ESLaPorte
2004-05-05 11:42:54 UTC
The difference between them and us...
Tue, May 04 2004
http://www.pronato.com/commentary/index.htm
While there are those out there who are attempting to cash in on the
Army-Iraqi prisoner scandal, what is missing is the real message. I do not
mean the propaganda that coalition forces in Iraq are "merciless
brutalizes," as some would like to get out of the Iraqi prisoner abuse
story.
First of all, there needs to be some prospective here. In the same prison
where the alleged abuse occurred - real horrible abuses and tortures
occurred under Saddam Hussein's fascist state. In Saddams' Iraq, the
electrical wires used for torture were live and may have caused pain to
many, even death. Under the coalition caretakers of the prison, the
electrical wires were not live. The truth is that the real "merciless
brutalizers" were Saddam Hussien's henchmen.
This is not to excuse the abuse of Iraqi prisoners. The real difference lies
in the level of outcry between the torture, rape rooms and mass murder under
Saddam Hussein and the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by their American guards.
Given the higher level of torture under Saddam as opposed to the American
occupiers - why is the outcry greatest?! Why is there a greater outcry now,
rather then under Saddam?
Again, this is not to excuse the abuse of Iraqi prisoners; but that the
answer is that a higher level of civilized behavior is expected from Western
coalition forces than from Saddam's regime. For communist/socialist
dictators like Hussein, or Stalin, or Milosevic - brutality is part of what
defines these rulers as tyrants in the first place. Dictators like Hussein,
Stalin and Milosevic practice instilling fear in the population as part of
how they govern and practice "state security." Torture, rapes and mass
murder are expected from brutes like Hussein and Milosevic.
The fact the shocking photos of American prison guards abusing and
humiliating their captives is causing such outrage, including in the
American government, indicates that we separate ourselves from the kind of
brutal behavior that was routine for Saddam Hussein's Iraq. What is for
certain is that we in the Western/Atlantic world, who represent freedom,
human rights and peace, are outraged. What is for certain is that those in
the American military who did these sickening behaviors against the Iraqi
prisoners will be punished for their crimes.
The real difference between us in the Western world and them in Saddam
Hussein's Iraq is that crimes of brutality are not tolerated and will be
punished. We cannot say this for the Hussein, Stalin or Milosevic regimes.
The world will see that this is true.
Tue, May 04 2004
http://www.pronato.com/commentary/index.htm
While there are those out there who are attempting to cash in on the
Army-Iraqi prisoner scandal, what is missing is the real message. I do not
mean the propaganda that coalition forces in Iraq are "merciless
brutalizes," as some would like to get out of the Iraqi prisoner abuse
story.
First of all, there needs to be some prospective here. In the same prison
where the alleged abuse occurred - real horrible abuses and tortures
occurred under Saddam Hussein's fascist state. In Saddams' Iraq, the
electrical wires used for torture were live and may have caused pain to
many, even death. Under the coalition caretakers of the prison, the
electrical wires were not live. The truth is that the real "merciless
brutalizers" were Saddam Hussien's henchmen.
This is not to excuse the abuse of Iraqi prisoners. The real difference lies
in the level of outcry between the torture, rape rooms and mass murder under
Saddam Hussein and the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by their American guards.
Given the higher level of torture under Saddam as opposed to the American
occupiers - why is the outcry greatest?! Why is there a greater outcry now,
rather then under Saddam?
Again, this is not to excuse the abuse of Iraqi prisoners; but that the
answer is that a higher level of civilized behavior is expected from Western
coalition forces than from Saddam's regime. For communist/socialist
dictators like Hussein, or Stalin, or Milosevic - brutality is part of what
defines these rulers as tyrants in the first place. Dictators like Hussein,
Stalin and Milosevic practice instilling fear in the population as part of
how they govern and practice "state security." Torture, rapes and mass
murder are expected from brutes like Hussein and Milosevic.
The fact the shocking photos of American prison guards abusing and
humiliating their captives is causing such outrage, including in the
American government, indicates that we separate ourselves from the kind of
brutal behavior that was routine for Saddam Hussein's Iraq. What is for
certain is that we in the Western/Atlantic world, who represent freedom,
human rights and peace, are outraged. What is for certain is that those in
the American military who did these sickening behaviors against the Iraqi
prisoners will be punished for their crimes.
The real difference between us in the Western world and them in Saddam
Hussein's Iraq is that crimes of brutality are not tolerated and will be
punished. We cannot say this for the Hussein, Stalin or Milosevic regimes.
The world will see that this is true.
--
Erin LaPorte
The NATO Citizen - www.pronato.com
Milwaukee, Wisconsin - USA
"Long live the entangling Alliance!"
Erin LaPorte
The NATO Citizen - www.pronato.com
Milwaukee, Wisconsin - USA
"Long live the entangling Alliance!"
