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Exploiting the Prisoner Abuse Scandal

The prisoner abuse scandal continues to gain momentum and John Kerry is exploiting it to the benefit of his campaign.

According to Defense Secretary Rumsfeld, while the story was broken by the Defense Department and given to the media, "What was not known is that a classified report with photographs would be given to the press before it arrived in the Pentagon."

Besides humiliating the prisoners and selling newspapers, analysts describe the pictures as great recruiting tools for al-Qaida and other extremist groups and said they undermine America's claims to a moral high ground. Rumsfeld said the impact was "radioactive."

"I failed to identify the catastrophic damage that the allegations of abuse could do to our operations in the theater, to the safety of our troops in the field, the cause to which we are committed," stated Rumsfeld.

One of the more interesting observations that can be made regarding this scandal is the "radioactive" outrage that is being shown against Americans compared to the lack of outrage over significantly worse and well publicized crimes. Other governments, including Arab nations, use torture while interrogating their prisoners. Religious persecution is commonplace in China and the northern Sudanese government continues to encourage genocide against the southern "Christian" population. In Nigeria, Sharia Laws are being implemented, including mutilation, and many nations still employ slavery or a class system that de-values people on the basis of race, religion or societal category.

Why is the U.S. held to a higher standard? Perhaps it is because America holds itself to a higher standard that is derived, albeit imperfectly, from the Bible. In doing so, the U.S. represents itself as a Christian nation and will endure continued attacks by the enemies of Jesus Christ when Americans stumble. The crimes committed by Americans against Iraqi prisoners were terrible. The impact of these actions on U.S. credibility is detrimental to the War in Iraq and U.S. foreign policy. However, the misrepresenation of God and goodness to the World through these crimes is far worse.

Posted by tim at May 8, 2004 10:14 PM

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