Not only that, he is trying to get even with the military and this time he may have succeeded. I don't know if our aims in Iraq or even President Bush's reelection will survive the damage from this as the media and the Democrats will keep pounding and pounding on this.
Already, IMO, the US made the present arrangement is in Fallujah in response to anticipated fallout from this affair. The seige was lifted on the same day the 60 Minutes report was broadcast. Gen Myer asked CBS to delay the broadcast because of events in Iraq at the time. Fallujah was the main event at the time.
If the scandal tied our hands in Fallujah it may cause us problems elsewhere in Iraq. Resistance in Iraq will no doubt stiffen as rage over this spreads. If at the same time our resolve to meet these threats, or take agressive action is weakened by a fear of more Iraqi outrage, we will fail.
President Bush and Commanders in Iraq must deal decisively with the insugents in spite of the Prisoner abuse. They will have to be strong in spite of the situation.
In the meantime the investigation into the prisoner abuse must be as quick an thorough as possible. If we are lucky, the abuse will be found to localized in this prison by a few individuals, not widespread and not the result of policies of higher command. The people involved are already claiming "they were only following orders" in what they did. If that is true or the perception that it is sticks there will be hell to pay.
We have not heard anything from the Military Intelligence or civilian contractors implicated in the Taguba Report which was leaded to Seymour Hersh for his New Yorker article. I would like to hear their side of this.
Things actually seem to be going better in Iraq. We still don't know how the American people are going to react to this either. Everyone was in shock over the pictures when they first came out, but the people seem to be rallying around Rumsfeld. Latest poll says 70% don't want him to resign.
It has made it a lot more dangerous for the men in the field because those who were in Fallujah will be back out on the streets setting bombs etc.
I don't know what's going to happen with Bush's re-election prospects, but if Kerry gets in, we can expect the terrorist strikes here at home within months from the election.