Replies to post #44027 on Zeev's Turnips Talk Politics (ZTTP)

[aim hier]

brain, the military didn't permit the pictures to be released. Apparently someone with access to the prosecutorial files leaked the pictures to CBS. During the congressional interrogation, General Myers said he had a personal relationship with Dan Rather, and he called him to ask him to delay showing the pictures, knowing that it would cost us soldiers's lives. Rather refused. One of the Democrats had a big problem with a general making such a phone call rather than having it go through the civilian chain of command, Myers reiterated that it was a request to delay, not an order to not publish.

I want everyone culpable punished, not just reprimanded, including any civilian contractors (obviously a poor choice for interrogators). I also would discipline whoever leaked the pictures to CBS, if from government files. Lastly I would boycott CBS, but, alas, I never watch it now.

I do think the soldiers were idiots for taking the pictures and keeping them as private property. What, is this, something they were proud of, wanted to have a keepsake for future generations? The shame is that their actions, whether self-willed or 'just following orders' has stained the reputation of millions of U.S. servicemen. Our rules of engagement, designed to minimize collateral damage to civilians, has cost U.S. lives, and this gives our enemies the opening to compare us to those who have no regard for the sanctity of civilian life. There were soldiers at Abu Ghraib who did not comply with these 'orders'.

[harrypothead]

I am not romanticising, or in anyway excusing the atrocities that occur in the Arab countries. But we are not indigenous people in Iraq, we are occupiers. Islam and Sharia are woven into their culture as capitalism, Judeo-Christianity, and our Constitutional tenets are woven into our culture and cultural psyche. They have a right to define their culture, government, and society in any tradion they prefer. We have no right to impose our system on another nation. No one government has the right to "Change the World" as they see fit, especially considering that government does not have world support. Human rights violators should be subject to international law. If international law is broken, fix it in cooperation with the international community.

The Bush group has disregarded the international system and community. This is the most secretive administration in the history of our Union, and they've made their own rules. The perception, right or wrong, is that, under Bush, the US is a superpower out of control. It is natural that the world would be fearful of this. We should be as well. And again, we cannot justify one atrocity by another. If we start doing so, what will we become?

Osama wants to [change] Islamise the world. Fundamental Islam believes Sharia is a better system. One group or system does not have the right to impose it's system or beliefs on another.