Comments on: Part 2 of “How Abu Ghraib was Politically Defused” http://jimbovard.com/blog/2009/03/13/part-2-of-how-abu-ghraib-was-politically-defused/ Author James Bovard Mon, 21 May 2012 17:01:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Jim http://jimbovard.com/blog/2009/03/13/part-2-of-how-abu-ghraib-was-politically-defused/#comment-120416 Jim Sun, 15 Mar 2009 03:39:52 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/?p=768#comment-120416 Jeff - that's an excellent point on Graner. I noted on page 131 of ATTENTION DEFICIT DEMOCRACY - Shortly after some of Graner’s worst abuses of prisoners, he was notified in writing by a superior officer: “You are doing a fine job.... You have received many accolades from the chain of command and particularly from Lt. Col. Jordan” (the chief intelligence officer at the prison). Graner was found guilty and sentenced to ten years in prison. Graner, in a two-hour statement to the court after he was convicted, declared that he had been ordered to “terrorize” inmates in order to make interrogations easier.101 Graner’s defense was hamstrung because the judge, Army Col. James Pohl, “refused to allow witnesses to discuss which officers were aware of events in cellblock One- Alpha, or what orders they had given,” as the Washington Post noted.102 Jeff - that’s an excellent point on Graner. I noted on page 131 of ATTENTION DEFICIT DEMOCRACY -

Shortly after some of Graner’s worst abuses of prisoners, he was notified in writing by a superior officer: “You are doing a fine job…. You have received many accolades from the chain of command and
particularly from Lt. Col. Jordan” (the chief intelligence officer at the prison). Graner was found guilty and sentenced to ten years in prison. Graner, in a two-hour statement to the court after he was convicted, declared that he had been ordered to “terrorize” inmates in order to make interrogations easier.101 Graner’s defense was hamstrung because the judge, Army Col. James Pohl, “refused to allow witnesses to discuss which officers were aware of events in cellblock One- Alpha, or what orders they had given,” as the Washington Post noted.102

]]> By: Jim http://jimbovard.com/blog/2009/03/13/part-2-of-how-abu-ghraib-was-politically-defused/#comment-120415 Jim Sun, 15 Mar 2009 03:34:43 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/?p=768#comment-120415 Dirk, the NYT version on the Israel Lobby & Charles Freeman was far superior to the Washington Post version. And a Washington Post editorial on Thursday sneered at Freeman in a way that.... well, it was downright Washingtonian. I am amazed everybody around here doesn't wear hip boots 24/7. Dirk, the NYT version on the Israel Lobby & Charles Freeman was far superior to the Washington Post version.

And a Washington Post editorial on Thursday sneered at Freeman in a way that…. well, it was downright Washingtonian.

I am amazed everybody around here doesn’t wear hip boots 24/7.

]]> By: Dirk W. Sabin http://jimbovard.com/blog/2009/03/13/part-2-of-how-abu-ghraib-was-politically-defused/#comment-120409 Dirk W. Sabin Sat, 14 Mar 2009 21:38:13 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/?p=768#comment-120409 I stand marginally corrected on the placement of the Freeman article in the Times...it was accorded the front page but was far from comprehensive and in particular the lapse on Mr. Rosen's status in an Espionage trial remains telling. I stand marginally corrected on the placement of the Freeman article in the Times…it was accorded the front page but was far from comprehensive and in particular the lapse on Mr. Rosen’s status in an Espionage trial remains telling.

]]> By: Jeff Albertson http://jimbovard.com/blog/2009/03/13/part-2-of-how-abu-ghraib-was-politically-defused/#comment-120406 Jeff Albertson Sat, 14 Mar 2009 18:08:29 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/?p=768#comment-120406 It needs to be stressed that this was policy set at the highest levels, not "rogue hillbillies". Graner said that CIA guys were present at the interrogations, and Karpinsky spilled the beans on who was really running the prison under her nominal command. Graner and Co. would not have been clowning around for those pictures unless they thought they were following orders and thereby safe from any consequences. Scapegoating the lowest subordinates (and then getting away with the whole thing) was what pissed me off the most of the whole affair. Only the most dishonorable cowards lie to and betray their own agents. It needs to be stressed that this was policy set at the highest levels, not “rogue hillbillies”. Graner said that CIA guys were present at the interrogations, and Karpinsky spilled the beans on who was really running the prison under her nominal command. Graner and Co. would not have been clowning around for those pictures unless they thought they were following orders and thereby safe from any consequences. Scapegoating the lowest subordinates (and then getting away with the whole thing) was what pissed me off the most of the whole affair. Only the most dishonorable cowards lie to and betray their own agents.

