under the false pretense of morality, or security. It's ok to torture someone who might have ties to al quida who apparently attacked the us (not unprovoked though), but it's not ok to torture a us marine who invaded iraq. come on guys people are people and if you wouldn't like it done to you, you should not be doing it. the one who does not condone torture of anyone is the closest to moral supremecy, if something like moral supremecy even exists.


Oh and one more thing, "He who is without sin, may cast the first stone."