A report has surfaced today confirming that former Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, authorised abusive interrogation techniques at the infamous Abu Ghrab prison in Baghdad in the early stages of the war and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. As the old sitcom character Gomer Pyle used to say, “Surprise, surprise, surprise”
The report’s executive summary, made public by the committee’s Democratic chairman Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan and its top Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, said Rumsfeld contributed to the abuse by authorizing aggressive interrogation techniques at Guantanamo Bay on December 2, 2002.
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE4BA7JV20081211
I am surprised this information has come out so early. I was expecting this sort of revelation to be made public ten, even twenty years from now. For it to come out now is evidence that there is no love lost between the senate committees and the outgoing Bush administration.
For eight years, this administration has condoned various human rights abuses, not the least of those being torture. Journalist and atheist Christopher Hitchins, put himself through the torture technique known as ‘waterboarding’ and found it one of the most terrifying experiences of his life. As we hear now revelations of Rumsfeld and his cronies allowing prisoners under his care to be abused and tortured, we must also remember that at the same time, Rumsfeld, Cheney and Bush were calling for ‘freedom’, ‘democracy’, and ‘the stranglehold to be removed from around the necks of Iraqi’s.’
The executive summary also traces the erosion of detainee treatment standards to a Feb,. 7, 2002, memorandum signed by President George W. Bush stating that the Geneva Convention did not apply to the U.S. war with al Qaeda and that Taliban detainees were not entitled to prisoner of war status or legal protections.
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE4BA7JV20081211
This administration is going to have more to answer for than any other Presidential administration in history. For a champion of democracy and human rights to turn around and say that individuals of his choosing do not come under any human rights charter is an affront to the office of President of the United States. Bill Clinton was nearly impeached for a blowjob, but George W Bush and his evil henchman have been allowed to reign unfettered for eight long years. I have friends who literally scoff at the name of Bill Clinton and throw their heads back saying, “He did nothing for America!” In the same breath they call George W Bush ‘an intelligent man.’ Astounding.
All these elements have made the United States a laughing stock for nearly a decade. Bill Clinton may have failed to keep it in his pants when he was in power, but his achievements are many and his attempts at peaceful resolutions to conflicts did bear some fruit. George W Bush leaves office with a litany of damage; the office of US President tarnished.
I have always had a gut wrenching feeling that the Bush administration were behind the September 11 attacks. I know that you, dear reader, are sniffing a ‘conspiracy theory’ here, but I think we will find out some home truths in years to come, just like we are finding out now in regard to Rumsfeld.
I will never forget the look on George W Bush’s face when a secret service agent whispered the news of the attacks in his ear. His reaction was nothing short of bland. There was simply no reaction. That is either a person who is really, really stupid and cannot even work out what he has been told, or a person who has been told something that he knew would happen. It’s akin to someone whispering to a mafia boss that a successful hit has taken place. The boss nods and has no reaction. Bush’s reaction was exactly the same, albeit with a stupid look on his face. Call it conspiracy theory, call me stupid, I don’t care. These revelations about Rumsfeld confirm to me that this has been the most corrupt and malicious administration in US history. Bill Clinton lying about having sex? Oh please, that pales into utter insignificance. Try comparing a 4 year old poking out his or her tongue at another child with a brutal rape and murder. It’s on that scale.
The right wing are already starting their whinging and moaning and are calling for an investigation into Barack Obama and his involvement with his Governor, Rod Blagojevich. But, as much as they have tried to knock him down before and failed, they will fail again.
Administrations like those with Bush at the helm allow free reign and abuse of power. Someone like Barack Obama believes in regulation, control, and accountability. Terrible, isn’t he?
President-Elect Obama has much to do, some say too much. But even if does nothing more than close Guantanamo Bay and handle the war on terror in a more even handed way, he can hold his head up high.
Enjoy your day
