Thursday, May 06, 2004
Bush SHOULD have apologized
I agree completely with the point made in this Slate article. Bush passed up a HUGE opportunity to reduce the damage from the ill-treatment of Iraqi prisoners. Unfortunately, Bush NEVER apologizes for ANYTHING.
Clinton apologized to China when the Chinese embassy in Belgrade was accidentally bombed. That was an ACCIDENT. The abuse of Iraqi prisoners was a conscious effort among certain people under George Bush's command. No, he didn't call up and tell them to lean on Iraqi prisoners in that way (at least, I HOPE not, though on that note, if evidence ever shows up that Rumsfeld gave the green light for such activity, let's hope that Bush has the good sense to fire him). The generals who DID apologize weren't directly responsible, either. However, the soldiers who committed these acts were under their command, so they did the right thing and apologized.
Bush should have apologized. It would have made a bad situation a bit better. Instead, Iraqis come away with the feeling that Americans are arrogant and don't feel the need to apologize to the people they conquered. Wonderful message.
I agree completely with the point made in this Slate article. Bush passed up a HUGE opportunity to reduce the damage from the ill-treatment of Iraqi prisoners. Unfortunately, Bush NEVER apologizes for ANYTHING.
Clinton apologized to China when the Chinese embassy in Belgrade was accidentally bombed. That was an ACCIDENT. The abuse of Iraqi prisoners was a conscious effort among certain people under George Bush's command. No, he didn't call up and tell them to lean on Iraqi prisoners in that way (at least, I HOPE not, though on that note, if evidence ever shows up that Rumsfeld gave the green light for such activity, let's hope that Bush has the good sense to fire him). The generals who DID apologize weren't directly responsible, either. However, the soldiers who committed these acts were under their command, so they did the right thing and apologized.
Bush should have apologized. It would have made a bad situation a bit better. Instead, Iraqis come away with the feeling that Americans are arrogant and don't feel the need to apologize to the people they conquered. Wonderful message.
