Yet To See The Abu Ghraib Photos. But, Here's Some Fine PRE-SPIN From CNN!

[DistressedAmerican]

This is exactly why I am pushing this campaign to end the abuses NOW. We need to be out there making people think about this issue before CNN and the rest make it all out to be no big deal...

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/05/26/cruz.abu.ghraib/index.html

-SNIP-

House of horrors
Former soldier revisits Abu Ghraib disgrace

Cruz: "I partook with fellow soldiers in
the abuse of detainees and didn't show the
moral courage or the ability to stand up and
stop anything."


"These people know who I am. And they know what I went through for the most part," the former U.S. Army specialist says of the facility he's trained at since he was 11. "And there's no judging. They know deep down, I'm a pretty decent person."

He continues to be haunted by a moment captured in a photograph from an incident that, he says, lasted less than 30 minutes.

Late on October 25, 2003, Cruz came upon guards at the Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad -- a detention center formerly under Saddam Hussein's control being run by coalition forces -- punishing three Iraqi inmates for allegedly raping a 15-year-old boy.

Cruz says anger took over when he walked into the room. He and other troops ordered the inmates to strip naked, then handcuffed them and forced them to crawl on the floor.

-More at the link above-
====================================================================

The article sure is sympathetic.

Sure he feels guilty. Sure he is stigmatized. Do not torture people and you won't have the problem.

This is what we are fighting people.

America is going to want to like this guy. He's all apple pie, corn-fed, American Joe. Just look at the damn picture.

The truth be told. He WAS in horrible circumstances. We SHOULD be holding his chain of command responsible. They especially can not go unpunished.

However, Joe American pie here participated in TORTURE of other human beings. He was an adult and by his own admission, he did not do the morally courageous thing and put a stop to it. Maybe he couldn't. I do not know. Regardless, he has become the new poster boy for the sympathetic torturer.

He most likely is by far not the worst of those that participated. I assume they made less desirable poster children.

You know. "Don't come down on this poor guy too hard folks" and such.

This is not by accident. It is by design.

I just worry that spin like this will inoculate the public against these new photos before they come out. That is why I once again remind you to pull together and make a concerted organized effort to END THE ABUSES!

For more info on the campaign and links to printable flyers, please see my website: http://www.seedsofdoubt.com/distressedamerican/main.htm

If we do not act now, we will be playing catch up with the repug spin machine ONCE AGAIN!!!

[unhappycamper]

1. Nominated and kicked. Watch

the spin, folks. And keep your eye on the ball.

Torture is NEVER OK! Ever. Period.

[DistressedAmerican]

2. Grab The NEW Avatar From Me. Much better.

Thanks for the kicker.

We are all in this together!!!

[unhappycamper]

10. Avatar problems at this end. Sent PM to elad. n/t

[FreedomAngel82]

3. You're probably right

I wouldn't be surprised. With these people it's all about the imaging and framing. They're trying to frame the debate first. That they were "angry" and they're still "good people." Well sorry but "good people" don't rape 15 year old boys!!! They're doing what Saddam Hussein supposivley did! Hmm I wonder how they like being him???

[Monkie]

6. they are framing it as the Iraqi inmates raping the children

"punishing three Iraqi inmates for allegedly raping a 15-year-old boy"

[DisassemblingHisLies]

9. Seymour Hersh said there were video tapes of boys being sodomized.

Some of the worse that happened that you don't know about, ok. Videos, there are women there. Some of you may have read they were passing letters, communications out to their men. This is at Abu Ghraib which is 30 miles from Baghdad <...>

The women were passing messages saying "Please come and kill me, because of what's happened". Basically what happened is that those women who were arrested with young boys/children in cases that have been recorded. The boys were sodomized with the cameras rolling. The worst about all of them is the soundtrack of the boys shrieking that your government has. They are in total terror it's going to come out.

It's impossible to say to yourself how do we get there? who are we? Who are these people that sent us there?

http://radio.weblogs.com/0107946/2004/07/14.html#a1922

[Monkie]

18. thats why its ironic cnn blames Iraqi child rapists for american abuse

"Late on October 25, 2003, Cruz came upon guards at the Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad -- a detention center formerly under Saddam Hussein's control being run by coalition forces -- punishing three Iraqi inmates for allegedly raping a 15-year-old boy.

Cruz says anger took over when he walked into the room. He and other troops ordered the inmates to strip naked, then handcuffed them and forced them to crawl on the floor."

That looks to me like cnn framing it as the Iraqi's deserve all the abuse they get cause they are the real child rapists
oh abused for ALLEGEDLY raping a child,meaning 1.5 years after the fact there has been no conviction of any Iraqi inmate for the rape of that boy in US custody and care..

[elehhhhna]

23. Hey, stop raping that child while I'm taking pics & videos!

[DisassemblingHisLies]

31. Good point.

Hopefully, CNN will be made to eat crow on this story.

[DisassemblingHisLies]

30. Of course CNN is wrongly framing it - at Karl Rove's directive.

The photos will speak for themselves. Then, theres' always Hersh, the investigative reporter, to get the truth out.

This CNN propaganda is downright sickening.

[brettdale]

4. The Photos any words from aclu when they will be released?

The Photos any words from aclu when they will be released?

[katinmn]

5. Yes, CNN is clearly trying to "soften" the impact.

I'm not buying it. If there were no guidelines and the guards were not trained, they had no business detaining prisoners.

The claim that he was "punishing three Iraqi inmates for allegedly raping a 15-year-old boy" is also suspect.

There have been claims made that the prisoners were forced into sexual acts.

I'm going to mull this over and write to CNN.

