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In a world besotted by toxic moral equivalence, it actually makes sense to equate the treatment of Iraqi prisoners with the brutality suffered at the hands of Saddam Hussein, or, as some have suggested, the Gestapo torturers of the Third Reich. But aside from its inflammatory properties, such a comparison has little use as a diagnostic tool or a logical yardstick for measuring the degree of the offense, at least anywhere in the real world. These incidents, we’re led to believe, recall the tyranny of Saddam’s regime, and tarnish the moral credibility of the allied mission in Iraq. As though...

The pitfalls of speedy court martial trials.THE UPCOMING COURT MARTIAL trials in the Abu Ghraib detainee abuse cases may have consequences neither intended nor anticipated by the military and civilian authorities who are pushing for a quick and decisive resolution of the affair. These trials--the first is scheduled to begin May 19 in Baghdad--will not be drumhead proceedings with preordained guilty verdicts. Unless the investigations that preceded the public disclosures of abuses result in early plea agreements, the cases may get ugly, complicated, and tedious. Especially as the trials seem to be proceeding hastily. If military authorities have followed normal...

Bush expresses confidence in him--for now.THE MOST OMINOUS MOMENT for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld last week came in an exchange with Republican senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. Near the end of Rumsfeld's appearance before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Graham suggested that "the worst" of the prison abuse scandal "is yet to come" in photos and videos of mistreatment of Iraqi detainees. And Rumsfeld seemed to agree. "There's a lot more pictures and many investigations underway," he said.Despite this, President Bush insists Rumsfeld will keep his job. Bush took Rumsfeld aside at the White House to chastise him for...

"John Kerry and Ted Kennedy stooped to a new low yesterday in their dual attacks on President Bush and America's military. John Kerry never misses an opportunity to play politics with the War on Terror and his appalling comments call into question his ability to lead America during these challenging times." -Steve Schmidt, Bush-Cheney '04 Spokesman Kerry Politicizes Iraqi Prisoner Abuse Kerry Blames Prisoner Abuse On The President. "Kerry, 60, also said prisoner abuse in Iraq by U.S. troops stemmed from an 'arrogance' of policy under Bush. 'It's not just a few privates and corporals, sergeants,' Kerry told a...

The Boston Fog ReportAn ongoing examination of John Kerry’s “nuances and shades of gray in both foreign and domestic policy.” (Editorial, “A Primary Endorsement,” The New York Times, 2/26/04)for·a·gainst adverb. 1. To be both for and against something at the same time: e.g. “I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it.” (Glen Johnson, “Kerry Blasts Bush On Protecting Troops,” The Boston Globe, 3/17/04) "John Kerry first attacked the Administration for moving too slowly, and now he says it's moving too fast. Only John Kerry could flip-flop on his own political attack." -Steve Schmidt, Bush-Cheney...

Freep this Poll

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Christine Iverson202-863-8614 Washington, DC—RNC Chairman Ed Gillespie made the following statement today on a conference call with reporters regarding the politicization of the Iraqi prisoner issue by Democrats. “The day before Senator Kerry stated publicly that the prison abuses at Abu Ghraib constituted ‘a moment for America to try to deal with this without partisan politics’ (CNN.com 5/10/2004) his campaign engaged in a mass e-mail campaign attacking the President politically and initiating a petition drive in support of Kerry’s call for Secretary Rumsfeld to resign-along with a ‘DONATE NOW!’ appeal for campaign contributions. “Senator Kerry also...