]]> By: Dirk W. Sabin http://jimbovard.com/blog/2009/03/13/part-2-of-how-abu-ghraib-was-politically-defused/#comment-120405 Dirk W. Sabin Sat, 14 Mar 2009 17:08:22 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/?p=768#comment-120405 President Richard M. Nixon is essentially run out of office under threat of impeachment as a result of war fatigue and laying about a ham-handed break-in Democrat Party offices and this country , 30 years later can't manage to even muster up any domestic journalists to hardball President Bush over the series of lies, domestic spying and abuses of Executive Power. It's remarkable really. But, it is to be expected I suppose when the Newspaper that courageously printed the Pentagon Papers now produced Judith Miller and most recently, placed the article describing the withdrawal of the Freeman appointment to the NIC on about page 15 and within that article, mentioned the role of Mr. Rosen of AIPAC but neglected to state that he is under indictment for violations of the Espionage Act. Meanwhile, the current Administration takes tepid steps at best to confront what was obviously a massive end-run around the Rule of Law and a dangerous precedent for the future, if not an outright criminal action of historic magnitude. The Separation of Powers is in tatters and the Fourth Estate is dropping like flies. The American citizen should know that their economy is not the only thing in tatters. The Government that contributed to the battered economy is also in major trouble.....that is, unless the idea of a Republic is now somehow "quaint" too. President Richard M. Nixon is essentially run out of office under threat of impeachment as a result of war fatigue and laying about a ham-handed break-in Democrat Party offices and this country , 30 years later can’t manage to even muster up any domestic journalists to hardball President Bush over the series of lies, domestic spying and abuses of Executive Power. It’s remarkable really.

But, it is to be expected I suppose when the Newspaper that courageously printed the Pentagon Papers now produced Judith Miller and most recently, placed the article describing the withdrawal of the Freeman appointment to the NIC on about page 15 and within that article, mentioned the role of Mr. Rosen of AIPAC but neglected to state that he is under indictment for violations of the Espionage Act.

Meanwhile, the current Administration takes tepid steps at best to confront what was obviously a massive end-run around the Rule of Law and a dangerous precedent for the future, if not an outright criminal action of historic magnitude.

The Separation of Powers is in tatters and the Fourth Estate is dropping like flies. The American citizen should know that their economy is not the only thing in tatters. The Government that contributed to the battered economy is also in major trouble…..that is, unless the idea of a Republic is now somehow “quaint” too.

]]> By: Jim http://jimbovard.com/blog/2009/03/13/part-2-of-how-abu-ghraib-was-politically-defused/#comment-120394 Jim Fri, 13 Mar 2009 20:05:13 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/?p=768#comment-120394 Marc - great point on the Irish media. Yep, Bush would not have wanted to detonate Dublin before the 2004 election. The courage of the foreign journalists on the torture issue makes for a helluva sharp contrast. I suspect that there were more American journalists who would have raised the issue but editors were gun-shy.... Marc - great point on the Irish media.

Yep, Bush would not have wanted to detonate Dublin before the 2004 election.

The courage of the foreign journalists on the torture issue makes for a helluva sharp contrast. I suspect that there were more American journalists who would have raised the issue but editors were gun-shy….

]]> By: Marc http://jimbovard.com/blog/2009/03/13/part-2-of-how-abu-ghraib-was-politically-defused/#comment-120393 Marc Fri, 13 Mar 2009 19:40:07 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/?p=768#comment-120393 Superb article Jim. Essentially, those who dared to question the Bush administration's torture and detention policies or crime spree were invariably accused of slandering the nation, attacking its values and undermining the all important global war on terror. Apparently, even some foreign journalists risked swift retribution for doing so. Luckily for the Irish media, an accidental and unfortunate Al Jazeera style cruise missile attack was not an option. Superb article Jim. Essentially, those who dared to question the Bush administration’s torture and detention policies or crime spree were invariably accused of slandering the nation, attacking its values and undermining the all important global war on terror. Apparently, even some foreign journalists risked swift retribution for doing so. Luckily for the Irish media, an accidental and unfortunate Al Jazeera style cruise missile attack was not an option.

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