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

5/5/2004

[TexKat]

Developing....

[Eurotwit]

I suspect both of you lack the required information in order to citize the Presidents communication strategies vis a vis the Islamic world in general and Iraq in particular.

Iraq is no monolothic mass, no large undivided America hating blob. You have people with all sorts of opinions. In the arab world at general there are an increasing number of voices for reform. MOST IMPORTANTLY, though, there is a HUGE number of folks who are currently sitting on the fence.

These are our allies and friends AGAINST Islamofascism. It is these people we are talking to. If we lose these people the war on Terror is lost, and the War for the World will begin.

Some people seem quite too eager to start the latter.

[Cap Huff]

I can't read his heart. That's why I used the word "guess." I know something of his professed faith, and something of how he tries to live it out. This action is consistent with what I would expect a man of integrity to do.

This issue of whether Christians and Muslims look to the same god is another matter. Not an unimportant matter on a certain level, but not really pertinent to the events that GWB is addressing today.

[XJarhead]

Why must he go on TV and give our enemies more ammunition.

I'm not sure how it is possible to give them any more amunition than what they already have in the form of all those pictures. At this point, its damage control -- unless you believe that the publication of those picutres won't make our job in Iraq more difficult.

[Dave S]

When will they apologize for this?

So sorry to hear that you associate yourself with that rabble. Personally I and most Americans have higher standards.

[Rebelbase]

I believe offering an apology will be seen as a sign of weakness by the Islamofacsists. Its a big mistake.

[Frank_Discussion]

No, Rummy was very precise with what he said this morning, as always. He said you can't help but feel sorry for what happened to those IRAQI PRISONERS when you see those images. He directed it at the prisoners in question, not the IRaqi people, and that the images inspire apologetic feelings. But he didn't apologize, but rather pointed out that the images have a certain effect. He can, at some later date, point out that later investigation shows that the knee-jerk reaction to the images is wrong when the context is understood. He didn't QUITE apologize.

[carton253]

You sound like a man who cannot be reasoned with because he has lost all reason.

[rwfromkansas]

Yeah.

How dare Bush apologize for the way some of our soldiers have been treating Iraqi's.

How dare he apologize to the folks being affected whose support we need as liberators, not sadists.....

yeah...

/sarcasm

Do you have a moral bone in your body?

[kjam22]

Not an unimportant matter on a certain level, but not really pertinent to the events that GWB is addressing today.

I disagree. I think it is pertinent. I think it is pertinent because it shows a pattern. That pattern being that he may be willing to say things that are contrary to his faith because of the position he is in as leader of this country. Personally, I don't think that's a good thing. Others will give him a pass on it because they feel like he has to say what he says. That's why I sorta doubt the idea that the 'non-apology' today was how he felt God was leading him to react.

[PISANO]

First General Kimmit, then the SECDEF, now our POTUS. I do NOT believe the PRESIDENT should apologize! PERIOD!!

[rwfromkansas]

so, doing the right thing should be done only if it is "good strategy?"

[Monty22]

"These are our allies and friends AGAINST Islamofascism. It is these people we are talking to. If we lose these people the war on Terror is lost, and the War for the World will begin. "

I'm seeing things getting more polarized, and that war for the world started on 9/11 in my eyes.

[jpsb]

Absolutely, I would much perfer a Persident that knows exactly what he is doing then one that is unsure and reacts to events instead of creating events.

The next time, bad stuff happens the liberal press will say "Well Mr President you spoke to the nation of Islam about the mistreatment of the prisoners, why not now? Isn't this bad stuff bad enough for you? Slippery slope? Might be.

[Eurotwit]

Al Arabia Interview up now!

[Dave S]

We are such a weak nation now.

Speak for yourself and then crawl back under your bed.

[rwfromkansas]

Well, the President is a Christian man with moral convictions.

Get used to it.

It may not be good strategy to have the POTUS apologize for some isolated abuse, but the President does what he believes to be right.

Too bad some can't stand that.

[carton253]

He didn't offer an apology...He didn't get down on his hands and knees and beg forgiveness.

He tried to tell the Muslim people who think we are the equivalent of Crusaders (which in their minds only happened yesterday) that those who behaved in such a base manner is not who we are, and they will be punished. What a concept for the Islamic people, who have been denied justice and common decency by their leaders, to have the President of the United States speak of justice and decency.

I guess I don't understand why some can't see the difference.

[kjam22]

Here's the new General who runs the jails statement:

"I would like to apologize for our nation and for our military for the small number of leaders and soldiers that have committed unauthorized and possibly illegal acts on the detained here at Abu Ghraib," Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Miller said at the prison. "I would like to personally apologize to the people of Iraq for the actions of a small number of leaders and soldiers who have violated our policies," Miller said.

I wonder who wrote that apology for him?

[MJM59]

Call me an unfeeling SOB. But, I do not feel sorry for these prisoners, nor do I feel apologetic to them.

[McGavin999]

Survival is emotional.

No, survival is based on cold reasoning. You don't defeat an enemy by emotional flailing. I've seen more attacks on the people who are fighting this war. It's pretty hard fighting a war when you've got a bunch of ankle biters at home swarming all over you.