Should the Bush Administration Be Held Accountable?
It is truly the case, as my husband would say, that I am on the warpath. (no puns nor mean-spiriteness inteded here, I assue you.) Just this morning there was a confirmed report that there were in fact known abuses to the holy book, the Koran. Here is a link with the story: http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2005/06/03/quran050603.html.
Admissions that this holy book was in fact being subjected to inappropriate handling and treatment.
When I look at the newspapers today, I see many innocent people being killed in Iraq. Here is an illustration of soldiers honoring those who have fallen: http://www.msn.com/.
Here is my question: Why is an investigation not being held and a call being made for the resignation of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld? The fact that this man was behind the horrors that took place in Abu Graub, and is still in office is staggering. Should he and the Bush administration at some point be held accountable? Look at the double standard and hypocrisy that takes place: Clinton, who fought over the definition of a word, and engaged in immoral conduct outside of his marriage, was impeached for lying! Here we have many lies, holy books being desecrated, many people being killed, and somehow, we are turning our backs.
Strangely, it seems to be sinful and inappropriate to lie about sex, but alright to lie about invading a country on a faulty assumption, i.e. that they were weapons of mass destruction, and to lie about horrible acts being committed against prisioners. Are our troops made up of individuals, like pawns, caught inside of a sea of lies? My own heart breaks for each of them! Where is that line that Bush so envelopes to be drawn? Is lying the type of Christan value that Bush wants us to embrace in this country?
Here is the question of the day: Should the Bush administration be held accountable in any form? Why are the leaders of this nation not calling for an investigation and possible resignation of Secretary Rumsfeld?
Thank you for your minds.
Admissions that this holy book was in fact being subjected to inappropriate handling and treatment.
When I look at the newspapers today, I see many innocent people being killed in Iraq. Here is an illustration of soldiers honoring those who have fallen: http://www.msn.com/.
Here is my question: Why is an investigation not being held and a call being made for the resignation of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld? The fact that this man was behind the horrors that took place in Abu Graub, and is still in office is staggering. Should he and the Bush administration at some point be held accountable? Look at the double standard and hypocrisy that takes place: Clinton, who fought over the definition of a word, and engaged in immoral conduct outside of his marriage, was impeached for lying! Here we have many lies, holy books being desecrated, many people being killed, and somehow, we are turning our backs.
Strangely, it seems to be sinful and inappropriate to lie about sex, but alright to lie about invading a country on a faulty assumption, i.e. that they were weapons of mass destruction, and to lie about horrible acts being committed against prisioners. Are our troops made up of individuals, like pawns, caught inside of a sea of lies? My own heart breaks for each of them! Where is that line that Bush so envelopes to be drawn? Is lying the type of Christan value that Bush wants us to embrace in this country?
Here is the question of the day: Should the Bush administration be held accountable in any form? Why are the leaders of this nation not calling for an investigation and possible resignation of Secretary Rumsfeld?
Thank you for your minds.
26 Comments:
Yes, they should be held accountable ... as they demand accountability for human rights abuses from every other country they criticize. I can barely form words around my anger about this. Yesterday, as I watched the horrific tape of murders in Bosnia, used as evidence in the Serbian leader's trial, I thought how this administration should be giving deep thought to their legacy, and how they may be judged by history. Even if they refuse to judge themselves today.
Mire,
I bow and applaud you! Very well put. I know what you mean: something all of these horrors seem surreal to me, like I am watching a bad Fellini film.
Thank you for your beautifl voice here.
Everyone's blogging about this today, it seems, and understandably so (Lucinda Sans and jevanking both did).
I think an investigation, and the resignation of Donald Rumsfeld, are in order. For something this gross, someone has to take a fall. Rumsfeld is the logical choice.
Of course, they should be held accountable. But, they won't be. Not a chance.
Once again, the answer is easy.
There are no investigations because one party has control of 2/3 of the system. The balance of power is all out of whack. Will a republican congress call for an investigation of a republican president? Unlikely at best.
Also, there is the whole "we are at war" thing. What message would America send to "the enemies" if we start a formal investigation of the administration? They (the GOP) say that it would only give credibility to what the "terrorists" say. Sounds to me like an admission of guilt! How could an investigation give credibility to what someone says unless the findings agree with the statements?
And finally, there was the whole Clinton kangaroo court. Early on, the republicans had enough control to force an investigation into some qustionable land deals alledgedly done in the 70s. When no evidence could be found, the investigation looked anywhere it could - and found a blue dress. We all know what the rest of the story is. Republicans point to that and claim that calls for a formal investigation on Bush is nothing more than "political payback".
There will be no investigation of the American Furhur. We all need to be good Americans and support our leader in this time of war. We can not question his leadership or judgement.
Just like nobody could question Stalin. And nobody could question Italy's government during WWII. While we are not there yet, this is the direction America is heading.
