Why We Cannot Blame the Military for the Administration's Handiwork

In a recent press conference:

A questioner asked whether the United States and its allies might be deemed responsible for preventing mistreatment of people under arrest in Iraq, given that the U.S. and its allies train Iraqi forces.

"There are a lot of people involved in this, dozens of countries trying to help train these Iraqi forces. Any instance of inhumane behavior is obviously worrisome and harmful to them when that occurs," Rumsfeld said. "Iraq knows, of certain knowledge, that they need the support of the international community. And a good way to lose it is to make a practice of something that is inconsistent with the values of the international community."

He added: "Now, you know, I can't go any further in talking about it. Obviously, the United States does not have a responsibility when a sovereign country engages in something that they disapprove of."

Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was asked what orders the troops have to handle such incidents. He responded: "It is absolutely the responsibility of every U.S. service member if they see inhumane treatment being conducted, to intervene, to stop it."

He said soldiers who hear of but don't see an incident should deal with it through superiors of the offending Iraqis.

That's when Rumsfeld stepped to the microphone and said, "I don't think you mean they have an obligation to physically stop it. It's to report it."

Pace then repeated to Rumsfeld that intervening when witnessing abuse is the order the troops must follow, not just reporting it.

I put emphasis on what I feel are key items within that exchange. The first being Rummy's comment that the US does not have to step in when it disagrees with a country's actions. However, the administration he is part of said that we had to intervene when we disagreed with Saddam's Iraq. Seems contradictory to me.

The even more important part is the exchange between Rumsfeld and Pace. Pace says troops should step in and stop inhumane treatment when they see it. I support him and our military for that. Rumsfeld says troops should allow the inhumane treatment to continue and run off to tattle to someone who should do something about it (though they may not). That is one of millions of reasons I do not support this administration or their actions. I could go on for pages about all the contradictions, hypocracies, and other ills that arise from this, but I'll let the words above speak for themselves.

A Good Word for Hagel

From The Raw Story:

"The Iraq war should not be debated in the United States on a partisan political platform," the Nebraska senator remarked. "This debases our country, trivializes the seriousness of war and cheapens the service and sacrifices of our men and women in uniform. War is not a Republican or Democrat issue. The casualties of war are from both parties. The Bush Administration must understand that each American has a right to question our policies in Iraq and should not be demonized for disagreeing with them. Suggesting that to challenge or criticize policy is undermining and hurting our troops is not democracy nor what this country has stood for, for over 200 years. The Democrats have an obligation to challenge in a serious and responsible manner, offering solutions and alternatives to the Administration’s policies."

He also suggested the members of Congress who failed to question the war could be responsible for another Vietnam.

"Vietnam was a national tragedy partly because Members of Congress failed their country, remained silent and lacked the courage to challenge the Administrations in power until it was too late," he added. "Some of us who went through that nightmare have an obligation to the 58,000 Americans who died in Vietnam to not let that happen again. To question your government is not unpatriotic – to not question your government is unpatriotic. America owes its men and women in uniform a policy worthy of their sacrifices."

This is from Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE). I am impressed and appreciative of his words. This administration does everything in its power to suppress those that question its authority. It is wrong for the administration to attend only to their own perogatives, ignoring and keeping everything secret from the public they serve. It is the duty of Congress to keep the Executive in check, not follow behind like little lap dogs.