Bush: Iraqi Prisoner Abuse 'Abhorrent'

WASHINGTON - President Bush said Wednesday in an interview with Arab TV that the treatment of Iraqi prisoners by some members of the U.S. military was "abhorrent" and does not represent "the America that I know."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=1&u=/ap/20040505/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_prisoner_abuse

What America DOES he know? And I have to say...my visions of him learning the word "abhorrent" and practicing it all night gave me a little bit of a laugh.

Where was the apology?

Did I miss something?

From the article: "He stopped short of apologizing."

He is incapable of saying "I apologize" or "I was wrong" or "I made mistakes." Hence his dissembling at his prime time verbal diarrhea fest when asked about mistakes he had made, and his former comment "fool my once shame on you fool my twice, er, uh, uh don't get fooled again." He cannot admit failure. The buck stops everywhere else but with him.

SO thoughtful of him.

I think he fully qualifies for the slur "son of a bitch."

Considering his ma's "beautiful mind."

whose manhood would be threatened by a simple apology. :eyes:

Q Mr. President, thank you for giving us this chance here in Al Arabiya. Regarding the alleged abuse of Iraqi prisoners, six U.S. soldiers are being reprimanded. Do you think that's enough?

THE PRESIDENT: First, I want to tell the people of the Middle East that the practices that took place in that prison are abhorrent and they don't represent America. They represent the actions of a few people. Secondly, it's important for people to understand that in a democracy that there will be a full investigation. In other words, we want to know the truth.

In our country, when there's an allegation of abuse -- more than an allegation in this case, actual abuse, we saw the pictures -- there will be a full investigation and justice will be delivered. We have a presumption of innocent until you're guilty in our system, but the system will be transparent, it will be open and people will see the results. This is a serious matter. It's a matter that reflects badly on my country. Our citizens in America are appalled by what they saw, just like people in the Middle East are appalled. We share the same deep concerns. And we will find the truth, we will fully investigate. The world will see the investigation and justice will be served.

Q And you just -- you've said this is reflected badly here, in the United States of America. How do you think this will be perceived in the Middle East?

THE PRESIDENT: Terrible. I think people in the Middle East who want to dislike America will use this as an excuse to remind people about their dislike. I think the average citizen will say, this isn't a country that I've been told about. We're a great country because we're a free country, and we do not tolerate these kind of abuses.

The people of the Middle East must be assured that we will investigate fully, that we will find out the truth. They will know the truth, just like the American citizens will know the truth, and justice will be served.

Secondly, it's very important for the people of the Middle East to realize that the troops we have overseas are decent, honorable citizens who care about freedom and peace; that are working daily in Iraq to improve the lives of the Iraqi citizens, and these actions of a few people do not reflect the nature of the men and women who serve our country.

Q After these pictures came out, some people in the area started talking about another alleged abuse. Could you tell us about what's being done to prevent this from happening and just to improve the situation?

THE PRESIDENT: Absolutely. I have told our Secretary of Defense, and I have instructed him to tell everybody else in the military, I want to know the full extent of the operations in Iraq, the prison operations. We want to make sure that if there is a systemic problem -- in other words, if there's a problem system-wide -- that we stop the practices.

Again, it's very important for people, your listeners, to understand, in our country that when an issue is brought to our attention on this magnitude, we act -- and we act in a way where leaders are willing to discuss it with the media. And we act in a way where, you know, our Congress asks pointed questions to the leadership. In other words, people want to know the truth. That stands in contrast to dictatorships. A dictator wouldn't be answering questions about this. A dictator wouldn't be saying that the system will be investigated and the world will see the results of the investigation. A dictator wouldn't admit reforms needed to be done.

And so the people in the Middle East must understand that this was horrible. But we're dealing with it in a way that will bring confidence to not only our citizens, which is very important, but confidence to people of the world that this situation will be rectified and justice will be done.

~snip~
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/05/20040505-2.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

No apology, just excuses and more lies.

From the transcript:

Q Mr. President, critics are saying that by your action in Iraq actually invited al Qaeda and other terrorists to
do business with you over there. Could you address that?

THE PRESIDENT: Sure. Do you remember September the 11th, 2001? Al Qaeda attacked the United
States. They killed thousands of our citizens. I will never forget what they have done to us. They declared
war on us. And the United States will pursue them. And so long as I'm the President, we will be determined,
steadfast, and strong as we pursue those people who kill innocent lives because they hate freedom.

And, of course, al Qaeda looks for any excuse. But the truth of the matter is, they hate us, and they hate
freedom, and they hate people who embrace freedom. And they're willing to kill innocent Iraqis because
Iraqis are willing to be free. Iraqis are sick of foreign people coming in their country and trying to destabilize
their country. And we will help them rid Iraq of these killers.


Once again linking September 11th to the invasion of Iraq. Over and over he repeats the lie, knowing it will take root in enough minds to allow him to escape consequences for waging a war that did not have to happen, or in the words of Richard Clarke for doing something as breathtakingly stupid as attacking Mexico after Japan bombed us in World War II.

"It's a matter that reflects badly on my country."
Again with the "my" this and that. His government, his whitehouse, his world.

