Once again, Bush knew and did nothing re: Iraq prisons

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

On April 30 when the news broke all over re: Iraq prisons, President Bush gave the appearance that a pidgeon had just crapped on his head..utter surprise and disgust...yet in this article, neither Bush, Rumsfeld nor Meyers had read the complete report yet but they were all aware of this since the holidays.

(emphasis added)

<snip>

The abuse of Iraqi prisoners sparked so much concern that President Bush was told about an investigation during the winter holidays, White House officials said Tuesday. Within months, the scandal damaged the military career of an Army Reserve general and several other officers.

<snip>
Until Tuesday, the Pentagon's top civilian and uniformed officials, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Richard B. Myers, said they had not read an investigative report on the matter — or been given copies of the graphic photographs that most of the nation has seen on television and in newspapers. Rumsfeld said Tuesday that he had seen a summary and recommendations from the investigation. Bush has yet to read it.

<snip>
Bush was told of the prison abuses as early as last winter, presumably because administration and military officials (that would be Rummy and Meyers)considered the episode serious and wide-reaching. Yet, it was not until photographs of the abuse appeared on CBS' "60 Minutes II" last week that the extent of the intimidation and sexual humiliation became clear. White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan said Tuesday that Bush had not seen the photos before they were aired.


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/iraq/complete/la-fg-blame5may05,1,4058993.story?coll=la-iraq-complete

The LA Times has good coverage of this issue today as well as an article debunking the "Kerry war wounds story" If you aren't registered, it is worth it and free.

The most salient point of this story is how much they knew and how little was done up to now. As with Watergate, as with the outing of Joseph Wilson, as with the Niger yellowcake documents, as with Cheney's energy papers...it isn't the crime, it's the cover-up.

Since some of these prisoners had been released (articles in LA TIMES indicate it) there is no doubt in my mind that the Iraqi people already had wind of what was going on in those prisons. We may yet find that this is as much behind the Iraqi resistance as anything...their knowledge of the brutality.

How many times does this scenario need to occur before ordinary Americans wake up? Besides losing all credibility as a benevolent nation in the eyes of the world, this incident has painted targets on all of us.

One more little gem in these articles is the euphamism "ghost prisoners" which is Orwell speak for ( a throwback to Nicaragua, Guatemala, Argentina, Mexico and El Slavador) DISAPPEARED.

[lovedems]

1. They probably thought torture would be ok because they would gather

intelligence.

What pisses me off the most is these were Iraqi civilians. Those doing the interogations didn't know if these civilians were good or bad but treated them all in the most humiliating way. They knew and they didn't care.

[The empressof all]

2. A major problem?

This only became an issue for them once it became a pr problem. And this is one that they can't seem to control too well. My hero's this week are not only Sy Hirsch but also CBS and now Keith Olberman for not caving in to the pressure from the white house to comply with the talking points.

Perhaps the worm has finally turned.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

3. kick

[mopaul]

4. he should be on "American Idle"

[tom_paine]

5. Of course...the Emperor* is actually proud of his Hessian and Amermacht

Toturers.

Only as proud as a Third World Tyrant could be!

He knew. He was quite pleased, I'll wager.

God told him torturing subhumans...Arabs, Liberals, Protestors, College Students, Environmentalists, Jews (only the Democratic ones)...was what he She wanted.

Say, isn't it funny how God ALWAYS want what Bunnypants* wants?

What's up with that? God is suddenly a Hitler Backer?

[Ksec]

6. It aint gonna change until we make it change

Ive been bitching about this for years. Congress wont do anything. Media wont do their job. The Democrats ? Pulease.

We gotta change it folks. How? I dunno. Historically-How do all changes come about?