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Rumsfeld only tip of iceberg (Cynthia Tucker Alert)
The Altlanta Journal Constitution ^ | May 9. 2004 | Cynthia Tucker

Posted on 05/08/2004 6:49:37 PM PDT by where's_the_Outrage?

President Bush wants you to know he's upset with Donald Rumsfeld. Though the president is standing by his man, he had his press aides put out the word that he called the defense secretary on the carpet last week over the Iraqi prisoner abuse scandal.

Rumsfeld, it turns out, never told the president about the pictures. And that has Bush pretty doggone mad.

The photographs, after all, made the difference. Without them, the Bushites could still go around the country blithely declaring that things are going just fine in Iraq, despite some "rough patches" brought on by a "violent few." Without the photos, the president would never have been forced to give interviews on Arab TV or to apologize -- apologize, for heaven's sake! -- to Jordan's King Abdullah. Without the pictures, it would have been business as usual.

Darn those pesky images!

Let's be clear about what happened at the Abu Ghraib prison. This wasn't the sort of hazing to which Detective Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) routinely subjects criminal suspects on ABC's "NYPD Blue." This was abuse and torture that violate basic standards of human decency, much of it aimed at Iraqis who were not accused of terrorism.

The military investigation cited "numerous incidents of sadistic, blatant and wanton criminal abuses," including forcing male detainees to masturbate for the cameras and sodomizing at least one detainee with a chemical light or a broomstick.

Perhaps the most disturbing thing about the pictures is the smiling visages of American soldiers as they force naked Iraqi men into degrading sexual poses. They remind me of photographs of lynchings from the bitter days of Jim Crow, when white Southerners brought their families out to watch the torture and execution of black Southerners, as if they were going to the circus. In those photos, too, the torturers are all smiles.

The White House acknowledges that Rumsfeld alerted the president several weeks ago -- if not months ago -- to a sweeping investigation of complaints of abuse and torture of prisoners by U.S. soldiers, not just in Iraq but also in Afghanistan. But Bush never bothered to read the full report. For that matter, neither did Rumsfeld. He complained in a TV interview that the documents comprise "a mountain of paper."

So neither man had any deep and abiding concern over the fact that U.S. soldiers were emulating some of the torment employed by Saddam Hussein when he held prisoners at Abu Ghraib. Before the release of the photos, neither seemed to care that abusing Iraqi prisoners -- forcing them into just the sort of humiliating poses that are most offensive in the Islamic world -- would only set back the cause of establishing a pro-Western democracy in Iraq.

By last week, not just Democrats but also Republicans were beginning to suggest that Rumsfeld be fired. It is, admittedly, a prospect with a certain appeal: Who would mourn the sacking of the swaggering, cocksure defense secretary?

But it wouldn't change a thing. Rumsfeld is no errant incompetent in an administration full of hard-nosed realists, men and women dedicated to righting their policies when they discover that things have gone awry. No, indeed. The secretary of defense is a perfect representative of a group of people so convinced of their own righteousness that they are untroubled by even the most inconvenient facts.

Nor would Rumsfeld's resignation change this ugly truth, only now becoming visible to the American public: Inevitably, inexorably, occupation breeds barbarity and inhumanity in the occupier, like a virus that flourishes in dark places. As the French became ever more savage in their attempts to pacify the Algerians, as the Japanese brutalized the Chinese in World War II, so will more young American men and women become brutish in their treatment of Iraqis.

Bush and administration officials are working hard to portray the outrages at Abu Ghraib as isolated examples, just a few soldiers gone bad. Would that it were so. Under certain circumstances, many of us have the capacity for barbarity.

Whether Rumsfeld stays or goes, the U.S. occupation of Iraq is bound to grow uglier still.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: bush; cynthiatucker; iraqiprison; runsfeld
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Amazing, we now have Jim Crow lynchings associated with the Iraqi Prisoner abuse. Therefore US Military is the same as he KKK.

I must really be stupid, cause I don't see anything worse suffered by the Prisoners than I saw (received) in Ranger School in 1978.

However, shame on the prison leadership for letting this happen, I've come to believe the unit reflects its commander. I'm heartbroken that Bush appologized for the Army's conduct. Regardless of the cause, circumstances or situation, the Army should have done better.

Of course the guys I associate with are all politically incorrect combat soldiers, REMF's not welcome.

