FURIOUS BUSH DEMANDS TO SEE ALL PRISONER ABUSE PHOTOS, VIDEOS

Drudge ^ | 5/9/04 | Matt Drudge

[demkicker]

A furious President Bush has demanded to see all photos and videos showing abuse of Iraq detainees, a senior White House source said late Sunday.

"The president was blindsided by the first TV images, he will not be blindsided again," the source, who demanded anonymity, explained to the DRUDGE REPORT.

The president has instructed Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to present him with him all known images that could further deepen the crises.

Monday editions of the NEW YORKER feature photos of a dog attacking a naked Iraqi detainee at Abu Ghraib prison.

President Bush was aware of the photo, the top source claims.

The White House is preparing for more fallout, and leaks from lawmakers.

The Pentagon is considering the possibility of showing the unseen material to members of Congress.

"It's clear the moment the evidence is sent to the Congress, we will see a new feeding frenzy in the media."

[HairOfTheDog]

And, everybody, from the President on down, says this is reprehensible behavior.

Only on Free Republic do I find defenses for it.

Nowhere else.

Bizarre, isn't it.

[onyx]

Do you believe that the military was investigating
the incident(s)?

If it's proved that retired Army Colonel David Hackworth, facilitated CBS getting the photos, what should be done with him?

[SierraWasp]

"And, everybody, from the President on down, says this is reprehensible behavior."

And I spose if "everybody" started sayin "America is over," you'd get pist if anybody challenged the absurdity and grevious group-think in that situation, right?

The President is being forced to say this and yes, everyone is disgusted by the whole gross over-reaction/self-flagellation like a bunch of Iranians at a funeral procession for the Ayotollah... sheesh!!!

Can't you take a valium and remember..."Don't believe anything you hear and only half of what you see"?

[MJY1288]

LOL, I'm not trying to explain it away, nor do I have my head in the sand. Think about the first pictures that were released, they showed a smiling 100 pound dyke striking a pose for the camera as she pointed at the genitals of a few Iraqi detainee's, along with a picture of her and her boyfriend posing for the camera over a pile of naked Iraqi prisoners. That was the first day.

Then we see three naked and shackled Iraqi's tied together in a heap on the floor. Today we see an Iraqi prisoner about to be attacked by a K-9. It's clear to me that the media is carefully choosing the pictures they release in order to do the most harm to the Bush Administration, and our efforts in Iraq.

There is no doubt that the people involved in these acts are sick SOB's, but don't you think it's odd that the media hasn't released any pictures so far that would place blame on the Commanders of the Guards?, especially because that was the stated reason for handing them over to CBS and Hackworth

[Judith Anne]

I have a funny feeling...and maybe I'm wrong...but I think this story has just about run its course...I don't think we're going to be seeing many more, if any, photographs, hearing any more calls for Rumsfeld's resignation, or much more about it at all...

No matter what this is all about, and I did read the lengthy report posted elsewhere on this forum, I'm just getting the feeling that the story is about over, and we're going to move on to something else pretty soon.

FR has had probably hundreds of articles about it, and most of what I hear on the street is, "Oh?" and a lot of support for Rumsfeld, President Bush, our friends and relatives over there cleaning up after Saddam, and optimism. I think the liberal press, most mainstream media, is clueless about regular folks, who do not blame President Bush or Secretary Rumsfeld for this scandal.

I also hear a LOT of people who are sick of the fact that every single little thing about this war is politicized in the extreme. Most expect another terror attack, and people are more vigilant than you might suspect.

Secretary Rumsfeld did us all a HUGE favor by going in front of Congress on national TV last Friday. He did an excellent job facing up to every question that was asked. He favorably impressed most people that saw anything of it.

I happen to think this was politically timed and used by CBS and certain leftists, notably folks of Senator Rockefeller's ilk, to harm the President, nevermind the military. Unfortunately, no matter how much the media wants us to get worked up about it, most Americans aren't. There are a lot of Viet Nam vets in the country with families and friends, there are a lot of military presently with families and friends.

This just isn't going to make for mass demonstrations against the president by the average voting American. The fact that the British photos were from a porn site further dampens the interest of Americans in this whole issue.

I'm almost ready to bet that this storm has just about blown over. I'm ready for the next play from the liberals. And I'm not anywhere NEAR alone.

[onyx]

Secretary Rumsfeld did us all a HUGE favor by going in front of Congress on national TV last Friday. He did an excellent job facing up to every question that was asked. He favorably impressed most people that saw anything of it.



I am going to pray that you're right.
I know Hackworth has had it in for Rummy
for quite some time now, and CBS's 60 Minutes
has always had the democrat agenda.

I'm really happy you told me about
folks you come across seeing it our way.

[woofie]

Where is there a link to the pics or the article? I cant seem to find it ...or is all this talk about something we have yet to see?

[woofie]

Where is there a link to the pics or the article? I cant seem to find it ...or is all this talk about something we have yet to see?

[IfYouSaySo]

http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?040517fa_fact2

is current article. Sidebar links to other Hersh article.

[F16Fighter]

"This couldn't be worse if it were Bull Connor turning his snarling German shepherds loose on blacks in Selma, Alabama, a la 1965.

There is simply no defense for this. None"

German Sheperds were "snarling" at innocent American citizens -- sanctioned by the local gub'ment;

There may be "no defense for this," but Peoria ain't going to lose sleep over murderous Iraqi thugs having a few problems with the prison accommodations -- despite the CNN talking heads continual insistance that this is somehow 'Dachau 2004.'

