May 09, 2004
A Couple Good Ideas
General Wes Clark gave the Democratic radio address this week. He said, “The truth is President Bush made mistake after mistake as Commander-in-Chief, taking us into a war we didn’t have to wage, alone and under false pretenses and is now managing it poorly.”
Quite a condemnation from a man who was the US commander in another war we didn't have to wage, but one in which we acted with our NATO allies toward a well-defined purpose, which was well run, and which was quickly and successfully resolved.
Speaking of US troop's abuse of Iraqi prisoners, Clark suggested, "Amends must be made to Iraqis who suffered these humiliations through real and symbolic gestures, such as the dismantling of Abu Ghraib prison itself."
Now that is the best idea I've heard so far. As long as the Abu Ghraib prison complex stands, it will be a focal point for anti-American sentiment in Iraq. Tear it down and replace it with a memorial for all those who were tortured and murdered there by Saddam Hussein.
Speaking of really good Democratic ideas, John Kerry is calling for Peace Corps volunteers to help rebuild America's reputation around the world. Can you imagine the effect of thousands of idealistic young American men and women on the Muslim world? It's a much better image than the one they're used to seeing on the news: unapproachable, heavily armed troops in body armor, patrolling Iraqi streets in armored vehicles.
Americans do not consider themselves aggressive oppressors, yet that's how we are perceived by millions of people around the world. Muslim countries need to see Americans in jeans and t-shirts, rolling up their sleeves and working with them to build houses, dig wells, plant crops, start businesses, and teach their children the three R's.
I'm currently living in South East Asia, the most populous Muslim region outside of the Middle East, and I can tell you that actions will speak louder than words here. If Americans really aren't the Muslim hating, imperialistic oppressors we look like in the regional news, then we need to prove it.
Razing Abu Ghraib is a must. I would not recommend erecting a memorial however. That would only serve as a symbol and reminder of America’s worst hour. Given that our presence in Iraq as a military is required for at least the rest of this decade, it would not be wise to have a reminder and symbol of the similarity between Hussein’s torture prison and Bush’s torture prison as a monument.
The single most important event that America can take to begin down the road to restoration of our international relations is NOT reelect President Bush. This will do more to bolster up confidence around the world in the goodness and responsibility of the American people. It will demonstrate that we Americans DO hold our leadership accountable - and that we regret what has happened under President Bush’s administration in Iraq.
Posted by: David R. Remer at May 9, 2004 01:55 PMA memorial to America’s worst hour on the site of Abu Ghraib? Wouldn’t a memorial there be better suited to the thousands upon thousands who were tortured and murdered under Saddam in that prison instead of the couple dozen who were forced to strip naked, simulation masturbation and wear womens’ underwear there? A memorial!
You know, it would be a lot easier to have a rational conversation about the reality of the abuses at Abu Ghraib if there was even a tiny modicum of balance in the left’s rhetoric over this issue.
Posted by: Martin at May 10, 2004 12:28 AMMartin:
again we disagree……i thought we had something going there…damn….so now back to square one.
yes Saddam is a horrible man who ruled his people evilly. however, there are MANY countries (oh, say 87% of Africa) that also rule their people using intimidation, abuse, torture, murder, rape, and fear…..and we do nothing.
it was not up to the US to determine the rule of a dictator over his people…..as cruel as he was. he was no immediate threat to us, so this whole game of “well look what an asshole he was” doesn’t sit well.
and the point more specifically is…..WE PROMISED THE IRAQI PEOPLE THAT ANY OF THE TREATMENT THEY HAD RECIEVED UNDER SADDAM’S RULE WOULD NOT HAPPEN ONCE WE LIBERATED THEM!
and it has…..
if you continue to play it off as Frat-boy hazing……well…..i’m gonna have to give you a wedgie.
the world damn well better be angry at us for this…..we promised them liberty and freedom from abuse….clearly we didn’t hold up to that promise.
and by the way….just for the record….hazing by any Fraternity or Sorority has been banned in almost all US college campuses….so clearly…..hazing isn’t a good thing…
if we can’t do it to US college students…why should our soldiers be allowed to do it to Iraqi prisoners?
Posted by: rob at May 10, 2004 01:09 AMAP,
Both proposals reflect the clarity of engagement over disconnection, and a measurable response by a contrite, but proven free democracy and superpower.
