Category: iraq
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True Conservative Values, and Torture
In my earlier post I didn’t give Jim Manzi sufficient credit. He argues that a systematic government policy of torture (as distinguished from the torturous acts that Americans have engaged in over the centuries) is 1. a radical break with American tradition, and 2. because of 1, is quite possibly (I would say definitely) damaging…
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“The Commander-in-Chief and those under him authorized a systematic regime of torture.”
“The only question that remains to be answered is whether those who ordered the use of torture will be held to account.†–Major General Antonio Taguba, USA (Ret.) Read the Report. Related posts: True Conservative Values, and Torture The Strategic Value of Torture Businesses Constrained by Lack of Investment? Oh, Maybe Not. Even Fox Sez…
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Seymour Hersh on “Insurgency”
I’m not the only one who thinks this word is huge piece of deceptive and delusional spin. Seymour Hersh isn’t worrying about dictionary definitions, though: I think there’s a way out of it, maybe. I can tell you one thing. Let’s all forget this word "insurgency". It’s one of the most misleading words of all.…
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Know your enemy: is Al Quaeda: “coming” or “flooding” into Iraq?
In his testimony on January 7, Attorney General hopeful Alberto Gonzales said, "We had members of Al Qaeda, intent on killing Americans, flooding into or coming into Iraq." Which is it? Coming or flooding? Does he know? Does anyone know, either in or outside of the (American or Iraqui) administration? Is the press asking? Nobody…
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Admitting I’m Wrong: “Insurgents”
If there’s one thing I admire, it’s people who are willing to acknowledge when they’re wrong. In that spirit, I must concede my sister’s point: "Insurgent" comes from roots meaning "rising up," not my assumed meaning of "surging in." Dictionary.com definitions for "insurgent" So, it’s a perfectly accurate word to describe the anti-American (and quite…