[woofie]

Thanks

[Jorge]

"...We wouldn't want to think Bush is laughing at the photos of Iraqi prisoners on leashes like most the rest of us are."

As a veteran of Desert Storm...I'm not laughing...these people are a disgrace to the uniform. This is not PR....most of us 'real men(and women)' who have served in combat are disgusted by what these few puke-bags have done to the honorable reputation of thousands of soldiers who have NOT treated Iraqi's in such a manner. I served over there...I know better...your perspective is off base on this one, brother...

With all due respect, you totally misread my post sister.

I never said, nor do I believe that what these soldiers/prison guards did reflects on our "thousands of soldiers" or has a thing to do with the reputation of our military in general.
I don't see it that way at all.

I am however sick to death of the self righteous sanctimonious condemnations of these soldiers from those who were silent while our people were fried in their cars, dragged through the streets and hung from bridges by Iraqi monsters.

The idea that a few of our soldiers put Iraqi prisoners on leashes and made them bark like dogs is NOTHING compared to these atrocities.

What's REALLY disgusting is those calling for Rumsfeld's head over this and demanding the US and Bush apologize over and over again.
Apologize to people who danced in the streets when 3,000 of our people were murdered on 9-11?

Don't even try to lecture me on my perspective. What these soldiers did was wrong...but it is NOTHING compared to what those who demand we grovel and apologize excuse as justified in war. What a bunch hypocrites.

And guess what? I could care less what anybody else thinks. I laughed when I saw the "abuse" pictures. And if anybody doesn't like it... tough cookies.

I bet that girl who had the Iraqi prisoners on a leash will get loads of job offers from people who are turned on by this sort of stuff.
But I never said that I thought it reflected on the military in general.

[line drive to right]

I hope that as a result of all this, the media will finally see fit to show pictures of aborted babies, ripped limb-by-limb out of their mother's womb; or, at full-term, totally delivered except for the head, only to have scissors rammed up its neck, so its brains can be sucked out....Yeah, I'm sure we'll see those from the pro-abort media....I've been in the media for 28 years, and I despise it more every day.

[aruanan]

"It's clear the moment the evidence is sent to the Congress, we will see a new feeding frenzy in the media."

Because Hillary and all the other left wing partisans will leak every bit of it.

[Jorge]

This is not PR....most of us 'real men(and women)' who have served in combat are disgusted by what these few puke-bags have done to the honorable reputation of thousands of soldiers who have NOT treated Iraqi's in such a manner.
I served over there...I know better...your perspective is off base on this one, brother...

Actually being that you have served over there explains your response above sister.
You are taking it far too personally.

I don't see this the actions of a few soldiers as a reflection on our military or American in general at all.

It absolutely astounds me to hear the liberal handwringers and Kennedy wing Dems lamenting the so-called "damage" to the reputation of America. What a load of crap!

We're supposed to apologize over this to a bunch of fanatics who think blowing up school busses and restaurants is cool? This is a joke right?

[longtermmemmory]

The real interesting (dirtier?) story is how the "leak" happened. The press is trying to spin it as if there were photos floating around. However, upon closer inspection, it seems the pictures were either leaked from inside the pentagon or from some congressional committee.

All this seems to be tracking the scandal mongering of the Rockefeller judicial committee memos. Look for the demands for an independent counsel by democrats next.

[Jorge]

This is not PR....most of us 'real men(and women)' who have served in combat are disgusted by what these few puke-bags have done to the honorable reputation of thousands of soldiers who have NOT treated Iraqi's in such a manner. I served over there...I know better...your perspective is off base on this one, brother...

If you think that what a few soldiers have done has stained the reputation of thousands of soldiers and the American military in general, then you are the one who's perspective is way off base sister.

You actually believe this? After all our soldiers have done to free and protect the Iraqi people?

[Texasforever]

story is how the "leak" happened.

That has been solved. Col. David Hackworth helped one of the MPs get in touch with 60 minutes to give them the photos.

[FreeReign]

From your link to the latest Hersh article, the following is the first paragraph of that article:

In his devastating report on conditions at Abu Ghraib prison, in Iraq, Major General Antonio M. Taguba singled out only three military men for praise. One of them, Master-at-Arms William J. Kimbro, a Navy dog handler, should be commended, Taguba wrote, because he “knew his duties and refused to participate in improper interrogations despite significant pressure from the MI”—military intelligence—“personnel at Abu Ghraib.” Elsewhere in the report it became clear what Kimbro would not do: American soldiers, Taguba said, used “military working dogs to frighten and intimidate detainees with threats of attack, and in one instance actually biting a detainee.”

Hersh leads his story about "devastating" conditions, by describing a detainee "actually" being bitten by a dog.

Devastating? or overplayed?

I was once bitten by a dog when I was a paper boy. It was a large German Sheppard. The owner kept the dog to intimidate and frighten people.

[Jorge]

I hope that as a result of all this, the media will finally see fit to show pictures of aborted babies, ripped limb-by-limb out of their mother's womb; or, at full-term, totally delivered except for the head, only to have scissors rammed up its neck, so its brains can be sucked out..

Don't hold your breath.

Iraqi terrorists and criminal have more rights than an innocent fetus.