John Kerry Dismisses Rumsfeld's Apology

"PHOENIX (AP) -- Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry on Friday
dismissed Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld's apology for U.S. abuses of Iraqi
prisoners and said the responsibility lies with the commander in chief.

"The chain of command goes all the way to the Oval Office," Kerry said. "Harry
Truman did not say 'the buck stops at the Pentagon.'"

Kerry issued a broad challenge to Bush's conduct of the war on terror in remarks to
the centrist-leaning Democratic Leadership Council, saying a strong foreign policy means
"taking responsibility for the bad and good" and accusing the Bush administration of talking tough but
bumbling.

Although Bush apologized on Thursday for the abuse of Iraqi prisoners and
Rumsfeld apologized Friday during a session with the Senate Armed
Services Committee, Kerry said they should have moved far faster. The
administration had to be pressured into acknowledging its responsibility, he
said."


http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/K/KERRY?SITE=PAPIT&TEMPLATE=home.htm

Damn straight, John! Exactly right, the buck stops everywhere else with this administration except with the person who, prior to this, never passed up the opportunity to remind everyone that he is "The Commander in Chief." This of course is only when he seeks to claim the credit, not when it is time to accept responsibility.

He has grown up rich enough that he always hires someone to take responsibility for him.

Ooooh, I just heard it on Air America!

Go John!

http://www.wgoeshome.com

Everyone else has always cleaned up the mess he made e.g. Arbusto, Harken etc. so he has never had to accept responsibility since there were never personal consequences.

Kerry said:

from the link-


"The chain of command goes all the way to the Oval Office," Kerry said. "Harry Truman did not say 'the buck stops at the Pentagon.'"

"Kerry issued a broad challenge to Bush's conduct of the war on terror in remarks to the centrist-leaning Democratic Leadership Council, saying a strong foreign policy means "taking responsibility for the bad and good" and accusing the Bush administration of talking tough but bumbling."

In the Senate hearings? WTF? Did I miss something?

"I am at the end of the chain of command" equals "I am in charge here." The Al Haig delusion at work. Perhaps in addition to never reading General Taquba's report he did not have time to read the Constitution either which provides that the President "shall be Commander in Chief of the Army.."

interview...

Which means he is COVERING-UP for What Bush Knew!

clearly Bush is too dim to be responsible. But OTOH does Kerry have anything to lose?
Bush did set the "with us or against us" tone so there is that to consider.
Also, it seems there were a lot of frustrated soldiers taking out their anger on the prisoners. Frustrated because the inept CiC put them there without both proper equipment and a plan.
Anyway, it's hard to tie this all the way back to Bush, unless you shackle the whole abomination that was this invasion on him, and the lack of planning which was Rummy's fault.

and is claiming that he just learned of it when he saw it on CBS. . .

Bush knew and decided to keep it under wraps for as long as possible.
Then we get to the issue of the pictures. Who leaked them? When did Bush see them? What was his reaction?

That lyin sack of shit said he didn't know about this until he "saw it on TV". He isn't to blame...right?

Whether Bush knew has not been defined as yet and would be a slippery slope for Kerry to venture on..

I don't have the links, but General Myers has already said that * was informed months ago. Snottie, the press secretary, also admitted that * was informed in January. Maybe * hadn't seen the photos until CBS aired them, but that claim is so lame that only the hardest core freepers would buy it.

I think he's right on course!

"Although Bush apologized on Thursday for the abuse of Iraqi prisoners and ..."

Bush did NOT apologize for the abuse. He apologized for the humiliation. There should be a very clear and precise distinction made as to exactly what he apologized for.

The King of Jordan is about as connected to the Iraqi prisoners as I am.

* is a total idiot, and needs his Daddy to get him out of this.

Come to think of it, Where has George the First been hangin' lately. I heard he was at a baseball game the other day. Why haven't we heard what he and Empress Barbara think of their baby boy now?

Actual, critical comments! I have to say I rather like it.

Not to mention that he's as right as he could be, which is what will particularly gall the wingnut brigades.

in this situation - what exactly does that mean in terms of actions versus words????

What can Bush do to fix this? For that matter, what can anyone do?
Apologizing is just words that is all. The accused are STILL working at the prison BTW as we speak today. Even those who recieved official reprimands.

I see the problem as being far far more serious than a small group of individual crimes....this is a systemic rot. How do you fix this? I'll tell you how Canada fixed their little torture and murder problem with the airborne regiment that was stationed in Somalia.....they DISBANDED THE ENTIRE REGIMENT. Now there is an idea that would speak volumes to the world and to the army itself....this sort of activities will not be tolerated under any circumstances.....my recommendation to Bush - disband the entire regiment in charge of the prison. Yes, the WHOLE REGIMENT.

Strong actions are required, which have certainly not been forthcoming from this maladministration up until the pictures metaphorically hit the fan. At the very least the minimum which should be done is closing this prison which has now been irrevocably seared into the minds of the world as a torture chamber and very public prosecutions and punishments of everyone involved, especially up the chain of command to whomever knew about this and failed to stop it or ordered it whichever the evidence ultimately discloses.

For these arrogant bastards even saying (insincerely) "I'm responsible" is a major step. They think just saying the words is good enough.

However if the treatment of the prisoners is unacceptable and Rumsfeld is responsible there is only one course of action he can take, he should resign. Given that he won't resign then either he is not really taking responsibility or they don't really think the behavior is unacceptable (or both.)

routed. Kerry has found an issue that is collapsing the Neocon war propaganda machine. This will be Bush's undoing.

Why was the response so slow? Where is the outrage?

I'd have this question for the President: What did he know and WHEN did he know it? I hope some reporter somewhere gets some sand and actually asks.

He knew a long time ago and they all decided it was best not to let anyone know about it for as long as possible.
The schedule got moved up by a leaker.

We, of course, were never intended to know.

Several reports I've read today said it was common knowledge there,(in the ME) concerning the systematic abusive treatment prisoners received at the hands of our military. Makes me wonder if Bush was deliberately stoking the fire, according to their plan, hoping for a retaliatory strike against the US. This entire plan of demeaning and abusing muslims, the catalyst justifying a reason to nuke Iraq. I'm convinced if we had been attacked several months ago, without having benefit of the knowledge of these atrocities, Bush would have, without batting an eyelash, nuked Iraq.

If you remember not that look ago Bush was asked by a inquiring reporter: "How did he think history would remember him and the War in Iraq?" Bush replied: "I don't know, we'll all be dead." IMO- Those words are immortal and very telling..and at the same time an abnormal bizarre response to a very serious question.

Tooth to trail? Or is it tooth to tale?

The rot in our Armed Forces comes from a trail of civilians from the white house through corporate boardrooms to the military field. It's an alternative chain of command if you will, that is not subject to military law, and despises international law and the Geneva Conventions, like the Commander in Chief, the SecDef and his undersecretaries, and the Attorney General. 20,000 unnaccountable barbarians, no law, no command, no accountability. Interfering along with their agency friends in military functions.

Unjustified war, competing chains of command, unlawfulness, corruption, torture, rape, killing. Sounds like a country transitioning to dictatorship.

This thing is reaching a boiling point. Time for another MIHOP to change the course this thing is taking.

now at 823736351413009484.09 miles, hardly anyone believes the Bushit anymore.

Bush is friggen toast.

Honor, integrity?? Those lost long ago.

Bush never had Class, so thats moot.

Best thing for the Nation is for Bush and Co to resign en mass.

the toaster and living to tell about it!

Everytime they speak the hole gets deeper. Its best they shut up and get outta the way, resign. They ARE the PROBLEM.