Bad. Really, Fucking Bad
Just a few of Andrew Sullivan's thoughts on the abuse scandal. No, let me rephrase: 'abuse' is too kind a word. The military investigation's report is now online. Do not read it if you have a weak stomach.It renders one speechless ... I've had a hard time coming to grips with the appalling abuses ... the sickening feeling in the pit of the stomach.
Andrew Sullivan continues, on what we should do now:
"I have no doubt he feels" remorse and responsibility. Well, remorse - but responsibility? The NYTimes covers Bush's address on Arab TV:So far, the punishments meted out have not been severe enough; and the public apology not clear and definitive enough. It seems to me that some kind of reckoning has to be made by the president himself. No one below him can have the impact of a presidential statement of apology to the Iraqi and American people. Bush should give one. He should show true responsibility and remorse, which I have no doubt he feels. I can think of no better way than to go to Abu Ghraib itself, to witness the place where these abuses occurred and swear that the culprits will be punished and that it will not happen again.
Bush promises "people will be brought to justice." By using a vague and nonspecific word like 'people,' Bush distances America from these crimes: it was people who did this, not Americans. He, as President, certainly can't be held responsible for 'people.'The people of Iraq "must understand that what took place in that prison does not represent the America that I know," [Bush said.] ""There will be investigations, people will be brought to justice. ... We want to know the truth."
Bush said he retained confidence in Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and talked to him earlier Wednesday and told him to "find the truth and tell the Iraqi people and the world the truth. We have nothing to hide."
I think that's nitpicking. But it is getting repetitive, all the times Bush retains confidence in so-and-so. We may have nothing to hide, but that's no virtue if your simply making your sins public.
