Update-- Abuse of Iraqi Prisoners at Abu Ghraib: Al Jazeera-- Same Propaganda, New Management; Al JaTeddya, Ted Kennedy, Saddam Hussein, Donald Rumsfeld, George W. Bush; CBS News; Photographs; Abusive Mistreatment versus Torture; Humiliation versus Cutting-off tongues and ears; Due Process; Whistle-Blowers; Courts Martial.

May 22, 2004 (Update re May 21, 2004 #01: Political Satire/Commentary where satire is always commentary but commentary isn't always satire™
(but we're confident you'll know the difference) Search PoliSat.Com Home Tell a friend about PoliSat.Com Subscribe
Permanent Link to this installment in PoliSat.Com's Archives Google-News list of recent updates About author, Jim Wrenn.

Update-- Abuse of Iraqi Prisoners at Abu Ghraib: Al Jazeera-- Same Propaganda, New Management; Al JaTeddya, Ted Kennedy, Saddam Hussein, Donald Rumsfeld, George W. Bush; CBS News; Photographs; Abusive Mistreatment versus Torture; Humiliation versus Cutting-off tongues and ears; Due Process; Whistle-Blowers; Courts Martial.·

How paradoxical it is that while Ted Kennedy was making speeches falsely, speciously and irresponsibly equating American management of Abu-Ghraib prison with the barbaric practices of Saddam Hussein's regime, a Walid M. Sadi, a Jordanian editor of a Jordanian newspaper expressed opinions on the subject more favorable to America than Kennedy's diatribe. Portions of Mr. Sadi's commentary warrant quotation here:

All doubts about the US military personnel's responsibility are now dispersed. In all fairness, though, the degree of culpability does not go as high enough as to suggest that the abuses of Iraqi prisoners constituted a state policy. There is now no suggestion that the wrongdoings of US interrogators constituted an institutional policy on the part of Washington. The fact that the US system of government went all out to search for answers and explanations for what went wrong in the chain of command that led to the abuses of Iraqis is telling. Few countries in the world would have gone that far in exposing themselves to such scrutiny. This much credit must be given to the US system of government.

Sure, torture is widespread in the world and many countries which came forward to condemn the US abuses of Iraqis have, themselves, the worst record on torture. What this whole issue is about, nevertheless, is the high expectations everybody has from the US.

The world expected much more from the US and got much less.

Countries across the board are now being served clear notices that they cannot expect to be absolved of responsibility when abuses occur in their jails. It is hoped that from now on the issue of torture will figure higher on societies' agendas and the fight against it will pick up speed worldwide. [Source]

Thus, unlike Ted Kennedy, Mr. Sadi: (a) condemned the "abuses" without overstating them, (b) made clear that many countries condemning such "abuse" routinely apply "torture," and (c) gave credit to the United States for being willing to do what such other countries refuse to do-- i.e., admit the wrongful conduct, take steps to terminate it, and punish the wrongdoers. Has John Kerry denounced Kennedy's statements with even a fraction of the vehemence with which he characterizes mere criticisms of his voting record as "attacks on his patriotism"? Of course he hasn't.

A speech Teddy recently uttered
made charges so stark it sent shudders:
A Kennedy speech
that typically preached
a theory from partisan gutters.

Comparing Saddam Hussein's management
of prisons with torture for management
of tongues to detach,
claims Ted, Bush dispatched
our troops as mere changes in management.

In war, Ted seeks partisan banishment
of old-time bi-partisan management
with charges to mirror
Mid-East's Al Jazeera--
The same propaganda, new management.

The reason I'm picking on Teddy?
Because for the Left he's most steady
in twisting the news
with talent that proves
to run Al Jazeera he's ready.

That mere common-sense erudition
contrasts, not compares, the conditions
in Abu-Ghraib chapters
"before" and then "after"
shows Ted propagandized conditions.

Twas known that Saddam Hussein managed
his prisons to keep his advantage
for ruling by fear
by cutting-off ears
and tongues to maintain his advantage.

In toppling Saddam, massive graves
were found as were video-tapes
of ruling by fear
by cutting-off ears
and tongues at that place, "Abu Ghraib."

When prisons Americans seized,
they ended such torture and grief,
but later a few
have disobeyed rules
against lesser means to cause grief.

But yet an American soldier
upon his becoming beholder
of photograph views
of pris'ner abuse
reported such wrongs by such soldiers.

On learning the charge thus imparted,
the chain of command promptly started
the right thing to do:
Investigate who
from proper procedure departed.

Instead of attempting to hide
the fact that such charges abide,
they told the whole world
the facts they'd unfurl
when charges are ripe to be tried.

However, before the procedures
were finished a criminal leaker
gave CBS News
some pictures to view
by breaking due process procedures.

To General Myers' request
that news for the "eye" CBS
delay exhibition
of photo-depictions,
the answer was "no" 'stead of "yes."

By showing such pictures before
due process could open the door,
CBS thus preempted
the process invented
for courts-martial opening doors.

So, eagerly, CBS News
for profit was willing to skew
the news in a way
to falsely convey
the Army was "hiding" such news.

At CBS News they preferred
the profits they knew they'd incur
by premature showing
of pictures exploding
the risks for our troops to be hurt.

The worst still remained yet to come
from partisan beating of gums
oblivious to
the dangers to troops
with words to taint all 'stead of some.

The worst was the claim that was uttered
in language so stark it sent shudders:
A Kennedy speech
that pompously preached
a theory from partisan gutters.

Comparing Saddam Hussein's management
of prisons with torture for management
of tongues to detach,
claims Ted, Bush dispatched
our troops as mere changes in management.

In war, Ted seeks partisan banishment
of old-time bi-partisan management
with charges to mirror
Mid-East's Al Jazeera--
The same propaganda, new management.

--Jim Wrenn, Editor@PoliSat.Com.

Daily Update immediately preceding the one above.

Recent Political Satire/Commentary Animations-- Click image to play. More: Text-Index/Images-Index.

Donate your frequent-flier miles to military personnel to return home from port of reentry on leave: www.HeroMiles.Org.

·support our troops, support Bush, support Cheney, support victory in Iraq, support victory in Afghanistan, Clinton Liebrary, http://PoliSat.Com , PoliSatDOTcom, Salute America's Heroes, Fallen Heroes Fund, oppose Gore's Global Warming theory, support milblogs, Michael Yon, Pat Dollard, BlackFive, MilBlogs, MilBlogging, Michael Yon, Mudville Gazette, HotAir.Com, JawaReport, PajamasMedia , VictoryCaucus , VetsForFreedom , FreedomsWatch , DayByDayCartoon , WrennCom.Com , Video , Political Satire, Politics, News, oppose MoveOn.Org, oppose Code Pink, oppose DailyKos, oppose ANSWER, support PoliSat.Com, support WrennCom.Com, ·

First Things First: Salute America's Heroes · Fallen Heroes Fund · Frequent-Flyer-Miles for Troops · Thanks to Troops · Military News ·· MilBlogs ·

Home · Posts: Current /Recent · Videos/Toons/Songs: Latest · Embed-Codes · Text Index · Images Index · Archives: Old · New · About · Contact · Syndication · Affiliates ·

News Sources/Papers/Magazines Pundits Blogs ThinkTanks What is "property"? Pantheopians Global Climate Asteroids/Comets Hitting Earth--Risks/Predictions Science GlobalWeb

Other sites that feature PoliSat.Com's Political Satire/Commentary-- Click here to view our Affiliates page.