Highwaygirl banner

May 05, 2004

Implausible Deniability

Okay, I need someone to explain to me how a soldier in the U.S. Army or a member of the federal government (for example, the CIA) can murder a defenseless prisoner in their care and NOT be charged with some sort of crime. Is it because the crime did not happen in the U.S. and therefore doesn't fall under the jurisdiction of a county or state? Even if that's the case, doesn't the military/feds have rules in place to govern this type of thing? Is it because they are not, technically, civilians during the time when they committed the act? What about the code of military justice?

This whole thing is unconscionable, and you can bet that any Americans who are taken hostage in Iraq from this point forward are going to be the ones who bear witness to the reprisals. We were indignant about what a group of Iraqis did to those contractors' bodies, burning them, dismembering them, dragging them through the streets. Where is our indignance about our own behavior? More to the point, where is the U.S. GOVERNMENT'S indignance? It's not good enough for Rumsfeld to call the perpetrators in question "Unamerican" if he's going to turn around and try to help bury all the details.

Oh, and Pvt. Lynndie England? Is a world class dumbass (see story linked above).

In other news ... I pretty much loathe Michael Moore and think he's an obnoxious blowhard, but COME ON! I censor the man by not going to see his films. Institutionalized censorship, on the other hand, is just wrong.

Edited to add: Okay, why are two Army generals able to suck it up and apologize for the treatment of Iraqi prisoners, yet both President Bush and Sec. of State Dick Rumsfeld can't bring it upon themselves to do the same? If ANYONE should take the lead in apologizing for this mess it should be Bush.

From the second linked article above:

President Bush - "The America I know is a compassionate country that believes in freedom. The America I know cares about every individual."

Unless they're gay or poor, right? Has there ever been a president MORE out of touch with the reality that average Americans live under?

Posted by Highwaygirl on May 5, 2004 10:33 AM to the category Political Rants
Comments

re: Michael Moore. I have mixed feelings about Michael. I have actually met him, and quite a nice conversation with him, so I've seen a different side. Many times I agree with his message, but not necessarily his method of delivering his message. Yes, he can be obnoxious, but I think that's for the camera. And, altho I didn't read the article you linked, I'm going to guess it's about Disney telling Miramax they can't release Moore's latest film. I wouldn't expect anything less from Disney. The general public might not see the obnoxious side of The Mouse - but - believe me, we need the Michael Moore's of this world to balance out the Disney's.

Posted by: TVJunkie at May 5, 2004 11:04 AM

Unless they are gay, poor and godless, don't forget godless. Oh don't forget the democrats and the pro abortionists. Am I forgeting anyone?

Posted by: mike at May 5, 2004 07:48 PM
Post a comment









Remember personal info?

click to make your selection bold click to make your selection italic click to add a link
Highlight the text you wish to modify, then click on the bold, italics, or link button.

The bold, italics, and link buttons only work in IE 5+ on the PC.