"Secondly, it's important for people to understand that in a democracy that there will be a full investigation. In other words, we want to know the truth."

Yes, we all want to know the fucking truth George.

I can go on and on with this windbag, but I'm sure everyone here feels the same.

Was probably on a tape recorder so he could practice... like in the language lab.

Bush said it was important for "the people of Iraq to know that everything is not perfect. That mistakes are made".

Now he admits that mistakes were made. Naw, he's just saying others made them.

What a flattering picture!

I gave it a 1 and brought the rating down from 2.86 to 2.82!

B-)

,...about what was happening until he saw it on TV.

This man is such a big, freakin' embarassment to our country!!!

There is no way the freon neocons will be able to spin their way out of this,...no way. They are screwed. I just hope that, once they are thrown out,...they are charged/tried/convicted and life sentenced for their crimes against this nation and the world!!!

the White House has already admitted that * was told about this back in fucking January and did jackshit about it. For that POS to refuse to apologize and then shamelessly lie to the Arabs should really win some hearts and minds.

Last night he turned to me at one point, with a look of sheer revulsion on his face and said "this is the first time in my life that I've actually been ashamed to be an American."

He's certainly among the enlightened ones. He's totally against bushco and can list, for about four or five hours, all the reasons why. From being more or less for the war (at least at the beginning - "well, you know, we HAD to get Saddam out; we COULD NOT let this situation continue, blah-blah-blah") and totally conned by Colin Powell at the UN, he's now very informed - and more disgusted by the day. Even so, that's a major statement for him to make.

another day of mortification... since he knows nothing of what is going on, didn't know anything about 9/11 either, i suggest we call him resident clueless. i am so embarrassed. we need to send up SOS smoke signals for someone to come in here and free us from this regime.

I noted that the story in the Globe and Mail today that had a long interview with one of the prisoners subjected to the sexual piling on torture said they were also punched and beaten. He said this went on for ten straight days, with doctors and dentists checking them out between beatings. Another sign that this was institutional behavior, not a few rogue elements. He said the guy with the green gloves (or blue if you like) was named Joiner by the prisoners.

from an old Salon article:
http://dir.salon.com/news/feature/2001/06/13/death_penalty/index.html

"As governor of Texas, Bush himself presided over several executions of mentally retarded inmates. Indeed, his governorship was literally ushered in with one such killing: the execution of inmate Mario Marquez on the day of Bush's 1995 inauguration. Bush did not, strictly speaking, sign off on Marquez's execution. But he did approve two other executions that drew worldwide condemnation: Terry Washington in 1997 and Oliver Cruz in 2000. Marquez, Washington and Cruz each "definitely had an I.Q. below 70," says Richard Dieter, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center in Washington. An I.Q. of 70 is the universally recognized minimum for normal mental development.
As governor, Bush also authorized the execution of Johnny Paul Penry, who had an I.Q. in the 50s and a mental age of 6. Penry came within four hours of execution in 2000 when the U.S. Supreme Court stayed his execution; and last week, the court overturned his death sentence, saying the Texas legal system did not give jurors the proper opportunity for "morally reasoned" consideration of his retardation.
....
Johnny Paul Penry...still believes in Santa Claus."
http://yourlogohere.blogspot.com

he still has his smirk on.

and why does he feel the need to define words for everyone?

THE PRESIDENT: Absolutely. I have told our Secretary of Defense, and I have instructed him to tell everybody else in the military, I want to know the full extent of the operations in Iraq, the prison operations. We want to make sure that if there is a systemic problem -- in other words, if there's a problem system-wide -- that we stop the practices.

Again, it's very important for people, your listeners, to understand, in our country that when an issue is brought to our attention on this magnitude, we act -- and we act in a way where leaders are willing to discuss it with the media. And we act in a way where, you know, our Congress asks pointed questions to the leadership. In other words, people want to know the truth. That stands in contrast to dictatorships. A dictator wouldn't be answering questions about this. A dictator wouldn't be saying that the system will be investigated and the world will see the results of the investigation. A dictator wouldn't admit reforms needed to be done.

And so the people in the Middle East must understand that this was horrible. But we're dealing with it in a way that will bring confidence to not only our citizens, which is very important, but confidence to people of the world that this situation will be rectified and justice will be done.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/05/20040505-2.html

had gone to Vietnam like the rest of his generation, he would know that this shit happens in a war. Always has & always will.

"Apology"... He can't. It is Not in him to utter it. he has never apologized for a fucking thing in his pathetic putrid life. Why would he ever apologize now, on worldwide television, to "people that are not his color"? I saw his little show and it is going to backfire like everything they have done. :puke:

I sent him for x-mas would pay off...:D

He'll be speaking on an 8th grade level in no time. ;)

He's always so damned proud of himself.

If he were a dog, he would walk around strutting after his accomplishment, every time he actually pronounces the word and uses it in a sentence.

He had a real wowser last week, which left many of us weak in the knees, no doubt. I imagine it was a "special project" word, and had to be wrestled with for days on end.

People who are looking for it can see it coming. He holds his breath, carefully drops the big word into the sentence, then starts gathering a sense of confidence that he's pulled it off. Damned odd.