President George W. Bush to offer apology on 2 Arab Televison station networks

5/5/2004

[TexKat]

Developing....

[carton253]

These animals don't offer any apologies

We are not these animals.

[Frank_Discussion]

The Basra jail, to boot!

[Eurotwit]

Relax dude.... The President did NOT crawling.

He made his points, and IMHO they were on the money.

[Eurotwit]

Relax dude.... The President did NOT go crawling.

He made his points, and IMHO they were on the money.

[zook]

Moreover, he's not apologizing to "the bad guys," but to those into whose hands we hope fall the future of Iraq.

[ohioWfan]

Maigrey.

WE are the good guys. The PRESIDENT is a good guy, and our military leaders are good guys.

This is not weakness. This is strength.

The fact that the Arab world does not apologize is IRRELEVANT to whether or not we do.

It's no better an argument than doing the wrong thing as a kid because 'all the kids are doing it.'

[Cap Huff]

Someone on this thread suggested that someone is giving him bad advice. I think the advice that means most to GWB right now is that which he is getting from the Almighty.

Ps 15:1 A psalm of David. LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?
Ps 15:2 He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart
Ps 15:3 and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman,
Ps 15:4 who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the LORD, who keeps his oath even when it hurts,
Ps 15:5 who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.

[pabianice]

Shame on him. Please explain how what was done to the Iraqi terrorists who have murdered Americans was any worse than what is done to pledges during hell week...

[Monty22]

We are such a weak nation now.

[theFIRMbss]

>Maybe we shouldn't be killing them either. Maybe we can start using tasers or something in combat to avoid injuries to them. Maybe we could pass out helmets to them so that their heads don't get hurt.

Maybe we should find
all the terror training camps
and send teenage girls

in peasant blouses
and bell bottom pants to put
daisies in their guns . . .

[Eurotwit]

Bush Vows Punishment for Abusers of Iraqi Prisoners

5 minutes ago Add Politics to My Yahoo!



WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush (news - web sites) promised the Arab world on Wednesday that those responsible for abusing Iraqi prisoners will be punished.


At the same time, Bush voiced full confidence in Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. "Of course I've got confidence in the secretary of defense," he told the U.S.-funded Arabic television network Alhurra.


Bush, trying to quell Arab outrage over the mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners, said he wanted Iraqis to know that the abuse "does not represent the America that I know."


"It's also important for the people of Iraq (news - web sites) to know that in a democracy everything is not perfect. Mistakes are made. But in a democracy as well those mistakes will be investigated and people will be brought to justice."


Bush said he first learned of allegations of Iraqi prisoner abuse in January and that the U.S. government has been in the process of investigating them.

[Dane]

That repetitive behavior is what has made me see that the far right is VERY similar to the left.

Emotion dictates their thoughts, and not the other way around. The overreact to practically everything that goes bump in the night.

Just my observations...........no expertise involved. :o)

My observations also. Seems that the adage of having "common sense" goes straight out the window to some on FR, who base their emotional outbursts on a headline, IMO.

[Arrowhead1952]

Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot PING!

I just hope this is not a FUBAR for the president.

[carton253]

It's different because prisoners are not pledges during hell week...

[zook]

Hell week is also a travesty that ought to be ended. Moreover, what apparently went on over there was a lot different from and worse than hell week.

The President, again, is doing the right thing.

[ohioWfan]

Excellent point, zook.

The apology is for the Iraqi people who want freedom and a democratic society (which is still the vast majority).

As the mom of a soldier who just came back from Iraq, I have anecdotal evidence that the Iraqi people LOVE the American soldiers. I'm sure many of them are bewildered by what they've seen ( a very few of) our soldiers do.

This will help the good Iraqi people understand our military, our President, our society, and our purpose.

[Kaslin]

That's it. I'm done. The America I knew and love is gone. President Bush owes me an apology. HOW DARE HE apologize to the people who want nothing more than to see me dead. We have NOTHING to apologize for. Crap, crap, crap. Bush makes it so hard to support him.

Before you jump to a conclusion why don't you wait until the transcript is availabe. It did not sound like an apology to me

[mikegi]

Yes. If he phrased it as "Sorry to nuke Mecca, but you nuts forced us!" this could be okay. Just about any other phrasing will seem bad.

The insecure "nuke Mecca" crowd emerges. By being defensive about this you are playing right into the hands of our enemies. The right thing to do is to say we are against this behavior regardless of who does it. That separates us from the actions of these psychos who happen to wear our uniform. No apology for America is necessary.

[Yaelle]

That's it. I'm done. The America I knew and love is gone.

An America where cruel vengeance is extracted against prisoners is an immoral America. I couldn't love a country based on such low standards. I prefer a country who follows a different, higher, Authority. I am glad Bush did what he did. Those soldiers' behavior disgusted me and made me ashamed.

[Eurotwit]

DONALD RUMSFELD:

"Oh, my goodness. Anyone, any American who sees the photographs that we've seen has to feel apologetic to the Iraqi people who were abused and recognize that that is something that is unacceptable and certainly un-American,"