1 posted on 05/08/2004 6:49:37 PM PDT by where's_the_Outrage?
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To: where's_the_Outrage?
Once again, I ask, has anyone answered (or for that matter, even asked) why all this prisoner 'abuse' was filmed, and to such a great extent? What would have been the incentive for the perpetraitors to film all of this?
2 posted on 05/08/2004 6:54:59 PM PDT by raptor29
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To: where's_the_Outrage?
The military investigation cited "numerous incidents of sadistic, blatant and wanton criminal abuses," including forcing male detainees to masturbate for the cameras and sodomizing at least one detainee with a chemical light or a broomstick.

Was the police commissioner forced out over Abner Louima? Was the mayor?

3 posted on 05/08/2004 6:56:13 PM PDT by atomicpossum (Hey, I wouldn't touch Camryn Manheim's uterus on a bet.)
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To: where's_the_Outrage?
You knew there would come this "connection." This so-called journalist would like us all to think that somehow Rummy is the Grand Wizard....while ignoring the REAL history of Senator Byrd.

Gad, I hate our moveon.org media.

4 posted on 05/08/2004 6:58:26 PM PDT by anniegetyourgun
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To: where's_the_Outrage?
"Who would mourn the sacking of the swaggering, cocksure defense secretary?"

And replace him with a hesitant, waffling, timid, effeminate one would be better I guess.

Heres to polically incorrect soldiers. Cheers, Outrage. :)
5 posted on 05/08/2004 6:59:02 PM PDT by dandi ("No nation ever taxed it's way into prosperity." - R.L.)
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To: raptor29
why all this prisoner 'abuse' was filmed

Personally I believe they filmed it and took pictures cause they're stupid. (and had a definate lack of leadership).

6 posted on 05/08/2004 7:00:18 PM PDT by where's_the_Outrage?
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To: where's_the_Outrage?
But Bush never bothered to read the full report. For that matter, neither did Rumsfeld. He complained in a TV interview that the documents comprise "a mountain of paper.

This is the sort of nonsense that is reminiscent of the "Phoenix Memo". Sure it is easy to see in hindsight what someone should have put more focus on but there is afterall a war going on. Maybe the President and secdef are a little busy, do ya think?

7 posted on 05/08/2004 7:03:40 PM PDT by Straight Vermonter (06/07/04 - 1000 days since 09/11/01)
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To: where's_the_Outrage?
I can't believe that they filmed the activity due to stupidity. My God, even the dumbest people would realize that this would expose them to an eventual problem. There's something much more here.
8 posted on 05/08/2004 7:04:16 PM PDT by raptor29
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To: raptor29
It is fishy. If all this is true, how did they manage to concentrate so many pervs in one unit like that?
9 posted on 05/08/2004 7:04:56 PM PDT by dandi ("No nation ever taxed it's way into prosperity." - R.L.)
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To: dandi
They hate confident men. Ms. Tucker assumes only women should exhibit such traits....while men are to be lead around on leashes - figuratively speaking, of course.....
10 posted on 05/08/2004 7:05:09 PM PDT by anniegetyourgun
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To: where's_the_Outrage?
Without the pictures, it would have been business as usual.

I'm going to say it.

Cynthia Tucker is a lying bitch.

The facts are that immediately upon learning of these allegations the investigations and corrections were set in motion.

Moreover, the press was informed and wrote of it.

"Not bothered to read"? Wrong again. The classified report was at the criminal division and was not given to the highest levels of the Pentagon (and the President) in order to protect the rights of the accused--however the gist was briefed. As was noted at the hearings yesterday, it is easy to imagine if the Pentagon had revealed the report and pictures *in detail* (remember, the press was aware of the situation, just not the grotesque details that they now revel in) that the cry would have been that the rights of the accused were being violated by the untouchable upper echelon.

Cynthia Tucker and others who continue to insinuate the administration approves of this conduct can just go (bleeeeeeeep).

11 posted on 05/08/2004 7:07:51 PM PDT by cyncooper
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To: dandi
Look, we have already had one Muslim "US" traitor soldier roll a grenade into an officers' tent and kill a couple guys, and then we had a Muslim "US" chaplain traitor spying for the enemy at Gitmo, how difficult is it to imagine that a similar traitorous element made all this happen?
12 posted on 05/08/2004 7:08:27 PM PDT by raptor29
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To: where's_the_Outrage?
Inevitably, inexorably, occupation breeds barbarity and inhumanity in the occupier, like a virus that flourishes in dark places. As the French became ever more savage in their attempts to pacify the Algerians, as the Japanese brutalized the Chinese in World War II, so will more young American men and women become brutish in their treatment of Iraqis.

