A Historical Parallel to the Iraqi Prisoner Scandal (Joe Gandelman)
Stuart Sims has done some reading about Teddy Roosevelt and found a historical parallel to the prisoner abuse in Abu Ghraib. In his blog Always Right he gives the historical context then writes:
- Similar to today's problems, the US military "acknowledged 44 cases of documented cruelty, of which 39... resulted in convictions under the military justice system. Aside from these lapses, 'the war in the Philippines has been conducted by the American army, with self-restraint, and with humanity, never surpassed, if ever equaled, in any conflict.'"
- Roosevelt dealt quickly and decisively with those in command who participated in the atrocities in the Philippines. Bush could do the same by rooting out any commanders that are to blame for the lack of control at Abu Ghraib and dealing with the as he sees fit. The Gardener Report (which fomented the scandal in 1902) did not hurt Roosevelt politically because of his quick action. There may still be time for Pres. Bush to do the same as regards Abu Ghraib.
Of course, one big change since then was that Presidents were not surrounded by so many handlers trying to figure out how to minimize damage in the polls (a concern of all presidents from the late 20th Century on). Nor did they have to cope with the 24-hour-instant-news cycle, and internet opinion. These two factors have created a kind of distraction when it comes to decision making.
But Sim's intriguing reasearch proves a key point: in politics and government it's important to cut your losses. This story lingers until it is resolved.
Sad to say, I don't think that Pres. Bush could do anything fast enough or "right" enough to satisfy the media of today.
I think Mithglin's got the right of it.
Although I also think that the problem may be one that the new media, in the long run, will help to correct.
On WWII we got tons of information out of Japanese prisoners through the nefarious means of, kindness. Their leaders all assumed the infantryman would suicide rather than be captured, and so never thought to train them in resisting interrogation.
A Japanese private would wake up in American hands and find himself dealing not with the ravening monsters of government propaganda, but friendly people ready with tea, smokes, good food (think of the effect of a decent meal on a man who's been on low rations for months), a warm bed, all sorts of good things. Wouldn't take long for the Stockholm Syndrome to set in, and he'd be blabbing deep dark secrets to his country's worst enemy.
It might work in Iraq.
If you read Chief Wiggles' blog, you'll see that that's exactly how they generally do it, Alan.
That's why the abuse cases are so infuriating. For the most part, kindness and decency are the primary tools used by our people.
"Cut our losses," Joe? Are you suggesting we should just give up on this story and give Dubya a free pass? The way the media ALWAYS gives him a free pass?
Considering the volume of hate and bile I've seen here devoted to Mr. Moore---a man who never sent a serviceman to his death, or given away any of your money for corporate welfare, or tried to leagalize homophobic Jim Crow---you seem pretty forgiving towards Dubya.
Of course, I'm not going to shed a tear for poor, poor George, until we fire his ass come November.