In other words: A discussion of The Bush Administration
Has someone already made this connection? If so, let me reinforce it. Bush said at the G-8 summit that the military was instructed to "stay within U.S. law" when interrogating prisoners and that "instructions went out to our people to adhere to law." But if his own lawyers were advising the president that US laws and treaties prohibiting torture did not apply in the War on Terror, then let me ask a simple question: what law did the military have to "adhere to" or "stay within?"
As such, I can't figure out the wool that the Chimper is trying to pull over our eyes. I mean it's great that he told everyone to play by the rules and act nice-nice. But at the same time he suspended the rules by fiat. So what does his admonishment add up to, other than lip service? The commander-in-thief wasn't going to discipline anyone for actions that might have otherwise pushed the boundaries of legality, christian goodness or humanity because they had a permission slip from W's lawyers saying "push away." There was nothing to hold anyone back from the actions they took. Nothing to stop any military intelligence guys from having a contest to see who could make more Iraqi's pee on themselves in fear. Nothing to stop the probing with light sticks. Nothing to stop, well, let's just say it: torture. There was no fear of disciplinary action. No worry of being held accountable. That's why the pictures got taken. That's why it continued for months. That's why people bragged about it. If anyone doubts that the permission came from the highest levels, just look at the why the people who committed these acts behaved. They certainly didn't act like people who were afraid of anything. They didn't try to hide their actions.
The kool-aid drinkers out there like to think that this was just a few bad apples. But in an organization that thrives on discipline. That rewards dedication and adherence to the rule of order. Where the consequences of your actions are well understood. Where failing to behave and follow your orders is actionable. To paraphrase a line from A Few Good Men: "President Bush, those men tortured Iraqis because that's what you told them to do."
- B 12:56 PM - [PermaLink] -
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