Posted on 05/30/2005 9:35:54 PM PDT by Dan from Michigan
U.S. gov't responsible for Afghan riots
Adam Zebelian
In an almost recession-like period in political news: It's hard to find anything to spark your interest. Cable news channels insist on continuing with mundane stories such as "the runaway bride" and the Michael Jackson trial. It can leave a political junkie asking for more. But there is one newsworthy story that really hasn't had the coverage it deserves - big surprise there. If you're not a psychotic bride-to-be with an overactive thyroid that causes your eyes to bug out, why should anyone pay attention to you?
Well, beyond the fluff, there has been a climactic event in the Middle East that has erupted because of an article written in Newsweek earlier this month. Contained within this article were allegations that soldiers at the prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, were placing the Quran on toilet seats and flushing them down the toilet as a method of interrogation. This article caused a domino effect of violence and rioting throughout the Islamic world, starting in Afghanistan.
After the eruption following the article, the Pentagon said there was no evidence whatsoever of Quran desecration, even though many former detainees have reported such allegations, and it has been mentioned on several Muslim media outlets. Also, the source that author Michael Isikoff used for the article has been a reliable insider for many years. It is still unclear if Quran desecration actually took place, but the Pentagon is doing its best to cover it up and turn it around as bogus journalism.
Because of the amount of reported stories surfacing from all directions of different illegal forms of torture being implemented as interrogation practices by this country, there is little doubt in my mind that disrespect of the Quran in some form has taken place at some point. In the current issue of Newsweek, it is mentioned that there has been an allegation that a female interrogator pretended to wipe her own menstrual blood on a prisoner she was interrogating.
Like Newsweek said, and I agree, it doesn't sound that unbelievable. It was interesting to read how the Pentagon's spokesperson, Lawrence DiRita, got angry while talking to Newsweek and blamed the whole incident on the anonymous official insider. It is quite obvious that he would, but to me it seems a little hypocritical. This story was the final straw in a region on the verge of total irreconcilable chaos. The rioting and protest that has taken place throughout Islamic countries was not directly caused by the Newsweek article, but rather was caused by years of resented American presence.
These people have completely had it. Their region has been used and abused by our country for years, with little to no respect given to the people, their culture or their religion. They feel insulted not only because we are only out for their oil but because we think they are stupid and will not even realize it. They are the world's gas stations, and we are the SUVs. This administration has made the situation throughout the region even worse, basically spitting on every Muslim country and religion.
It sickens me that we, as a country, can't even conduct ourselves in a fashion of professionalism and class when dealing with peoples that we know very little about. The abuse of prisoners should not be tolerated, even though it currently is. Allegations should be taken seriously, even though they currently are not. And blame and responsibility should be given and taken by the right people. This is not Newsweek's fault. This is Washington's fault for their inadequate leadership and professionalism.
The blood of the 15 people killed during the rioting and hundreds injured is not on Newsweek's hands, Isikoff's or even the insider source. It's on the hands of the leadership in Washington.
But there has been a lingering question while contemplating the issue of abuse and illegal interrogation - what is it for? Maybe I am naive and alienated to the point that I don't quite understand the full depth for the reasons and for the harshness of America's interrogation practices in this war. But just as an average American citizen, I would like to know what are the results of these interrogations.
Has Osama bin Laden been found? Like Bill Maher said on a recent episode of his show, we seem to always find the third top man of al-Qaida. It would make one think that there is an endless supply of them. By now, you would think that we would have at least brutally tortured the right person to find bin Laden.
There also is the possibility that, in the mind of a partially informed American, it could be for no other reason than creative fun on the side of the interrogators. And honestly, pretending to put menstrual blood on me would be enough to make me break.
I wonder if the same "FReepers" who defended Newsweak and said that the only blame should go to the rioters will come to this thread and say again that the only blame should go to the rioters.
Or maybe they were just defending their beloved Newsspeak.
---It sickens me that we, as a country, can't even conduct ourselves in a fashion of professionalism and class when dealing with peoples that we know very little about. The abuse of prisoners should not be tolerated, even though it currently is. ---
When I was in Korea a Korean Sergeant Major used to line up KATUSAs, reported to him for minor infractions and beat them with a rubber hose. When we found out about it we stopped reporting our KATUSAs to the Sergeant Major, but it would never have occurred to us to complain about his methods. He was acting within the normal parameters of a senior ROK Noncom.
These lefties that yowl on about our treatment of prisoners ought to spend some time attached to a front line ROK unit. It might calm their hysteria.
That you took issue with my post and not the headline proves my point.
If you believe this, you are the biggest sucker in the world.
(directed to the author of the article, as springboarding off your post)
The Taliban blew up ancient towering Buddhist statues a few months before the destruction of the World Trade Center.
Just what "wrong" was done to muslims "in their land" to justify that response?
It is Islamofascism and we are best to recognize it and halt its spread.
Appeasment in our lifetime is at our own peril.
If the Islamic slime are not killing Jews, they want to kill Christians. If they are not slaughtering Jews or Christians they seek out Hindu's Buddhists, Taoists etc... If people of other religions are not available to slaughter than it is best to blame the USA and Jews and kill fellow moon worshipers in the name of allah (the god of pigs) -- islamic nuts.
When will we learn that we in the Western World are at war with Islam. What is at stake is not just the USA but the future of the human race!!!
"Their region has been used and abused by our country for years, with little to no respect given to the people, their culture or their religion."
it IS easy to talk about a place one has never been, never lived in the local economy, never been close to, etc.
"But there has been a lingering question while contemplating the issue of abuse and illegal interrogation - what is it for? Maybe I am naive and alienated to the point that I don't quite understand the full depth for the reasons and for the harshness of America's interrogation practices in this war. But just as an average American citizen, I would like to know what are the results of these interrogations.'
Isn't this a future darwin candidicacy qualifier?
in retrospect, publishing student opinions isn't good posting practice.
Islam is at war with the whole world.
There are around 35 conflicts going on in the world at this point in time. A good many of them have an Islamic component.
It's hard to believe anyone this stupid and naive is allowed to write an article for publication in a major student newspaper. It's not only that this dope regurgitates all the leftist crapola fed him by his professors. It's also the fact that numbskulls like this student scribbler malign the very institutions that keep him free. Here's wishing that these leftist "geniuses" find their Marxist eden... by leaving the U.S.
Thank you for your very classy way of stating that it was not Dan from Michigan who authored the article. I knew that, but should have been clearer in my post. :)
The actual author was "Adam Zebelian".
Interesting that Michael Moore was able to make a documentary about countries he never visited, relying entirely on second unit teams to conduct interviews for him.
And when he finds himself in the middle of world news events (like Nick Berg), he suppresses the footage.
Sounds like he never wanted to know anything other than he already wanted to say.
He was busy editing Profiting From Columbine when the 9/11 attacks occurred. He posted to his own forum that his thunder had been stolen. Here was the deadliest attack in America and not a single gun was used. But he pushed on, didn't he?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.