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Today Show Continues its Offensive on Iraq Prison Abuse as Hagel Plays the Eager Accomplice
The Today Show

Posted on 05/04/2004 4:44:30 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest

In watching Today the last couple mornings, one got the sense that the hosts and producers were anxious to get through the other news of the day in order to get to what they were really interested in covering: the abuse of prisoners by US military and intelligence personnel at the Abu Ghraib prison.

By far the largest chunk of time in the first half-hour was devoted to the issue.

First up were interviews with the lawyer for one soldier who has been accused, and the wife of another.

The lawyer made no bones about the fact that his client had engaged in the alleged behavior, and generally that what was done was wrong.

But his defense was equally clear: his client and the others were not freelancing. They did not engage in this behavior out of sadism or as a result of misconduct. Rather, they were follow direct orders, emanating from the intelligence personnel. They were informed that being subjected to public nudity and simulated acts of sodomy were extremely degrading to Arabs, and that this was part of the effort to soften up the prisoners.

He did deny that his client had violated the Geneva Convention. While the convention prohibits the dissemination of photos of POWs, the lawyer pointed out that it was first CBS and now NBC who had disseminated the photos, not his client.

The lawyer also addressed the Nuremberg issue. He said that in times of war, soldiers can only disobey an order if it is clearly illegal. Here it was not apparent to the prison guards that the orders were such.

The wife of the other soldier made similar points. Her husband apparently had such reservations about what he was doing that he expressed them to her in a letter he had written. But again, the point was made that he was acting on direct orders.

Next it was on to interviews with Senators Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM). Ah yes, a perfect example of 'fair & balanced,' Today Show style. A Democrat criticizing the Bush administration balanced by . . . a Republican criticizing the Bush administration.

And by the way, John McCain needs to look over his shoulder. Hagel is gaining on him as the Republican senator who most enjoys skewering the Bush administration, garnering lots of liberal media face time in exchange.

Bingaman apparently took to the floor of the Senate to condemn Joint Chiefs Chair General Richard Myers for claiming not to have read the report on the abuses, despite the fact that the report was issued in February.

In response to Katie's 'helpful' prompting, both Senators agreed that a congressional investigation is necessary.

And no one should doubt that the Dems and the Kerry campaign are trying to exploit this situation for political purposes. Once again, Katie asked a leading question as to where the disrespect for law stems from.

Bingaman alleged that it comes from "the highest levels of the government." In particular he cited Sec. of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, who he alleged has claimed that the rules of war don't apply to prisoners being held at Guantanomo.

Once again, we see a pattern emerging. Whenever there is an issue that is potentially damaging to Pres. Bush's re-election hopes, Today will pound away, milking it for all it's worth. When they've drained it of all possible political advantage, it's time to move on.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; War on Terror
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1 posted on 05/04/2004 4:44:30 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
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To: Behind Liberal Lines; Miss Marple; an amused spectator; netmilsmom; Diogenesis; YaYa123; MEG33; ...
Today Show ping.
2 posted on 05/04/2004 4:45:29 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
He did deny that his client had violated the Geneva Convention. While the convention prohibits the dissemination of photos of POWs, the lawyer pointed out that it was first CBS and now NBC who had disseminated the photos, not his client.

So has NBCBS violated the Geneva Convention in an effort to tar Bush?

3 posted on 05/04/2004 4:48:04 AM PDT by ez (...the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
I am curious about the obvious homosexual implications of this awful event.

Are straights or are there homosexuals behind this? I hope the truth is not swept under the carpet.
4 posted on 05/04/2004 4:49:07 AM PDT by tkathy (nihilism: absolute destructiveness toward the world at large and oneself)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
I'd rather watch Good Morning America. They're devoting the entire show to Brad Pitt.
5 posted on 05/04/2004 4:50:47 AM PDT by demkicker
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
So, has the United Nations 'oil for food' scandal been in evidence in between the Perkster's daily diatribes against the soldiers?
6 posted on 05/04/2004 4:51:20 AM PDT by an amused spectator (Kristen Breitweiser didn't want to learn how to land the 9/11 Commission; she only wanted to steer)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
Golly, I'm surprised!---that people are still watching the Today Show, I mean.
Katie Arsenic turned me off the first and about the only time I looked in several years ago, and from threads like this, she only gets worse.

vaudine
7 posted on 05/04/2004 4:52:00 AM PDT by vaudine
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
Thank you for being a soldier.I believe Hagel loves the spotlight as much as McCain..and he sabatoges the President constantly.How else would he get so much face time?
The prison scandal will be on every show for as long as nothing else worse happens.Wonder if Hagel will start the investigations in the fall?Maximum damage...
8 posted on 05/04/2004 4:55:15 AM PDT by MEG33 (John Kerry's been AWOL for two decades on issues of National Security!)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
As a caller to C-SPAN noted this morning, the dominant media is more upset about the prisoner "abuse" then they were about Waco and the frying of the people there.

