Abu Graib, still here
Abu Graib has falled from the front page. This was lifted recently when one of the guards directly involved in the torture was brought before court, but things have died down again. Back when the story was fresh there was a lot of speculation over what could happen to the Bush administration over this topic. Abroad the topic is still being discussed, though not in front-page stuff; opinion pieces mostly.
This is something to be concerned about. If Bush were to win a second term I believe this issue would start heating up again. If the fault is to lay at the feet of the Bush administration, him NOT winning re-election would be cause enough to let the matter drop as settled as the Voters took the matter into our own hands. On the other hand, if he is still around and in power it becomes more prudent to show the world that we're Doing Something. Or rather, it may be prudent.
Keep in mind that the Watergate scandal broke before the 1972 election. Nixon managed to win re-election that year, and faced pointed Inquiry the following year which ultimately led to his resignation. Personally, I do not think that events will get us that far again; this particular #@$! won't flow that far up hill.
Should the Democrats take the Senate this November, it is possible that pointed inquirys will be launched. However, the House is where any such inditement needs to come and things are not looking THAT good for the Democrats this year. 1994 taught us that surprises can happen, but I'm not counting on one this time around.
America would really rather forget the events of Abu Graib, as they are uncomfortable. The world, which is increasingly anti-USA, won't let us. The way certain members of the opposition party cracked "President Hillary" jokes during Clinton's presidency, "throw me in Abu Graib" jokes are showing up in the international press. This is an example of a smudge on our national honor that those who oppose us will point to and giggle at.
Which isn't helped when other rumors of torture start circulating.
This is something to be concerned about. If Bush were to win a second term I believe this issue would start heating up again. If the fault is to lay at the feet of the Bush administration, him NOT winning re-election would be cause enough to let the matter drop as settled as the Voters took the matter into our own hands. On the other hand, if he is still around and in power it becomes more prudent to show the world that we're Doing Something. Or rather, it may be prudent.
Keep in mind that the Watergate scandal broke before the 1972 election. Nixon managed to win re-election that year, and faced pointed Inquiry the following year which ultimately led to his resignation. Personally, I do not think that events will get us that far again; this particular #@$! won't flow that far up hill.
Should the Democrats take the Senate this November, it is possible that pointed inquirys will be launched. However, the House is where any such inditement needs to come and things are not looking THAT good for the Democrats this year. 1994 taught us that surprises can happen, but I'm not counting on one this time around.
America would really rather forget the events of Abu Graib, as they are uncomfortable. The world, which is increasingly anti-USA, won't let us. The way certain members of the opposition party cracked "President Hillary" jokes during Clinton's presidency, "throw me in Abu Graib" jokes are showing up in the international press. This is an example of a smudge on our national honor that those who oppose us will point to and giggle at.
Which isn't helped when other rumors of torture start circulating.
posted by Corwin at 3:47 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home