Thursday, May 6, 2004

HE DIDN'T APOLOGIZE?

OK .. So President Bush went on Arab-language television yesterday to express his regrets for what happened at the Abu Ghraib prison.  Now I'm not an apology hound like so many on the left ... but I just cannot believe that Bush didn't find a way to say a simple apology to the Iraqi people.  What would have been the big problem with a simple "On behalf of the American people, my administration and our armed forces, I would like to apologize to the Iraqi people fort this unforgivable treatment of their countrymen."? 

We'll get tot he apology question in a moment ... but first ....

THE MEDIA'S THIRST FOR TORTURE

As bad as the pictures taken in the Abu Ghraib prison are, leave it to the Bush-hating media to seize on the opportunity to actually make them out to be worse than they are (if that's possible.)  What you're starting to hear and read in print is the use of the 'T' word...torture.  However, up to this point, there's no evidence of torture.  Humiliation, yes.  Torture, no.  Humiliation isn't torture.  All we have so far is just humiliating photos.  So what's the agenda here?

It's plain and simple...many in the left-wing media are very anti-American.  They want to see America weakened.  They're using this as proof that the war was wrong, and to insinuate that all our soldiers are raping, pillaging and torturing the people of Iraq.  The  Coalition is doing nothing of the sort.  As it stands now, you have a handful of disgraceful idiots who have severely damaged the American image, not the entire 150,000 force in Iraq.  CNN ran a report comparing the abuse photos to the My Lai massacre in Vietnam, where hundreds were murdered.  Is CNN saying that  Abu Ghraib is another My Lai?  It seems so.  Sorry CNN...it's not even close.  But you don't let the facts get into the way of an agenda, do you?

Oh..and one note about the "Arab outrage:"  It's quite interesting how some in the world are shocked at the sight of prisoners being humiliated in photos, but had no problem dancing in the street when 3,000 Americans were slaughtered by Islamic terrorists on 9/11.  Those responsible for taking these photos and mistreating the prisoners will be brought to justice.  Why wasn't there the same concern when Saddam was raping, torturing and murdering people in that very same prison?

OK .. NOW I'LL ANSWER THAT QUESTION

So, why should we apologize for the actions of our troops in Iraq in light of the fact that we still haven't heard any apologies from the Arab world for the events of 9/11, or for the treatment of those four civilian contractors murdered and desecrated in Fallujah? That's easy.  We're not them.  We hold the moral high ground here.  If we accept our ownership of the moral high ground, we must accept the standard of conduct that comes with it, including apologizing for our actions when such an apology is appropriate.

We are trying to convince the Iraqi people that America has something more to offer them than did Saddam Hussein.  Yes, Saddam really did torture his people.  It wasn't just humiliating pictures, it was actual rape rooms, electric shock devices, mass murders  and other brutalities.  Iraqis got no apologies from Saddam.  Now is the time to show them that our way is better.  When you see that your people have done something wrong you punish them, and you apologize to their victims.  How can this message not resonate with a people who have been brutalized, without apology, for so many decades.

As for that prison?  Make a big show of leveling it.  Destroy it.  Replace it with a memorial to those who were abused and murdered by Saddam Hussein on that site.

THE MEDIA DIDN'T UNCOVER THIS OUTRAGE

There seems to be a growing perception that it was the media, possibly CBS, that uncovered the abuse of Iraqi prisoners.  Not so.  The outrage was uncovered by the U.S. Army, not the media.  Investigations were under way and punishment already handed out by the time CBS first brought those images to the world.  Just a bit of information you need to have stored somewhere in your database.

IT'S AS IF LIBERALS WANT IT TO BE MORE WIDESPREAD

That's the latest buzzword on Capitol Hill, as politician after politician openly worries that the Iraqi prisoner abuse might be more widespread.  First up, Ted Kennedy, who said "this does not appear to be an isolated incident."  What he meant to say was that he hoped it wasn't, because he wants to score political points for The Poodle against Bush, at the expense of the war on terror.  Nice going, Ted.

Also weighing in was liberal Democrat..er...Republican Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, who was concerned that there might be a culture that not only condoned this, but encouraged this kind of behavior.  Once again, typical liberal guilt-by-association theory.  It can't just be a few bad people...it must be their environment that made them do it!  Our entire military must be evil!

And finally, here's something you may or may not hear more of.  An attorney for one of the military police officers being investigated said that the photos were staged to manipulate the prisoners into cooperating with intelligence officials.  He says it was a plan devised by military intelligence and the CIA and that the soldiers were simply following orders. 