The media is so worried that the Arab world is going to see how bad the west is because of the prisoners, forgetting that they have seen all of our ugly warts for years.

MoodyBlu


9 posted on 05/04/2004 4:55:24 AM PDT by MoodyBlu
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To: governsleastgovernsbest; hellinahandcart
"But his defense was equally clear: his client and the others were not freelancing. They did not engage in this behavior out of sadism or as a result of misconduct. Rather, they were follow direct orders, emanating from the intelligence personnel. They were informed that being subjected to public nudity and simulated acts of sodomy were extremely degrading to Arabs, and that this was part of the effort to soften up the prisoners."

If this is true, then the intelligence personnel should be court martialed (or civilian equivalent) as well. That is just wrong.

10 posted on 05/04/2004 4:56:12 AM PDT by sauropod ("I am Locutus of Borg. Resistance is futile. You will service US.")
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

11 posted on 05/04/2004 4:57:50 AM PDT by Diogenesis (We do what we are meant to do)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
Did anyone ask Hagel how drafting people into the military would have improved their competence as prison guards?

Like if you chose people randomly off the street and forced them to serve, they wouldn't do this sort of stuff?
12 posted on 05/04/2004 4:58:10 AM PDT by VisualizeSmallerGovernment (Question Liberal Authority)
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To: an amused spectator
has the United Nations 'oil for food' scandal been in evidence in between the Perkster's daily diatribes against the soldiers?

Excellent rhetorical question!

13 posted on 05/04/2004 4:58:59 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
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To: MoodyBlu
the dominant media is more upset about the prisoner "abuse" then they were about Waco and the frying of the people there.

You just don't get it. Waco was just a bunch of right-wing religious fanatics. And Janet "Big Foot" Reno of the Clinton administration was in charge. So killing the the Waco crowd was no big deal.

But in Iraq we are talking about a persecuted ethnic minority. And there's a chance to hold the Bush admin responsible. And it's an election year. Totally different moral imperative!

14 posted on 05/04/2004 5:02:28 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
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To: sauropod
If this is true, then the intelligence personnel should be court martialed (or civilian equivalent) as well. That is just wrong.

I imagine that most FReepers agree. But it is the imbalance in the coverage that is suspect.

15 posted on 05/04/2004 5:05:25 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
In WACO, the murders of Americans were OK'd by CLinton and Gorelick --- so they were OK.
Taking out murderer Saddam was NOT ok'd by Clinton or Gorelick.

That's all there is.


"America has the watches. We have the time;
... and Gorelick and her docile clowns on their 911 Committee.
"
Ayman Al-Zawahiri

16 posted on 05/04/2004 5:06:30 AM PDT by Diogenesis (We do what we are meant to do)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
Any word on when Karbala Katie and the guys are gonna show pictures of the mass graves, the bodies of the babies in Habalja or Amercians jumping out of windows at the WTC?
17 posted on 05/04/2004 5:07:31 AM PDT by jwalsh07
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To: jwalsh07
Any word on when Karbala Katie and the guys are gonna show pictures of the mass graves, the bodies of the babies in Habalja or Amercians jumping out of windows at the WTC?

That would be highly offensive scapegoating of a persecuted ethnic minority, and might well constitute illegal racial profiling.

18 posted on 05/04/2004 5:09:02 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
Why is it when Hagel is asked a question about Bush he gives a pointed answer with both barrels but when asked about a Democrat colleague in the Senate or House he demurs and says that it would not be proper to respond about his friends in the congress?
19 posted on 05/04/2004 5:11:36 AM PDT by Bluntpoint
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To: vaudine
Golly, I'm surprised!---that people are still watching the Today Show.

Unfortunately, millions still watch Today and presumably have their opinions shaped to some extent as a result. That being true, I believe it's worthwhile to keep an eye on what Today is up to.

20 posted on 05/04/2004 5:12:00 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
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