Posted on 06/24/2005 12:31:12 AM PDT by txradioguy
The flap over Sen. Dick Durbin’s vile comments behind them, Democrats are moving on to their next Guantanamo Bay gambit of pushing for an independent commission to investigate practices there. A common thread runs through Durbin’s comparisons and this call for a commission: an urge for national self-flagellation.
The underlying premise is that we have been bad, very bad, in daring to hold enemy combatants, never mind that doing so is intrinsic to the act of warfare. The 9/11 Commission did some worthy work, but it also created a politicized circus around its investigation thanks to its partisan Democrats and passive Republicans, on top of a press eager to give the Bush administration a black eye. Who can doubt that a similar constellation of forces will be in play here? Or that that is exactly what Nancy Pelosi is hoping for?
It is argued that a commission will help clear the country’s good name. Put aside that the portion of the foreign audience that hates us won’t be swayed by a commission’s findings one way or another. A commission will, in political terms, never clear the Bush administration of anything. The Robb-Silberman Commission cleared Bush officials of the charge that they pressured intelligence officials to hype intelligence about Iraq’s WMD. Democrats and swaths of the media dismissed the report for exactly that reason.
The Pentagon has investigated its detainee practices repeatedly. Air Force Lt. General Randall Schmidt’s investigation into Gitmo — it is his forthcoming report that Newsweek falsely said would contain the toilet-flushing incident — will just be the latest. There is no reason to believe that violations of the rules at the facility, including of the minute procedures for handling the Koran, haven’t resulted in discipline for the violators. And numerous congressional hearings have been held about the detentions there.
An independent commission is not just unnecessary, it’s a cop out. Democrats should simply say what they would do with the detainees, and offer a congressional resolution to that effect and vote on it. Do they oppose tough interrogation techniques for the 20th hijacker? Then they should put themselves on record against them, even if it’s only in a symbolic resolution. Do they think terrorists deserve Geneva Convention protections? That we should attempt (futilely) to try the detainees in the American courts and — failing that — release them? If they are such fans of “accountability,” Democrats shouldn’t blanch at putting such positions in black and white and voting on them.
Of course, they will do no such thing. They instead want to hide behind a commission that at best will duplicate investigative work that has already been done and at worst replicate the 9/11 Commission at its lowest, most politicized moments. The response to calls for such a commission should be simple: “Hell, no.”
This is why they should have been summarily shot.
"This is why they should have been summarily shot."
(nods head slowly in agreement)
I agree, we should put the Democrats out of their misery once and for all!!! (just kidding) ;)
Hey, they have a plan. The same plan the Clintonistas used to deal with terrorists in the '90s: do nothing and make sure lawyers are on speed dial so no one else can, either.
Listen to that fool Ted Kennedy going on like the drunk he is repeating "resign...resign" to Rumsfeld; look at HRC, who was getting so passionate about the Rove comments I thought maybe a supermodel entered the room; listen to Nadler and Pelosi and Reid blabbing on and on, outraged by a criticism of liberals yet not minding at all that their party member compared our armed forced to Nazis. (Trent Lott says something silly and loses his leadership position; Durbin slanders our troops and...nothing.)
If the Dems had any brains they'd spend a few hours coming up with a consistent ALTERNATIVE to the Administration actions they dislike. That they cannot even do THAT (Hell, most of US could come up with some--not that we'd believe them, but we could invent positions for an imaginary opposition to take) shows that they are too incompetent to be allowed to sneak into power again. If the anti-Iraq War stuff isn't countered NOW with the truth about how well things are going in Iraq--and no, they are far from perfect, but we are in an historic time of change in the Middle East thanks to our actions--then it's perfectly believable that the Republicans can lose power in 2006 and 2008 if only because voters are anti-Bush, not pro-alternative...because no alternative has been proposed.
But the democrats, as a party, seem more interested in figuring out how much money they can make, how they can position themselves for greater power, and appealing to those constituent groups the MSM approve of. They sure aren't interested in coming up with solutions to this country's needs.
"I agree, we should put the Democrats out of their misery once and for all!!! (just kidding) ;)"
Don't kid. I would start by closing military bases in all blue states since those Senators do not support the military to begin with.
For example,would you close down west coast Naval Bases?That's a harsh way to treat the Pacific Fleet.
"For example,would you close down west coast Naval Bases?That's a harsh way to treat the Pacific Fleet."
Well, Arnold is Governor there.
LOL! Leave it to the Governator to save the Navy from your reckless scheme! ;)
"LOL! Leave it to the Governator to save the Navy from your reckless scheme! ;)"
I see explosions and a few Liberal Senators buying the farm in this action packed thriller.
Scene suggestion: Have the Liberal Senators "buy the farm" at a gala Hollywood fundraiser.All the explosions would provide worthwhile "collateral damage".
Gitmo stays-
but those
who oppose
Gitmo go
to Gitmo.
Gitmo,Gitmo
clear their
haze- and
stupid ways.
Hehehe....that's a good one.
Thanks.
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