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

5/5/2004

[TexKat]

Developing....

[SunStar]

Great - they already think we're weak - now they'll know we are.

Nah... We have the first President since the 70's who is strong enough to take these guys on... And an apology is appropriate in this instance. We need to nip this prisoner abuse issue in the bud. It does not represent the USA, period.

[mikegi]

True. But we're the ones trying to change their behavior and belief system. We should do what's right, even though they do not.

I get the impression that some think we should have starved, gassed, and done vivisections on German prisoners.

[SunStar]

HOW DARE HE apologize to the people who want nothing more than to see me dead.

So what you are saying is that every single person who watches Arabic television is your enemy? I've got news for you, we cannot kill everyone in the Arab world. Many of them will need to have their hearts and minds swayed into our direction.

[bray]

What if these Iraqis were the ones planting the bombs that were killing our soldiers?? Would they still be victims??

Pray for W and Our Troops

[kjam22]

OR the GWB could have said.... "hey you know, mistakes were made. You gotta at least give us props that we didn't make them eat bacon or something". :)

[ohioWfan]

I don't.

[McGavin999]

I particularly loved the small smile that played across his face when the interviewer from Al Arabiya said there were some in Fallujah who were claiming victory. I can't wait for the transcripts to come out, but the look on his face said more than the words ever could.

[kjam22]

What if these Iraqis were the ones planting the bombs that were killing our soldiers?? Would they still be victims??

Oh I agree with you. I would not have made a statement if I were the president. I would have just dropped more bombs on them until they surrendered.

[carton253]

There are some who don't think it is doable...

But we have got to try... And Iraq is the best place to do it for a variety of reasons.

If democracy will take hold, it will take hold here.

It's a grand experiment. There is much riding on whether Iraq will accept the freedom given them or trade it in for a Shia dominated theocracy.

Everything hangs in the balance.

That's why the President went on Arab TV... to undo the harm (and there was great harm done) that those soldiers did.

[Hildy]

I have a question: Why are these people in jail to begin with?

[Poohbah]

What if these Iraqis were the ones planting the bombs that were killing our soldiers?? Would they still be victims??

According to the CENTCOM investigation, over half of the prisoners didn't even belong there. The odds are that these were NOT the Iraqis who were killing our soldiers.

[kjam22]

If democracy will take hold, it will take hold here.

Iraq is babylon. It is one of the last places on earth that democracy would ever really work. We'll set up some puppet government that will eventually fall.... can we say "shaw of iran". That's the bottom line.

[Lijahsbubbe]

But then, I didn't ask.

[Miss Marple]

Oh, good, I am glad there was someone else reporting. Eurotwit is pretty level-headed about what she( I think she's a she) observes.

He also discussed how demoralizing these pictures would be to the Iraqi people who are wanting to believe that we are working for them.

Now Ginsberg is on saying some open-minded Arabs will wait to see. Says people will want to see what we will do to rectify this and what restitution ($$$) we will give. Points out that the massacre in Fallujah was denounced by the Kings of Jordan, Norocco, and Tunisia. (Of course our media didn't cover this very much, if at all.)

[RightWhale]

HOW DARE HE apologize to the people who want nothing more than to see me dead.

The President has acted correctly.

[ZULU]

Bush should NOT do this.

I was among the first to post this news and condemn those individuals who did this.

Bush has ALREADY condemned those responsible and disavowed any support for these activities. Thge individuals responsible should and will be adequately punished, as he promised. The proof of his words is ENOUGH!

But this WAR. Things happen and people who misbehave, at least on OUR side, are punished.

But going on national radio in Arab Countries - TWICE - to condemn this is excessive and serves no purpose other than to continually keep it in the eye of the public all over the world.

The only other publicity on this should concern the sentences of the degenerates who are guilty.

I wonder who is giving Bush advice on the Middle East? They certainly seem to have no grasp of Arabic thinking.

[Monty22]

I'm disturbed by the reactionary style attacks these guys are doing. You say you disagree with Bush, and blammo.. DU call.. You're 'condemning' him.

Nonsense.

[jpsb]

This President, and it is beginning to worry me, seems to live in a world where just talking makes it so, and then he drops the ball. It's like he thinks "talking the talk" is all that is required, actions do not appear to matter as long as he can "talk the talk". Very dangerous, I am begin to seriously worry about his mental health.

[Poohbah]

I have a question: Why are these people in jail to begin with?

The CENTCOM investigation asked the same question--apparently, over half of the prisoners were NOT supposed to be in there at all.

[carton253]

Hildy...it doesn't matter why they were in jail. What was done to them was wrong. It reinforced the fear they have of us.