By the way, I located the sailboat I am going to steal. It is a 60 foot catamaran. It looks very sea worthy, and the twin hull design will make it fast and offer a smooth ride. Anyone up for a trip to Aruba?
Lazy Iguana,
I think the matter is a bit more complex than you describe. However, I am game about leaving, not to Aruba, but Israel!
Humm...Israel huh? I will need to steal a larger sailboat. Maybe something in the 90 foot class. Getting across the Atlantic in too small of a boat is dangerous.
The report is that there were 5 minor incidents of Americans mishandling Qur'ans and 15 incidents of detainees mishandling their own Qur'ans. Hmm.
I'm trying to understand Islam, I really am. They get worked into a muderous frenzy (17 dead) at the mere report of Qur'an desecration but there is seemingly little outrage about the thousands of Muslims being killed by other Muslims in Iraq.
The detainees are being held at Gitmo because they have, or want to, kill Americans. And we should demand Rumsfeld's head because someone splashed urine on a book?
thc:
Are you claiming that it is appropraite to lie and misrepresent?
Remember what happened to Bill Clinton, with only ONE blow job. (for lack of better phrases)
I expect the spin masters to underestimate or ignore try to explain away these lies, much in the same way. A lie is a lie is a lie! Simple common sense. Something the Bush administration wants everyone to have! Well, here it is, plain and simple.
forgot to mention about Rumsfeld:
Based upon his comments today, it will come as no surprise if he strains relations between the U.S. and China. Who knows what will happen. The problem is that China has more than double our population! Rumsfeld should learn some dipolmocy. His time has passed.
Barbara:
Just what lies are you referring to?
Where would you like me to start?
First off, the latest series of incidents at GETMO are not really the issue. If this were the first time that any negative reports surfaced, it would be easy to just write them off.
But they are not isolated incidents. The administration claims they are, but it seems to me like other "isolated incidents" are happening system wide.
I was never in the military, but I have taken business classes. The military and a corporation are alike in many ways. Both have people at the top who are responsible for those under them.
At the bottom of the corporate power base are the employees paid by the hour. Above them are supervisors, then managers. A clerk can not make business decisions without consulting a supervisor. Supervisors can only make limited decisions before having to go to a manager, and so on.
So applied to the situation at hand, who is at the top? Where does the buck stop? Theodore Roosevelt said "the buck stops here". and by here he meant himself. Bush seems to think that the buck stops somewhere else.
So we have brought up privates on charges of abuse. People at the bottom. Did the commanding officers know what the hell was going on on their watch? If not, why not?!?! The military is based on dicipline and a clear chain of command - once this is comprimised we move from a professional army to a bunch of mercenary thugs.
And what of the memos that hint that Runny knew about the abuse, and did nothing about it? As long as nobody knows is it OK? I do not think so. Allowing the abuse to go unchecked is not good for dicipline.
As a result of piss poor management from the very top (Washington DC), our efforts in the middle east have been compromised. The reports of widespread abuse by US forces do not help our cause any.
In Afganistan, are people any better off? Not really. Most of the population is still in the stone age. Schools are still rubble piles. Roads are still cratered, and unexploded munitions are still all over the place. We said almost 4 years ago that we were going to make things better. We have not. Mission accomplished.
In Iraq, there were universities and running water and electricity. Roads were in fairly good shape. Today, Hussien is gone and his thugs are no longer so visible - but what about today? The streets are unsafe, cities are in ruins, utility services are unavilable to many. And what are US forces doing? Guarding pipelines.
After WWII, the United States rebuilt Germany and Japan. Within a year after the war was over, people in West Germany were better off. Roads were rebuilt. Homes were rebuilt. Utiities were restored.
East Germany, under the control of the Russians, was the opposite. The first things the Red Army did was find ways to remove resources. Mines were back in operation, but cities like Dresden were left as they were.
So yes, officals at the top need to be questioned. Someone needs to step up and take responsibility. But this will never happen.
Also, imagine the outrage that the republican controled congress would express if a bunch of fags "accidentaly" pissed on a bible during a parade. Would they write it off as an isolated incident?
"Is lying the type of Christan value that Bush wants us to embrace in this country?"
It's hard not to judge Christ by the behavious of some of His followers, but lying was not a trait he valued. In fact, the people Jesus had the worst time with were those in leadership roles who thought they were better than anyone else and untouchable. Sound familiar?
I don't get a vote on this, as I'm not American, but I hope that there is accountablility. For all out sakes.
That lazy iguana certainly has a way with words!
wilsonian:
I agree with you, actually. I had a post awhile back on Jesus, tolerance and homosexuality questioning how those in power who claim to be expounding Christan values seem to be the most intolerant. I think you may have provided a nice answer there when you distinguish the leaders from non-leaders. Thank you for your insightful comments.
