Bush 'sorry for humiliation' of Iraqi prisoners

CNN ^ | 05/06/2004 | Breaking

[Glenn]

President Bushj says he is sorry for the humiliation suffered by Iraqi prisoners at the hands of U.S. troops. Details soon.

[The L. Sherman]

“Tell that to Captain Coleman, and shout it loud because Arlington Cemetery is a long way from here.” - John Wayne in the Vietnam classic The Green Berets when confronted by a reporter about a perceived war atrocity.

America has been shamed by the actions of some of our military police in Iraq, and we at the Southern Spectator share in the embarrassment and anger of most Americans. It is a clear and unfortunate fact of life that the actions of a few can harm the reputation of all. However, as Tony Snow with Fox News recently noted, it might be time for everybody to calm down and regain their perspective. Tony Snow brought up an interesting point – do the infamous pictures in Iraq involve torture or simply humiliation? Certainly it is improper to photograph enemy soldiers stacked up naked in a pyramid formation. But does it really constitute “torture” and comparisons to the brutal actions of Saddam Hussein?

The Arab world very well may be trying to have it both ways. The photos of Iraqi solders in embarrassing situations have sparked outrage across the Middle East. Aljazeera.net has run stories titled, “Arab Editors Denounce Iraq Abuse” and “More Graphic Iraq Abuse Pictures Surface.” Protests have been assembled in Iraq. Somehow the Arab world and it’s propaganda mouth pieces find it easy to cast stones at the United States – but where was the outrage and condemnation of the September 11th attacks, or of the murder of captured American soldiers early in the war – with their bodies being shown on Arab television, or of the recent murder and mutilation of the four American contractors in Fallujah – including the killing of Navy Seal veteran Scott Helvenston. Does the international community need the Arab world to preach to them about the proper treatment of prisoners?

This entire “scandal” is a distraction from the “big picture.” Aljazeera and the Arab world are using this “scandal” as war time propaganda, and this is in large part because they understand the “politically correctness” mentality of the United States. What better way to harm the U.S. than to make it hate itself. This same dynamic worked during the Vietnam War – with John Kerry fanning the flames of hatred of country during that period. The media, of course, has picked up the ball and run with it – with the photo “scandal” getting much more press coverage than murder of the four contractors in Fallujah – contractors that were guarding a food convoy. Even the combat death of former NFL star turned Army Ranger, Pat Tillman, did not receive the amount of news coverage as the Iraq prison “scandal.”

It is interesting that President Bush, since the Iraqi prison photos have emerged, has begun using tough talk against his hawkish Secretary of Defense. Prior to this the President has firmly stood by his cabinet hawks through out the entire war – despite finding no WMD, and despite increased Iraqi resistance and increased U. S. casualties. On chat boards across the web people are beginning to ask if Bush cares more about the public relations fallout than he does about the military operation.

We at the Southern Spectator continue to support the President – for now. But the nation needs to remember that there have been over 872 coalition deaths in the Iraq war. And with no end in site it is time to get tough and focused. No more strategic debacles like the way our Marines were treated in Fallujah. And no more attention to this photo scandal than is necessary because brave men and women are fighting and dying in Iraq right now - and their lives are more important to us than all of Iraq’s population combined. If our military is unnecessarily being put at risk, and if the administration’s focus is shifting towards international public opinion instead of on the military operation, than perhaps the time has come to bring the troops home.

[Let's Roll]

Yeah, that's me.

[Howlin]

this is going to do nothing to stop the attack of the media and the Dems

That's not why Bush did this; he did it because it's the right thing to do.

[AngieGOP]

Rush isn't infallible. At times he is guilty of being irresponsible and ignorant. He's only human. It takes a big man to say he was sorry. Rush is wrong on this one.

[sarasota]

Win a few, lose a few...but we'll win this election. I'm sure of it.

[Rightwing Conspiratr1]

I get it ........you are joining the media and the Democrats in making this a mountain when you don't even have the facts yets.