Posted by: Bert M. Caradine at May 10, 2004 01:56 AMWesley needs to start a consultation firm and give advice on what sounds whacky as sh*t in lieu of current events so other politicians can avoid doing this.
****MY Address to Wesley Clarke;**
“Ya’ know Wes, this probably isn’t the best time when photos and possibly videos are still yet to emerge with pictures of a rape of a female on it and perversities that will innevitably be damning to our nation face-wise in that region.”
“Wesley, Our leader maybe less than stellar and He and his cronies and cabinet, a cadre of hand-wringing opportunist oilmen and corporatist book cookers, fine. And yes obviously full of the brown stuff most of the time making war-words against them hackneyed.
“But Wesley we are a little toooo bogged down right now to figure out what to do with some stupid building that isn’t even OURS to BEGIN WITH!!! YOU DUMB-ASS! and given you are not employed in public service no one is listening anyway.” (End radio address to Wesley)
***And that goes for you too “American Pundit” It is not up to us what to do with that building!!!! That is not OUR country!
Posted by: skunkbud at May 10, 2004 03:28 AMSEcondly we just needs to Christianize us some moooslums and blow up mecca, who’s with me? Don’t call me arrogant American Pundit ya’ dang pinko!
@8>O3
(God I with I had a gif of Calvin urinating for this post)
Posted by: skunkbud at May 10, 2004 03:44 AMReaction to reading above posts:
Those decisions are up to the Iraqi people not us. For America to erect a monument would be the real arrogance. America to decide what happens to Saddam is also arrogance, I don’t care if they throw a birka over his head and toss him off a cliff, it is up to them. You arrogant bastards!
And this isn’t Americas worst hour David we’ve done worse, trust me. We’ve played turn-cheek to some of the worst tyrannical powers history has ever seen, ‘thems’ dark hours. But again avoiding arrogance means avoiding overstepping our boundaries as a nation and putting up a memorial is their call and not ours.
Posted by: skunkbud at May 10, 2004 04:14 AMMartin, I just want to pont out that I was in no way advocating a “memorial to America’s worst hour.”
Tear it down and replace it with a memorial for all those who were tortured and murdered there by Saddam Hussein.
I’m not sure how much clearer I could get.
But Wesley we are a little toooo bogged down right now to figure out what to do with some stupid building that isn’t even OURS to BEGIN WITH!!! YOU DUMB-ASS!
Interesting take on international law, skunkbud. I’m pretty sure Powell told Bush if we invade, we own the whole thing. :)
And the memorial was all my idea (American Pundit is my blog, BTW). Clark never mentioned it.
I figured if we just razed the complex, some smart jihadist would put up a plaque depicting the US abuses. The idea was to put up some pre-emptive propaganda of our own.
skunk-
chill out my friend!
maybe some skunkbud might do the trick ;)
lee/pundit-
Was Kerry asking for more Peace Core Volunteer’s, Or asking our current PCV’S to do more?
skunk-
chill out my friend!
maybe some skunkbud will do the trick!!
lee-pundit-
is kerry asking for more Peace Core volunteers? Or does he want more from the current PCV’s?
> A memorial to America’s worst hour on the site
> of Abu Ghraib? Wouldn’t a memorial there be
> better suited to the thousands upon thousands
> who were tortured and murdered under Saddam..
Martin, a memorial to Saddam’s exactly what everybody was suggesting. Nobody suggested a monument to America’s humiliation. That was your idea alone.
-Cf
Posted by: Christopher Fahey at May 10, 2004 06:07 PMUh “Saddam’s victims” I meant.
-Cf
Posted by: Christopher Fahey at May 10, 2004 06:09 PMHi martiniwitz. Kerry’s statement just calls for more volunteers.
And before anyone brings it up without reading the article, no one is suggesting sending the Peace Corps into Iraq right now. That would be dumb.
However, the impact of what’s going on in Iraq is felt pretty strongly in all Muslim countries. Malaysian and Indonesian newspapers ban photos of nude people, and even women with bare shoulders and uncovered heads, but they’re putting the nude Abu Ghraib prisoner pictures on the front page.
Hypocritical? Maybe. But that’s the image they have of Americans now: Sadistic oppressors.
I doubt US run media like Al-Hurrah can change that image. I think Peace Corps volunteers can.
