White House Castigates Durbin for Remarks

AP ^ | June 16, 2005

[West Coast Conservative]

The White House said a senator's comparison of American interrogators at Guantanamo Bay to Nazis, Soviet gulags and Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot was reprehensible and a disservice to those serving in the military.

White House press secretary Scott McClellan said it is "beyond belief" that Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin would compare treatment of dangerous enemy combatants at Guantanamo Bay to the death of millions of innocent people by oppressive regimes.

"Our men and women in uniform go out of their way to treat detainees humanely, and they go out of their way to uphold the values and the laws that we hold so dear in this country," McClellan said.

Durbin, the Senate's No. 2 Democrat, made the comparison during a speech on the Senate floor Tuesday after reading an FBI agent's report describing detainees at the Naval base in Guantanamo Bay as being chained to the floor without food or water in extreme temperatures.

"If I read this to you and did not tell you that it was an FBI agent describing what Americans had done to prisoners in their control, you would most certainly believe this must have been done by Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime — Pol Pot or others — that had no concern for human beings," Durbin said.

Said McClellan: "I think the senator's remarks are reprehensible. It's a real disservice to our men and women in uniform who adhere to high standards and uphold our values and our laws."

A Durbin spokesman said Wednesday that the senator did not plan to apologize for the comments. The senator issued a statement saying it's the administration that should apologize "for abandoning the Geneva Conventions and authorizing torture techniques that put our troops at risk and make Americans less secure."

Human-rights groups and other congressional Democrats have accused the administration of unjustly detaining suspects at Guantanamo. Amnesty International recently called the prison "the gulag of our time" and some Republicans have questioned whether it should remain open.

[jveritas]

Great observation, they already have the reputation of being soft on terrorism and that why they lost in 2004 and they will lose more badly in 2006 and 2008.

[katieanna]

Not sure about Cantwell amendment. Just returned from a long lunch (tex mex)!

[rj45mis]

That a**hole Sen. Disturbin can virtually say anything he wants about this administration because, as long as Chicago remains in Illinois, he won't have to be concerned about getting reelected. What a frickin shame!

[JewishRighter]

I think Ramsey Clark may be looking for co-counsel in defending Saddam Hussein.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Finally.

[JewishRighter]

Good point. I think he needs to show some real passionate anger on this.

[Mr. Keys]

It's unfortunate that they outrank the military. I would love to see a group of officers go to the Senate and take off the gloves.

[jec41]

censured isn't NEAR strong enough. i want impeachment or a resignation or a coliseum with detainees and durbin battling it out.

Myself and another parent posted this on another Thread.

Senator Durbins comments put my son in danger. He has done one tour of Iraq and will do one more before he is out of the Army. Senator Durbins comments (that are lies) give aid and succor to the enemy that wants to kill my son.

My son is also in Iraq and I consider Durbin to be just as much of the enemy as the terrorists and insurgents. One and the same. For any soldier that is killed now Durbin is just as responsible as the enemy in Iraq or Al Quaida.
In fact Senator you are a much greater enemy than the one we face in Iraq and you should be treated as such. I evocate any action by my government to treat you as a traitor to this country. Last time your elk tried this was Vietnam and we were refused a voice by MSM. But not now Senator, not now, and not ever again!!!!! I have a voice, you are exposed, you will continue to be exposed. I call for your arrest for treason, I call for your impeachment, and I call for your disgrace. I will not stand by why you perpetuate the death of my children. If our children can fight the enemy for us in Iraq we can fight the enemy at home for them. I encourage all parents with children in the service to unite and get rid of this type of scum in congress.

[Adiemus]

According to the dictionary, the word slander is:
" 1. Law. Oral communication of false statements injurious to a person's reputation.
2. A false and malicious statement or report about someone.
"

My daughter is active duty military, and I am a veteran. He has committed slander against us both.

Wonder if a class-action law suit could happen...

[JewishRighter]

WHERE’S THE OUTRAGE FROM REPUBLICAN POLITICIANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY????????

[MNlurker]

Could they be technically be executed like out of uniform Germans behind lines were in WW II?

It was well within the Geneva Convention guidelines then and would be a hoot to see what all these people whining about use of the Geneva Convention would say if we applied it now and strung up every single one of them.

[JohnBovenmyer]

Durbin will get away with it because in his state the only castratos are the people running the Illinois GOP. Until the grass roots mounts a successful coup Durbin could openly encourage Osama to take down the Sears and John Hancock towers and still win re-election against whomever the current GOP surrendership would let on the ballot.

[Polyxene]

"I'd like to hear from Bush or Cheney on this one, not the spokesman."

ME, TOO!! AND Frist or any other Republican who isn't a wuss or a RINO! Not counting on my two RINO senators, DeRINO the turncoat and RINOvitch the whining cry-baby.

[Deo et Patria]

Yawn. After all of this, you blame the Republicans? get a grip.

[edcoil]

What, do you think you will hear? Has it occured to you that every politican interviewed anywhere says very little against another one of ther special club.

[Deo et Patria]

Can someone post the "Dick Turban" picture again? That one was great.

[Christian4Bush]

I posted this on a different thread, but I have this suggestion: honey and fire ants. Just the nether regions for a start, with arms tied to a tree.

I posted the following on another thread: "End prisoner abuse in wartime. DON'T TAKE ANY."

Of course, then we'd prove Phallus Durbin correct, by becoming that which he falsely accused us of being.

[southland]

If they close Gitmo move it to Illinois or Plains ga.
Durban will welcome them with open arms . So will jimy Carter in Plains, ga

[katieanna]

Per Hannity, Durbin to take Senate Floor momentarily to address this issue.

[Wristpin]

"Exactly. Bush laced into the Dems as "obstructionists" the other night but far stronger words are needed about treason on the Left (and accomodation from RHINOs). The White House must return fire and with disproportionate force."

The "T" word needs to thrown around. The Dems forget that most of them voted to send our troops over to Iraq. The 24/7 DNC/Media undermining makes every minute over there more dangerous for our people.