I think those who desecrated the Koran should be reprimanded and I believe they will be.
What should be done with the Muslims at Gitmo who desecrated their own holy book? I wonder if anyone is angry over that?
What should be done with those who bomb mosques and destroy Korans... and by the way kill people too?
No one should excuse those who violated the way in which detainees & the Koran are to be treated. Punish them for their wrongdoing. End of story.
ONE blow job???
Yeah, we're pretty sure Clinton enjoyed more than one extramarital blow job ... but, as you know, the comparison is impeachment for extramarital oral sex versus no apparent judgement for(at last count) 1600 American soldiers dead in a war entered into under a falsified pretext. And, yes, there is a war against terror. But it should be a global war conducted by collaborative allies, a true coalition, not an empire-building effort spearheaded by neocons who rarely if ever served in the armed forces they are so eager to deploy.
Yes, I correct myself. Let the record reflect that Mr. Clinton did participate in one or more blow jobs.
And you are so right, mire!
Seven sins of life: Politics without principle. Commerce without morality. Wealth without work. Education without character. Science without humanity. Pleasure without conscience. Worship without sacrifice.
When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible but in the end, they always fall -- think of it, ALWAYS.
Cowards can never be moral.
President means chief servant.
Anger and intolerance are the twin enemies of correct understanding.
The above are quotes of the Mahatma Gandhi. I think they all bear relevence to the topic at hand.
I seriously thought the Bush Administration would be helf accountable with the last election. As more time passes, I seriously doubt anyone will be held accountable. Look at Reagan and the AIDS epidemic!
THe muslim people hate the west, but look at what the west has done to them! Starting over 1,000 years ago, war after war after war. All over sand and rocks that were supposedly "holy".
Then came the age of exploration and trade. But not with them. Africa was a good place to get slaves, and the middle east was just an over land route to get to Asia. And once boats could get to Asia, they were cut out of the loop.
Age of colonies. The west would go in, and just take land like nobody owned it. If the people objected, well a few cannonballs would solve that.
And today - the age of oil. The west only cares about arab nations that have oil.
So then we go into Iraq, talking about "liberation" and "freedom". Well what about Somalia? According to the CIA world fact book, infant mortality rate is 10%, famine and disease are widespread, the nation is 3 billion US dollars in debt, and only got 60 million in forigen aid in 1999. But there is no oil there, so who cares. Let Sally Struthers fix it.
The arab world is not stupid. They can see stuff like that. Then the USA goes into Iraq to spread "freedom".
It would be like opening a homeless shelter in Beverly Hills, then saying that since nobody uses it the homeless problem is solved.
The hoopla over the Koran abuse is only the very tip of the iceberg. It is a distraction story. Even if the urine never met the koran in the prision camp, the problems would still be here. And the media would have to find something else to distract the people with.
PS - I do not think that the violence upswing was because the story broke. I think the upswing is just another sign of civil war. And when that war breaks out, guess who is going to be in the middle?
The Progressive has an article written by Matthew Rothschild for the July issue that deals with this issue. It does a good job of laying the whole problem with impeachment out on the table.
http://www.progressive.org/july05/roth0705.php
In a less than surprising move, the White House today downplays the Quran abuse scandal. When is this administration going to take an honest and truthful look at itself and be held accountable?
Was Clinton's conduct downplayed? Look at Kerry, who served in the military, how the twisted minds of those in power made him look like a criminal rather than proud American! This mentality disgusts me.
The rule of law: no one is above it.
Hi Barbara,
Thanks for the comment you left on my blog. As for the discussion at hand, the Bush administration should not only not be held accountable for their actions in Iraq and Afghanistan, they should be praised by all the pacifist/Marxist liberals out there who'd have us believe Saddam was the man to lead Iraq. I believe Bush knew Iraq did not poccess weapons of mass destruction all along. President Bush and Blair did what they did because as long as Saddam ruled in Iraq, not only the Iraqi people(whom Bush has by all means freed) but the entire region, including Israel was in perilous danger. As long as Saddam remained in power, there would not be freedom, nor justice in Iraq.
By the way, judging by your comment,you seem to be a conscious Jew, with an intent on educating your son about the essense of Zionism. I would suggest you started by realizing that Iraq under Saddam constituted the one biggest danger to the future of the State of Israel.
Please do not take my remarks personally; rather ponder what people have been saying concerning the subject at hand and what I had to say as opposed to the defeatist appeasement policy so many Americans openly welcome.
p.s. Clinton and his good friend Rabin were responsible for Oslo just as much, if not more than Chairman Arafat(may he burn in hell). Please don't make a martyr out of the poor chap!
regreg:
Thanks for your vist to my blog.
You make a comment that Bush has by all means 'freed the Iraqi people.' What do you mean by this statement please?
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