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

5/5/2004

[TexKat]

Developing....

[sam_paine]

Good grief. Relax. Breathe. Into a paper bag.

[theFIRMbss]

>That separates us from the actions of these psychos who happen to wear our uniform

Weren't these soldiers
told by intelligence types
to "soften 'em up?"

It's a tricky world,
and you're awful quick to call
our soldiers psychos . . .

[ohioWfan]

Clarification.

His statement that justice will be done (not an apology), is for the Iraqi people who love the freedom that our soldiers have given them.

[Lijahsbubbe]

Not quite sure which of these he's speaking to are our 'friends' really.

Bwaha....

[Monty22]

"The Iraqi people are not our enemy, and we are not in battle with them."

And islam is peace.

[MamaLucci]

As always, thanks for posting what this is all about.

[Lijahsbubbe]

It's a tricky world, and you're awful quick to call our soldiers psychos . . .

I agree. Did they have a trial yet....

[ohioWfan]

Where two or more shall gather... so shall he.

Yes. And there are millions of us praying for him.

[JFC]

Thank you for that. Those photo's need to be shown daily.

God Bless America, and President Bush

[Eurotwit]

Bush: Iraqi Prisoner Abuse 'Abhorrent'

By TERENCE HUNT, AP White House Correspondent

WASHINGTON - President Bush (news - web sites) told a skeptical Arab world on Wednesday that the treatment of Iraqi prisoners by some members of the U.S. military was "abhorrent" and does not represent "the America that I know." He stopped short of apologizing.

"There will be investigations. People will be brought to justice," Bush said in a television interview that was aired in Cairo late Wednesday afternoon.

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."

"The American people are just as appalled" as Iraqis, Bush said, over images broadcast around the world of naked detainees and gloating U.S. soldiers at Abu Ghraib, a notorious prison during Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s regime that was taken over by U.S. troops.

"People in Iraq (news - web sites) must understand that I view those practices as abhorrent.They must also understand that what took place in that prison does not represent the America that I know," Bush said.

"The America I know is a compassionate country that believes in freedom. The America I know cares about every individual. The America I know has sent troops into Iraq to promote freedom, good honorable citizens that are helping Iraqis everyday," he said.

Bush said he retained confidence in Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and told him earlier Wednesday to "find the truth and tell the Iraqi people and the world the truth. We have nothing to hide."

Bush's appearance on Arab television came the day after the Army disclosed that it is conducting criminal investigations of 10 prisoner deaths in U.S. custody in Iraq and Afghanistan (news - web sites), plus another 10 abuse cases.

In addition, the deaths of two Iraqi prisoners already have been ruled homicides. In one case, a soldier was court-martialed, reduced in rank and discharged from the Army. In the other homicide, a CIA (news - web sites) contract interrogator's conduct has been referred to the Justice Department (news - web sites) for criminal prosecution.

"There will be investigations, people will be brought to justice," Bush said of the alleged humiliation and abuse of prisoners at the prison.

He also said that the U.S. inquiry would look into whether such instances of abuse also took place in other prisons. "We want to know the truth," Bush said.

Bush said it was important for "the people of Iraq to know that everything is not perfect. That mistakes are made. But in a democracy, as well, those mistakes will be investigated, and people will be brought to justice."

Administration officials have tried to assure the American public and the world that the abuse of prisoners at the prison was an aberration, and that guilty parties would be dealt with swiftly and firmly.

Bush said that the United States would cooperate with the international Red Cross.

Asked about the United States' practice of pointing out human rights abuses in other countries, he said, "We also say to those governments, `clean up your act.' And that's precisely what America is doing."

The first Bush interview to air was with Al-Hurra, a U.S.-government funded Arabic-language station. Al-Hurra is generally viewed in the region as propaganda. Another interview with Bush was expected to air later on Al-Arabiya television, a satellite channel based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, that is popular around the Arab world.

[sam_paine]

What's weak about the courage of convictions? What's weak about acknowledging evil among our own ranks? What's weak about rooting out and punishing wrongdoers on all sides? Are we trying to be the good guys, or merely being the guys with the biggest stick who can do no wrong?

[MJM59]

It will be a cold day in hell before I apologize to an Iraqi, or any Muslim for that matter.

[Hildy]

That's not what I'm saying and you know it. Why must he go on TV and give our enemies more ammunition. This had nothing to do with apologizing to a group of people who have a different sense of right and wrong than we do. This is about making US feel better as a nation. and I have news for the people who decided this was the "right" thing to do. It will bite us many times over. The good people in the world know these are isoloated incidents made by idiots with poor judgement. I do not need the President to apolgize on MY behalf. If it makes YOU feel better, fine. I already know my country is a good country. There is nothing Bush can say that will make those people understand that.

[jpsb]

This fits in with not talking Fallujah, the administration war strategy is now obvious. The primary objective is to win the trust and good faith of the nation of Islam, not to defeat it in battle. The strategy is IMHO, doomed. Worth a try I suppose, but I am not hopeful, Islam can manufacture one atrocity after another, until we lose our will, with an endless series of apologies.

First we must defeat Islam, then we can reform Islam, without their defeat there will be no reform.

[Lijahsbubbe]

Looks way worse than a naked pyramid.

Where's our apology? They should still be apologizing. If that were us, we'd be handing our paychecks to them for the next millenium. We'd be facing Mecca every day and apologizing.

[kjam22]

My guess is that he has prayed about it, and his conscience is his guide here.

I dunno. You may be right, but this looks more like the same deal where he was telling us that Islam is a religion that worships the same god we christians do. I don't think God instructed him to make that statement.

[carton253]

That's why I'm thankful that you are not in a position of power...

[ohioWfan]

Read what he actually said, Hildy.

He STOPPED SHORT of an apology.

[Lijahsbubbe]

It will bite us many times over. The good people in the world know these are isoloated incidents made by idiots with poor judgement. I do not need the President to apolgize on MY behalf. If it makes YOU feel better, fine. I already know my country is a good country. There is nothing Bush can say that will make those people understand that.

Thank you.

[Lijahsbubbe]

The primary objective is to win the trust and good faith of the nation of Islam

Great observation.