Hmmmmmm. I wonder why darlin' Cindy didn't include Germany and Japan in her litany...

We're fighting two wars, dammit! One global war with radical Islam. Plus, a second internal war with the left and their lapdog media.

And America cannot afford to lose either.

13 posted on 05/08/2004 7:11:13 PM PDT by okie01 (www.ArmorforCongress.com...because Congress isn't for the morally halt and the mentally lame.)
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To: raptor29; where's_the_Outrage?
"......why all this prisoner 'abuse' was filmed, and to such a great extent?......"

IMHO: Bragging rights, trophies & stupidity.

".....What would have been the incentive for the perpetraitors to film all of this?......"

Here's what I wrote on another Thread when someone asked a similar question..................

Quick story: Many years ago at my place of employment we all got together for a batchelor party for one of our co-workers at another co-workers house. Someone had the bright idea of spicing the evening up by hiring a stripper. I won't go into the gory details except to say everyone got quite drunk and had a GREAT time!!!! During all this someone else had a camera and took pictures to document all the FUN everyone was having.

The next day at work some of the pictures were passed around to show other co-workers just what they had missed out on. A few had the stripper being fondled in a VERY compromising position by a married co-worker. The embarassed man ran around desperately (once he found out what all his co-workers were whooping-it-up about) trying to round up all the prints and asked for the negatives.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1130453/posts?page=373#373

14 posted on 05/08/2004 7:12:16 PM PDT by DoctorMichael (The Fourth Estate is a Fifth Column!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
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To: raptor29
Live for today for tomorrow I die.

Unfortunately, stupidity has not bounds (been there, done that.)

It was totally stupid what they did, just ask any of the purpetrators if they consider what they did as stupid. "Hey these pics are just among us."
15 posted on 05/08/2004 7:14:25 PM PDT by where's_the_Outrage?
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To: DoctorMichael
"Bragging rights, trophies & stupidity."?

Wow, in a military situation, given the stakes? I can't buy this, but maybe I'm wrong.
16 posted on 05/08/2004 7:17:29 PM PDT by raptor29
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To: raptor29
"What would have been the incentive for the perpetraitors to film all of this?"

I'm getting the impression that what's been unearthed is a ring of perverts. One of the guards (Cpl. Graner) has a history of domestic abuse. One of the female soldiers (Pvt. English) was his girlfriend and pregnant by him. Another (Sgt. Frederick) was a prison guard in real life -- which proves nothing by itself, but is suggestive, given subsequent events.

Interestingly, the perps that we know something of (and their families) all seem to be hard core Democrats, with a goodly reserve of hatred toward the Commander-in-Chief.

It may be a coincidence. But wouldn't it be interesting if all these perverts proved to be Democrats...???

17 posted on 05/08/2004 7:19:57 PM PDT by okie01 (www.ArmorforCongress.com...because Congress isn't for the morally halt and the mentally lame.)
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To: where's_the_Outrage?
"Hey, these pictures are just among us"?

Another question. They say that there are over 1000 pictures and some video? And no one in the mix would have stepped forward with concern about the possible ramifications?
18 posted on 05/08/2004 7:20:24 PM PDT by raptor29
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To: where's_the_Outrage?
" I must really be stupid, cause I don't see anything worse suffered by the Prisoners than I saw (received) in Ranger School in 1978. "

The media and the Democrats obviously have no idea what is involved in becoming a soldier.
Calling the pictures we've seen so far- a "catastrophe, a disaster, atrocities " indicates how soft and feminized they are.

Bet they couldn't hack BCT.

In fact, they would probably pass out at a sorority rush.

I don't think President Bush apologized for the Army's conduct-he's been praising the troops to the hilt, every day.Like he usually does.

Thanks for Leading the Way.
19 posted on 05/08/2004 7:23:56 PM PDT by Wild Irish Rogue
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To: raptor29
".....given the stakes?......."

I agree that the stakes are VERY high; but thats NOT whats on your mind in a seemingly benign situation among 'friends and comrades' as my previous post tried to illustrate. Like a stuffed mountain lions head on the wall, I'm sure they just wanted something to pass around in the future to show what bad-asses they were.

One thing my daddy taught me: "ALWAYS keep your name clean! In the end, your good name is the only thing you got......and thats something no one can take away from you".

FRegards
TheDoc

20 posted on 05/08/2004 7:25:32 PM PDT by DoctorMichael (The Fourth Estate is a Fifth Column!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
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