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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
Why rehash the incidents... to keep the incitment going? Soldiers could possibly die by the photo's you provide to the world. To hide behind the Freedom of the Press is scandolous. As Churchhill so eloquently "...War is Hell". Our US soldiers are in a war... and need to do whatever it takes to get the enemy to talk. Your decision to publish these trivial photo's is tantamount to TREASON, inciting the enemy... I personally believe you should be thrown in GITMO... or at least move to the Middle East...
Thank you for keeping this alive.
Perhaps the only reason to study history is to learn from the past. These pictures are an important reminder of what was done by American soldiers. Since there is no guarantee that this won't happen again it is important to publish these pictures. I am always amazed by this administration's willingness to resort to torture. We still hear of "enemy combatants" being force fed in Guantanamo Bay, of other "enemy combatants" being deported to countries that condone torture. We had the White House object to the McCain's bill against torture. Well, a picture is worth a thousand words, to use an old cliche'. Thank you for this very important reminder -- sadly it is still timely and relevant, and will continue to be until the day that we shall all take a stand against torture instead of making escuses and simply say "no more."
I read your commentary first and then I took a spin through the photos. I saw human beings doing things and appearing to be ok with doing things that animals would not even consider doing to other animals. I understand intellectually the need to protect ourselves from those that would wish us harm. However, I am having a hard time connecting these policies on prisoner treatment as a means to accomplish that ultimate goal. Throughout history the citizens of empires and societies have been judged on their willigness to step up and be counted when the powers that be go beyond the threshold of decent human behavior. The willingness to bring this totally unacceptable government policy to light is merely the first step. It must be met with the courage to correct the course that we are on. Those who are in positions of leadership, whether directly or indirectly involved, must be held accountable through the loss of their positions of power and or the loss of their own freedom. It is not enough to say we didn't know. Now we all know. The elected men and women in our government must either correct this situation or be replaced with those that will. It is our responsibilty as equal members of our society to make that happen. Without that, there will be no change. It is a tall order and one that will not be accomplished overnight but the process must begin. Thank you for respecting me enough to make me aware of the truth. I pray that I can live up to the challenge of standing up and being counted.
With the prospect of a downturn in Bush's approval because of Cheney's hunting trip, it only seems feasible that they'll start up the war drums once again for their own political gain, once again trying so desperately hard to pull the wool over our eyes and keeping us blinded to the reality that is our undeniably evil foreign policy. What happened at Abu Ghraib is a simple manifestation of the anger that exists between the West and the Middle East- anger that serves more to destroy than to build up.
As a practicing Christian, I see no greater morally reprehensible act than what transpired at Abu Ghraib, for it was at that moment that the world watched United States of America become the evil it so vocally deplored. Since then we have learned that this anger doesn't bring us anywhere but to the depths of hell as body after body returns from Iraq and Afghanistan, also shielded from public viewing.
If you find these photos disturbing, that's precisely the point, they should be. As a longtime subscriber to Salon, I vividly recall the time when Salon did in fact publish the videos of two Americans being murdered by insurgents in Iraq. That demonstrated tit-for-tat the need to rise up above this retribution-based foreign policy, to stop abusing the name of Jesus Christ, and to figure out why we need so much daily sedation from the culture that controls our very souls.
The drums will begin beating more intensely to the tune of Iran very soon, and the Paris Hiltons and Bill O'Reillys of the world will be given more attention as they continue to keep you and I entertained outside of our reality. I hope Salon continues to tear down the window dressing and delivers up the fruits of our collective anger.
publish everything!
Well, lets print some of the beheadings again! Wow, lets see some real gory pictures and see what was done in the name of Iraqi freedom!
Salon, and Walter Shapiro, are claiming that they are publishing these photos and full page op-ed piece, because, as they breathlessly say, “America --- and the world ---- has the right to know what was done in our name”.
This same Salon, and Walter Shapiro, previously FAILED TO PUBLISH a cartoon (or a full page op-ed about Freedom of the Press) because they did not want to ‘offend’ a community by publishing a cartoon which caricatured that community as one whose primary method of expression was violence.
How did Salon know that Muslims found this cartoon to be offensive?
Because gangs of masked people, identities hidden, were rioting violently all over the world, insisting that the press should never publish such an image; insisting that the press be constrained by the wishes of violent gangs who hide their faces while they burn, kidnap, and kill; insisting that a completely peaceful group of Scandinavian countries and people be attacked and killed because they support the free press.
Other countries and other publications courageously stood up to these intimidation tactics, and published this cartoon. They symbolically said, “We live in a world which believes in free press and we will not be intimidated.”.
Did Salon courageously stand with these countries or newspapers in defense of free speech and press? No.
Did Salon publish a full page op-ed piece about freedom of the press, and the unwavering support for that freedom, even in the face of intimidation? No.
Salon, this journal that NOW claims to be a bastion of strength, courage, and moral outrage, stood silent, acquiescing to the wishes of gangs of anonymous thugs who insisted that Salon, and every other paper, stand silent. We’re glad to know what carries weight in Salon’s editorial office.
However, Salon, and Walter Shapiro, are now perfectly happy to publish 2.5 year old photos because “….we are ashamed to live in a country that somehow came to accept that torture and prisoner abuse were simply business as usual.”.
They are ashamed to live in a country which GUARANTEES THEM that they are free to speak their minds, including their desire to CRITCIZE IN BROAD, UNDIFFERENTIATED STROKES everyone in that country.
Salon: Silent in the face of worldwide violent efforts to remove freedom of the press from peaceful countries.
Salon: Vocal and outraged at a 2.5 year old story while failing to acknowledge the millions of us who are appalled by Abu Ghraib, appalled by Nick Berg’s beheading, appalled by villages of murdered Kurds, appalled by planes flying into buildings.
Me: Ashamed to have ever given Salon a subscription. Salon is now so hypocritical, it makes a Liberal understand what Conservatives hate about Liberals.
Much of the initial coverage about Fort Hood turned out to be wrong. Is there anything wrong with that?
The accountability imposed by another country for the CIA's kidnapping and torture reveals much about our own.
Fox News' morning show plays to type, talking about whether Muslims in the Army should face "special debriefings"
The survivor and author is upset about comparisons some on the right are making to genocide
Once seen as a lunatic fringe, reactionary anti-women groups are courting respectability
Salon headlines in your mailbox
