Bush: Iraqi prisoner abuse on Arab TV

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Registered: 03-18-2000
Bush: Iraqi prisoner abuse on Arab TV
281
Wed, 05-05-2004 - 10:17am
Should Bush apologize on Arab TV?
Bush to address Iraqi prisoner abuse on Arab TV.

President Bush will give interviews to two Arab television networks Wednesday about reports of U.S. military personnel abusing Iraqi prisoners, the White House said.


White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the 10-minute interviews with Al-Hurra, a U.S.-sponsored network, and Al Arabiya will take place about 10 a.m. ET (1400 GMT) in the Map Room at the White House.


"This is an opportunity for the president to speak directly to the people of Arab nations and let them know that the images that we all have seen are shameful and unacceptable," McClellan told reporters during a Bush campaign tour.


Referring to photographs that have surfaced showing Iraqi prisoners being abused McClellan said, "The images do not represent what America stands for, nor do they represent the high standards of conduct that the military is committed to uphold. The U.S. believes in treating all people with dignity and respect."


Asked why Bush would not meet with the Arab network Al-Jazeera, McClellan would only say the other two networks "reach a wide range of people in the Middle East."


McClellan said the actions of the accused soldiers at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq "do not represent what 99 percent of the men and women in the military stand for." (Full story)


Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said Tuesday that he would take "all measures necessary" to ensure that abuse of detainees in Iraq "does not happen again."


Rumsfeld defended the Defense Department's handling of the matter in the face of congressional criticism, noting that a criminal investigation by the Army was under way and publicly disclosed three months before what he called "deeply disturbing" photographs were broadcast last week.


"This is a serious problem, and it's something the department is addressing," he said at a Pentagon news briefing. "The system works. The system works."


Rumsfeld said the criminal investigation was one of six launched since January.


More..............


http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/05/05/iraq.abuse.main/index.html

cl-Libraone~

 


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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-05-2004
Tue, 05-11-2004 - 2:00pm
There certainly wasn't as much outraged expressed for ANY of the vile acts that have been committed against our own. I didn't see a solid week of constant coverage or outrage for any of these acts.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-05-2004
Tue, 05-11-2004 - 2:03pm
estimates, allegations, nothing proven.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-05-2004
Tue, 05-11-2004 - 2:05pm
When emotions run high, common sense flys out the window, doesn't it?
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2004
Tue, 05-11-2004 - 2:06pm
I guess you didn't get my point about mentioning WOMD but if it were me in any case I'd think twice about ignoring an allegation of WOMD being hidden in Iraq than some lady beliving that one old woman was treated badly by an American. I put priorties in place and the safety of my country would come more eye opening than an Iraqi being treated bad. Not saying it didn't happen but why is it ok to believe the bad about America but not believe the possible bad of another country? it may be a an extreme comparison but to me just as going to war to find WOMD was considered "propaganda" so could anything else.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-05-2004
Tue, 05-11-2004 - 2:06pm
So are you and me.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2004
Tue, 05-11-2004 - 2:15pm
Then I'd like it if you wouldn't accuse me of something I didn't do either. i never accused him of making up anything. Thanks! I was commenting on his exaggerating in regards to the quantity of those who abused the Iraqi's. If you followed what I was responding to then maybe you'd know that.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Tue, 05-11-2004 - 2:17pm

You know what...I think you're including the ongoing investigations as a part of this.


iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Tue, 05-11-2004 - 2:20pm
I'm pretty sure that what Janna was trying to point out was that James was just quoting the article.

cl-nwtreehugger


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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-28-2003
Tue, 05-11-2004 - 2:29pm
Here's a prime example:

Islamic Web site linked to al Qaeda posts video that purports to show a man identified as American being beheaded.

We humiliate a few prisoners and its a huge world event, they behead an American and we are still the bad guys.

Avatar for susiegail
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Tue, 05-11-2004 - 2:34pm
Ok, just dropping in again briefly with a few thoughts. Back when I was young, there was a bumper sticker sported by those who supported the war in Vietnam. It said, "My country right or wrong." Another said, "America - love it or leave it." These are sadly again rather timely...so to my thoughts. The correct version of the first quote is, "My country right or wrong, BUT if she be wrong, may she be righted." Blind obedience and acceptance of the "party line", regardless of party, is always a sad mistake. God gave us brains to think, to question, to grow in understanding. This growth is essential in a democracy, so discussion is a necessity. The second quote never made any sense to me. As Dr. Johnson said, "Sir, patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel." True patriotism involves love of country, yes, but also the willingness to recognize that governments are made up of fallible humans, and mistakes which are made need to be recognized, apologized for and learned from. I know I speak for many who would say that it is precisely BECAUSE we love America that we do not want all the positive wonderful things this country stands for tarnished by the actions of a few, or the American troops, whom we fully support, put in more danger by the choices of some of their colleagues. Full, open, honest disclosure never hurts those who live in the spirit of truth, only those who have something to hide. Let us hope that, in facing up to mistakes that have been made, we may regain some of the credibility we appear to have lost in the eyes of the world. And, yes, we had better all CARE A LOT about the outcome of these shameful allegations.

 

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