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June 10, 2004
A defiled reputation
Most Americans were horrified to learn from published
photographs that other Americans were torturing and sexually humiliating
Iraqi detainees. As might be expected, this conduct was described
as abhorrent and not typically American.
President George Bush said of the Abu Ghraib prison exposé,
"what took place in this prison does not represent the America
I know. The America I know is a compassionate country that believes
in freedom. The America I know cares about every individual."
Somehow Bush’s assertion that he is a "compassionate
conservative" is believed by many, even though there is nothing
in his record to support this notion. At a time when industrial
nations were repealing capital punishment, Bush served as the
governor of Texas which executed more prisoners than any other
state. While civilized countries tried relentlessly to make the
United Nations an effective agency for world peace, Bush ridiculed
their efforts. With full knowledge of the political instability
of Iraq, Bush jeopardized the welfare and safety of innocent Iraqi
people and the lives of American soldiers by exposing them to
the ravages of war.
In 1991 the United States attacked Iraq, with the endorsement
of the United Nations, to end Iraq’s occupation of Kuwait.
Desert Storm was a quick victory for allied forces, and there
was a great temptation to drive on to Baghdad and overthrow the
dictator Saddam Hussein. However, President Bush, Sr. had the
wisdom to realize that it would be disastrous to push on without
a U.N. mandate because of the political instability which would
follow. It would be difficult to settle the differences between
the Shiite and Sunni Muslims and the demands of the Kurds in the
north without the support and assistance of the nations of the
world.
The first war in the Gulf was to defeat a hostile force that had
invaded another nation – Kuwait. Iraq had declared war on
Kuwait. The second war in 2003 was a pre-emptive strike. The rationale
for such an act is that an attack from the hostile nation is imminent.
The only way that the present administration can justify its pre-emptive
strike against Iraq is that Saddam was poised with weapons of
mass destruction to attack the U.S. or one of its allies.
Since no weapons of mass destruction have been found, America’s
invasion of Iraq has little support in international law. Therefore,
it is not unreasonable for the Iraqis to view American forces
as hostile invaders rather than liberators. Iraqis fighting for
the defense of their country are the ones likely to wind up in
Abu Ghraib prison. They are there to be tortured and humiliated
because of the lawlessness and arrogance of President Bush, who
likes to think of himself as compassionate.
Where was the president’s compassion for the families of
the men and women who serve in the National Guard or the military
Reserves? They expect to be mobilized to defend the nation against
attack, not to be military pawns in unjustifiable military excursions.
Mobilization at military pay causes a great hardship for their
families. The nation’s weekend warriors are also expected
to make the ultimate sacrifice when necessary. Must they do so
for a questionable cause? What is the compassion in that?
The revelation of the torture of Iraqis by the American military
has ruined the reputation of this nation around the world. The
boastful assertion by this administration of America’s superior
level of civilization now has been shown to be lacking merit.
Many thoughtful Americans have had quite enough of President Bush’s
brand of compassion.
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