An interesting defense, albeit a weak one, but you haven't heard the last of this by any stretch. 

IDIOCY REIGNS SUPREME IN KANSAS

Ever heard the expression that if you want more of something, then subsidize it?  Well, amazingly, that's how the State of Kansas is treating the problem of illegal immigration.  That's right...illegal..as in illegal aliens, as in not supposed to be here.  President Bush's amnesty for illegals program is bad enough, but this one takes the cake.

Democratic Governor Kathleen Sebelius is actually planning to sign a bill that passed the state legislature that would give illegal immigrants a tuition break at the state's public colleges and universities.  Let's see if we have this straight...not only are these people in the country illegally and violating the laws of our nation, but now they want to give them a break on tuition?  If you live in Oklahoma and you want to send your child to Kansas for college, you'll have to pay a higher tuition than some illegal alien living -- illegally -- in Kansas?  Come on, you've got to be kidding.  As one Republican member of the legislature put it: "If terrorists come to get a pilot's license at a Kansas university, at least we gave them in-state tuition before they used it against us." 

This is a simple issue.  People who come to the United States illegally belong one place and one place only:  back where they came.  What ever happened to just rounding up illegal aliens and deporting them?  They are, after all, here illegally.  But noooo....that's too mean.  We wouldn't want to hurt their feelings!

Boy, they're really rolling out the red carpet for the lawbreakers in Kansas, aren't they?

KERRY WANTS RUMSFELD TO RESIGN.

And just who didn't see this one coming?  John Kerry wants Don Rumsfeld to resign.  It doesn't matter to The Poodle whether or not this will hurt our efforts in the war against terror.  What matters to sKerry is the great points that he could score with the departure of Rumsfeld. 

Maybe Kerry should just go ahead and get it over with.  Call a press conference today and demand the resignation of Bush's entire cabinet, the members of the Joint Chief's of Staff and the Republican leadership of the House and Senate.   That way no matter what happens over the next six months The Poodle will be able to say "Well, I saw this coming and called for ________'s resignation last May."

Stupid idea?  Yes.  But remember, stupid people love stupid ideas and stupid people vote Democratic.

PRESS RELEASE

I received the following press release via email last evening.  I haven't yet had the opportunity to check to see if it is true.  Maybe you can find out.

FRIENDS FINALE

So, tonight is the final episode of Friends. BFD.  While 55 million Americans glue themselves to the tube this evening, perhaps it would be a good time for the rest of us to reflect just a wee bit on the absurdities of today's culture of celebrity worship. 

READING ASSIGNMENTS

Builder Survives Nailgun Accident

Just in case you're getting the wrong idea .. it was the Army, not the media, that found out what was happening at Abu Gharib.

Peggy Noonan explains why so many Americans are so disheartened by what's happened in Iraq.

Let's go back to December of 1998.  The scene is the Oval Office.  The person is Bill Clinton ... the President.  He is talking to the nation about Iraq.  Those of you who so eagerly condemn Bush need to read this ... but, of course, you won't. 

Amidst all of the Bush-bashing of late, there seems to be a lack of interest in the weapons of mass destruction issue.  Larry Elder brings us up to date.

Great stuff.  Get a speeding ticket.  Write a clever letter to the cops.  They waive the speeding ticket.

Despite all of the Bush administration's recent troubles,   Dick Morris tells us that The Poodle's campaign isn't doing all that well.

Here's an update on the 'crybaby coach' we told you about yesterday.  He's being sent to sensitivity training.  I must say, after reading that story a second time I think the coach should be sent to an unemployment line instead of some goofy sensitivity training

Robert Novak says that some in the House of Representatives actually want to reform the budget process.  Fat chance.  I'll notify your grandchildren when that happens.

Thomas Sowell says that It's always easier for government to make decisions when they're spending other people's money.

Even with hindsight, liberals can't see straight.  Ann Coulter weighs in on the contradictions of the 9/11 Commission.  (Pun intended)

Sixty former diplomats have written President Bush denouncing the administration's support for Israel.  Joel Mowbray has the real story behind the letter.

Emmett Tyrell has the latest. on that Florida Democratic prosecutor who is staking his political future on destroying Rush Limbaugh.

Cal Thomas provides some context on those pictures of Iraqi prisoners.

Al Gore insists his new cable network won't be a liberal channel.  That's interesting because all of his financial supporters are big-time left-wingers.

Democrats love to talk about turning Iraq over to the U.N., but as John O' Sullivan writes, the U.N. can't be trusted to do right by Iraqis.
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