What's Really Important Political Expedience Strikes Again!
A couple of things made me chuckle recently. I sometimes do that rather than gritting my teeth. It’s bad enough the politics of the day are so infuriating, but why compound that with necessitating a visit to the dentist? After reading a couple of articles recently, one concerning Trent Lott, and the other, General Taguba, it dawned on me that they had something in common. Both seemed slow on the uptake, though I suspected this was just another tedious example of political expedience.
Trent Lott taking exception to right wing talk-radio bias Washingtonpost.com in answer to its attacks on the immigration “so-called amnesty” reform bill (a policy he supports), and Major General Antonio M. Taguba finally announcing that senior defense officials were involved in directing some of the abusive interrogation policies at Abu Ghraib in The New Yorker rank high on my list of “DOOOOH, do you really think so?” revelations. I was certainly in no way enlightened by these declarations. To the contrary, I was thinking, “what took you so @*&@#! long to figure it out?”
Of course, I imagine Trent Lott and other GOP “leaders” have enjoyed the extreme bias and vitriolic opinions expressed by the Limbaughs, Hannities and Savages of the AM radio airwaves when they have agreed with their own extreme bias and vitriolic opinions. The Democrats have long been on the receiving end of scathing attacks as a result. It is, however, interesting and somewhat gratifying to see the attack dogs turn on their masters for a change, and witness the right wing eating their own. Perhaps this is the result of a party that can no longer support their man in the oval office, realizing (FINALLY) how incompetent and dishonest he has been, yet not being able to in any way bring themselves (God forbid) to support those evil liberals they have been demonizing for so long as a matter of habit.
According to former Brigadier General Janis Karpinski, on Countdown on June 20, 2007, General Taguba’s Abu Ghraib ephiphany took him three years to figure out “after” she had given him the same information. Karpinski was rewarded for her revelation and honesty by being demoted to colonel in 2005. Perhaps Taguba wanted to hold on to both of his stars. It will be interesting to see if or how the Rove "smear machine" will turn itself on him.
I always found it incredulous that ANYONE actually bought into the official story line telling us all those deviant interrogation and intimidation (basically, torture) tactics at Abu Ghraib were the creation of a small group of grunts from West Virginia. To be more precise, it was, and still is my opinion that any person believing that was true had to have an IQ of less than room temperature, or chose to condone a lie because it came from those they felt obligated to support. Even when the lie becomes obvious, due to the absurdity, very few want to believe their government does lie to them. I personally find it offensive that anyone would disrespect truth and decency to such an extent that they would allow themselves to turn the other way while representatives of their government blatantly lied to cover up actions which were appalling by any standard. And, this doesn’t even begin to address the issue of allowing a handful of the lowest ranking soldiers to be the fall guys for the likes of Gestapo-like intelligence officers, and a chain of command that must have gone all the way up to Rumsfeld and beyond.
These are just a couple of things I chuckled about on the surface, but which created a great sadness within my heart. I was brought up to believe my nation was better in some respects than it appears to have been recently. They say that it is during times of great stress, that the true measure of a person can be taken. I guess the same can be said of nations.
Comments
You're right..... sometimes you just have to laugh. It seems like every other day there is a report in the paper or online somewhere with *news* that many of us have known for months or more. I, too, have higher standards for my nation and my leaders than has been shown in the last six years.
Posted by: Renee | June 21, 2007 04:25 PM
Remember that Gen Taguba's report wasn't released it was leaked to Hersh just as some of the pictures of Abu Ghraib were leaked. Gen Taguba is a man of honor who did his job against massive opposition. There are no new factual revelations by him, no book, no speaking tour, his report speaks for itself. Gen Taguba's career ended because he dared tell the truth, he joins a plethera of CIA and military generals whose careers were ended because they refused to be political pawns of the criminal bush regime. as Clinton built a bridge to the 21st century - the bush regime is busy building a bridge to the 14th century.
Posted by: heartfood | June 21, 2007 08:55 PM
Laughing inside at incredulous nonsense is better for me than frantically seeking sense in nonsense. I mean seeking sanity in an insane scenario is indeed insane isn't it? :O)
Posted by: Andrew | June 22, 2007 07:30 AM
Thank you heartfood for that addition, You are correct. Taguba did pay for his zeal and honesty in investigating Abu Ghraib, and paid the usual price of telling it like it is, rather than reporting what the Bush Administration and Bush intimidated Pentagon want us to know.
I'll add the following from Seymour Hersh's report: "In January of 2006, Taguba received a telephone call from General Richard Cody, the Army's Vice-Chief of Staff. "This is your Vice," he told Taguba. "I need you to retire by January of 2007." No pleasantries were exchanged, although the two generals had known each other for years, and, Taguba said, "He offered no reason." (A spokesperson for Cody said, "Conversations regarding general officer management are considered private personnel discussions. General Cody has great respect for Major General Taguba as an officer, leader, and American patriot.")
"They always shoot the messenger," Taguba told me. "To be accused of being overzealous and disloyal - that cuts deep into me. I was being ostracized for doing what I was asked to do."
It is obvious the Bush Aministration hates the truth. The numerous coverups, the predilection towards retiring and/or bashing every dissenting voice, and now Dick Cheney declaring his office is not a part of the Executive Branch in order to avoid the rules on handling secrets, all expose the Bush Government for what it is - corrupt, inept and dangerous.
What is truly extraordinary is that they are still in office. The choice of Congress to abandon their duty of oversight is terrible enough; the American People sitting on their fat butts while "Rome burns" is as embarrassing as it is ludicrous.
Posted by: Stephen | June 22, 2007 04:44 PM
Hi Stephen and All.,
Couldn't agree with you more. I never understood how so many GOP patriots could stand by and say "torture is ok, we're fighting terrorist"! What happened to being the Americans we used to be, or at least what I thought we were. A people who had integrity, honor, liberty and freedom.
Our people have always held the idea that torture was unacceptable, a crime against humanity. We would demonize countries that tried to perform torture and even hold them up for war crimes., and now we are doing what we claimed was wrong... ? I just dont get it. I dont understand this new america, where if youre rich and powerful you dont have to answer for your actions.. where an administration can lie and cost thousands of lives in a war of personal means and still be in office... even ousting an agent.. and still no accountability. It baffles the mind.
I am also a bit disappointed in our democratic leaders. They still need a backbone, they still need to fight harder for our country than they have been, and I'm shocked that global warming isnt a major issue with any of them it seems except maybe Gore! and he isnt running.
Posted by: Katerina | June 30, 2007 08:07 PM
when are you gonna get off your rib suckin ass and make a new entry dudeeeeeeeeee. geeeeeeeze - lmao
Posted by: Rsittinhere | July 14, 2007 08:50 AM
lol, thanks for the encouragement Rsittinhere. You are right I need to write again, and more often. This present government, from Executive to Judicial and on to Congress, along with "big business greed, and the lack of compassion for real people (in all of the above)," has presented us with so much vile crap and so consistently, that one actually gets overwhelmed after awhile, and it's impossible to know where to start!
Perhaps that is their intent. I believe we are facing the possible demise of our republic; I won't even attempt to call it a democracy, that being a total joke.
It would appear that the "golden idol" and the false Gods of money, have indeed become the religion of most. The very rich and just wealthy have faith only in money (regardless of how much they blather about religious beliefs), and the poor live in constant fear of not having money (the same focus in reverse.)
Perhaps this would be fodder for that next blog? That, and the new movie Sicko. People need to know just how big business is screwing them royally out of quality medical care.
Posted by: Stephen | July 28, 2007 11:54 AM