Facts? I just heard George Bush in his own words say he was SORRY to King Abdullah. Twice in fact.

[petercooper]

who's running against Boxer?

[Cousin Eddie]

One HUGE differnce...these acts were done by members of the U.S. armed forces. Not the case on 9/11. No way will anyone be able to demand an apology for acts done by a bunch of Al Quaeda types.

[Redleg Duke]

You are really busy trolling today, aren't you Fratboy!

[swarthyguy]

HA! Great point.

But then again, Jordanians have the brains not to take fotos and videos of such activities, let alone the commanders allowing cameras inside military facilities and let alone hamming it up for the folksbackhome.

[not2worry]

I am proud of President Bush. I can't imagine handling all the events that have crossed his desk in the past three years.

What's the big deal here? I guess I just don't get it. President Bush did what was right, IMO. Time to put this behind us and get on with winning in Iraq and winning the war on Terror.

And one more thing! I really don't give a dam* about what the MSM, including the conservative talk show meisters, have to say about the President's remarks. I am sure the only thing they worry about is how they can effectively agitate the American public at large or how many times they can remind us where their next book signing might be.

[Outlaw76]

"Do you not realize that Bush speaks for this ENTIRE country, even the dolts that did this in Iraq?"

Yes, of course I do. I guess responsibility wasn't the right term... I should have said that he is accepting that its his fault. It isn't his fault that this happened.

Unfortunately I did not hear the press conference and I started writing my post a long time before I had the chance to hit the 'Post' button.

Oh, lay off the caffeine friend, it makes you type in ALL CAPS.

[Wolfstar]

I was listening to FOX and thought I heard a sound bite from Joe Biden in the Senate. I think he said that there would have been less flak over all this if the prisoners had been shot.

Joe Biden said that? Really?! You mean somewhere in that partisan hack heart of his there still beats some good old fashioned indignation at those who trash the USA and our military? Whodathunkit!!!

[ohioWfan]

I don't think the freepers in question are speaking their MINDS, FIRM.

Their emotions are WAY on top here...........as usual.......

[Eurotwit]

Well, we will see. In my opinion it is just uneeded hysteria that is unbecoming of a conservative gentleman.

Cool heads, stout hearts, and fiery souls it's what's needed.

[Not A Snowbird]

He probably lost New Mexico, Iowa, and possibly Oregon & some others because of it, but not CA.

True, true. California is a lost cause, I'm afraid.

Can anybody really call elections? The squishy, undecided middle is a fickle, unpredictable bunch. Honestly I think they go to the voting booth and start chanting "eeny, meeny, miney, mo..."

[oceanview]

and that's the bad thing about this - we could have had the Dems setup on this one, with them going out there trying to argue that the entire american military should be thrown in the trash over these photos, from Rumsfeld on down. the american people have no desire to do that. But this likely precludes any counter attack on them now, and that's not good. I think that is what Rush is worried about.

Politically, if you are not on offense, you are on defense.

[sarasota]

Rush appears to be as sick of this subject as most of us here are. He admitted this today but said he'd stay on the topic if that's what his listeners want... =inmates running the asylum, IMO.

[Wild Irish Rogue]

President Bush was also incredibly supportive of the troops, but, that will get zero play.
He said something along the lines of he was sorry that the actions of a few might tarnish the entire military and they were dedicated, brave young men and women,etc.
I think President Bush would crawl on broken glass, if he thought it would keep the troops safe.
He knows what's going on behind the scenes,he knows if we have any troops MIA, etc.
The more this stays front and center, the more it hurts the troops.
President Bush acted like a man protecting his men today , willing to do what it takes, to put this story to bed.
For the safety of his men.
And I do believe that President Bush considers each and every soldier in the Armed Forces, to be his Band of Brothers.

[Mo1]

I have no words to describe the level of contempt and disgust I have for Harkin and Rangle and the people who support them.

I lost count how many times I punched my computer screen watching the dems today