Prison Abuse Scandal Divides US President's Party

[Beetwasher]

WASHINGTON (AFP) - President George W. Bush (news - web sites)'s Republican party is split over the examination of the US military abuse of Iraqi detainees, with some lawmakers complaining that it is impeding the military effort in Iraq (news - web sites).

--snip--

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1521&e=3&u=/afp/us_iraq_prisoners

Comment: How's this for a brilliant idea? Let's fire these incompetent bastards and replace them immediately and then they have all the time in the world to be at these hearings to explain how this happened on their watch. That way, we don't have to worry about the hearings impeding their work because it won't be their job anymore.

[fryguy]

1. link is broken

[Beetwasher]

2. Fixed

Thanks!

[saigon68]

3. THE BRITISH BUILT ABU GHRAIB

[geek tragedy]

12. But Rumsfeld and Company

made it a home.

[saigon68]

17. THEY WILL BE THOUSANDS OF MORE CELLS HERE

To lock up the dissenters and the Un-Americans soon

[fryguy]

4. see this one also

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/us_iraq_bush_vote

[Just Me]

5. Good!!! Isolate the extremists!!! Isolate the neocons!!! n/t

[Ganja Ninja]

6. Here's a better idea.

Lets fire them and let them explain it to an Iraqi court at their trial.

[gratuitous]

7. How could this "divide" human beings?

There's no other position to take than against torture. At least for sentient persons with a shred of humanity. But then, we ARE talking about Republicans here, aren't we?

Never mind; answered my own question again.

[Ganja Ninja]

8. They're divided in to two camps.

One that thinks the whole thing is hilarious. And the other thinks it's a shame this became public knowledge. Neither side gives a damn about the prisoners. What a wonderful group they are.

[Beetwasher]

9. To Be Fair

I think there's one or two that are genuinely outraged...McCain being one...

The rest of the bunch you are spot on about, so let's compromise and say three camps!

[Just Me]

10. O'Neill and Clarke are Republicans. They are decent people,...

,...they don't condone this horror!!!

C'mon!!!

[Beetwasher]

11. Neither Are Politicians Though

The article is really about a split involving the elected Repubs...

[Tellurian]

15. If the headline didn't read as is, the substance of the article is very

subtle in the illustration of the split.

some of the key statements:

THE USUAL:

"We are at this point disserving our military operation in theater," Representative Duncan Hunter, Republican chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said Tuesday.

He was particularly critical of John Warner, Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, for "jerking out these battlefield commanders" from Iraq.

"Abizaid and Sanchez, Hunter said, "have problems stacking up on their desks right now and in their commands with respect to force protection, surveillance, deterrence of the enemy in a number of key areas, intelligence operations, and prosecuting this war and protecting our troops."

"The inattention and the lack of focus that we're now giving the war ... is detrimental to the 135,000 good people who are fighting right now in theater and who ... need a focused leadership," Hunter said."

"Other lawmakers have worried that the hearings could have a negative impact on criminal prosecutions against those charged in the prison abuse cases."

THE GOOD:

"But several outspoken Republican senators have insisted that frequent and open hearings are the only way to get to the root of the scandal."

"Another supporter of the hearings, Republican Senator Lindsay Graham, pointedly asked Abizaid on Wednesday whether his appearance before the committee posed a "burden."

"No, sir. We feel it's our responsibility," the general replied."

"Graham noted that the open hearings, in his view, have had a positive public relations value."

"It helps our cause," he said, "because they have to know that people will be held accountable that are in positions of responsibility."

[northzax]

13. and Lindsay Graham

of all people.

[DinahMoeHum]

14. Chuck Hagel, too.

n/t

[0007]

16. junior and Pat 'Mullah' Roberson squeeze the eyes indeed tight

in deep prayer.

Oh God, Please put a muzzle on John McCain and Linsey Graham
for the sake of Jays'us.

I think I detect a garder snap wound on the left side of junior's lips