[DisassemblingHisLies]

7. He may look apple-pie, all-American in that CNN photo...

but I'm sure the next edition of the torture photos will tell a different story.

They all clean up well for the media.

[nikraye]

8. Blaming the rape of children on the Iragi prisoners...

...and hence "justifying" the guards beating of them. Boy, that should get Americans on the soldiers' side, 'eh? I mean, the only scum Americans hate more than terrorists...are child molesters!!

But, ah, wasn't it the SOLDIERS who are said to be shown raping women and children in the SOON-TO-BE-RELEASED PHOTOS and VIDEOS?????

[katinmn]

11. The Rapid Response Network could help with counterspin.

http://rapidresponsenetwork.org/

If you're not familiar with the RRN, they send out action alerts every day to progressives on important legislation and things the neocons do that need calling out. They provide links and background info so people can be informed when writing the media and Congress.

Let's gather the ammunition on this thread!

Here's the Nation article if you haven't seen it:
http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20050718&s=holtzman
In These Times:"Torture Fatigue"
http://www.inthesetimes.com/site/main/article/2179

[katinmn]

16. ACLU Documensts

June 1 Court Order
http://www.aclu.org/Files/OpenFile.cfm?id=18396
June 2 News release
http://www.aclu.org/SafeandFree/SafeandFree.cfm?ID=18393&c=206

[katinmn]

17. AP article: Judge: Release Abu Ghraib Videos, Photos

http://scamusa.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=323

Children, too, are abused in U.S. prisons
By Arlie Hochschild The New York Times
THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 2005
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/06/29/opinion/edchild.php

THE OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE OF BUSH CARTEL CRIMES - AS IGNORED BY THE MEDIA
Collective Bellaciao, France - Jun 27, 2005
http://bellaciao.org/en/article.php3?id_article=6674

As Torture Survivors Watch, Activists Stage Arrests Near White House
By Lena H. Sun
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, June 27, 2005; Page B02
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/26/AR2005062600955.html

June 24, 2005
No New Abu Ghraibs
by Aaron Glantz
http://www.antiwar.com/glantz/?articleid=6414

Where were the doctors at Abu Ghraib?
Maura Lerner, Star Tribune
June 20, 2005
http://www.startribune.com/stories/484/5465361.html

Senior British officials knew of Abu Ghraib abuse
6/19/2005 1:10:00 PM GMT
http://www.aljazeera.com/cgi-bin/news_service/middle_east_full_story.asp?service_id=8884

[DistressedAmerican]

21. Excellent Work. I'll Repost A Lot Of This To My Website In The Morning!

Thank you so much. Great research!

I'll retire to read for a bit.

[Jack Rabbit]

12. Thoughts from a vet

You're right. I don't want to punish SP4 Cruz.

What was done in Abu Grhaib and other detention facilities in Bush's offshore network of gulags was done because it had the approval from the highest levels. Therefore, it is those at the highest levels who must take responsibility for these atrocities.

Gonzales, with help from Professor Yoo and Judge Bybee, wrote the legal justifications; Bush and Rumsfeld accepted it them and approved aggressive interrogation techniques included stress positions, sleep deprivation and other forms of (dare I say it?) torture. General Sanchez and General Miller followed this direction and gave more specific direction.

All of those regime officials just named are responsible for these crimes. If any one is to be charged with crimes against humanity it is they.

[nikraye]

14. Agreed.

[me b zola]

32. Yes.

Then there is the fact that the soldiers themselves had said that there were civilian "contractors" directing them to torture & abuse. I think that this is an important fact because it indicates that the policy of torture came straight from the Pentagon.

[fla nocount]

13. Looks like Clark Kent on Qualudes to me. But hey, I'm old and I've

seen it before. Duh huh.

Ask him if his face is numb.

[Alpharetta]

15. Rape rooms! Saddam had rape rooms!

He tortured the prisoners because they were rapists!

The Iraqis were raping Kuwatis and that's why we had to liberate Kuwait!

Jeez propaganda is easy.

[elehhhhna]

40. We brought the Iraqis upgraded rape studios. WHy are they complaining?

Boy do they hate freedom.

[dxstone]

19. Kicked and NOMINATED!

Yeah, these guys are trying to muddy the waters and keep it all grey and murky as they slowly CHANGE AMERICA INTO MORDOR!!!
And this is just the sort of pathetic thing they'd try...

"He pulled two men to safety after the blast, and spent an hour trying -- unsuccessfully -- to save his best friend, Sgt. David Travis Friedrich.
Sgt. Frank Krapf was there. He says Cruz changed that night, the psychological toll of months at war finally reaching a breaking point.
"He wasn't his usual talkative and active and jovial, fun-loving self," Krapf explains."

Gee, really? Y'think war does that to people? Doesn't sound like a really good thing to be sending our young people into; maybe war ISN'T the greatest thing since sliced bread, huh?
War... it builds character!
Yep... and the military is FULL of characters.

HERE IT IS AGAIN, FOLKS! THE OTHER ALTERNATIVE:



That's it. This is NOT brain surgery; there IS no real subtlety, no grey areas, no true middle ground.
You can either ACCEPT torture as the NEW WAY of your once-proud people, or you can join with us to REJECT IT COMPLETELY!!!
Simple as apple pie.

WHAT KIND OF WORLD ARE YOU WILLING TO SETTLE FOR?
d

[The Magistrate]

20. Words, Sir

Can never cushion the impact of pictures....

[DistressedAmerican]

22. Spinning, Spinning, Spinning...

[DistressedAmerican]

24. Kick

[LibertyorDeath]

25. Well it's all in the perception I guess because to me

He looks like he'd kill his Grand Mother for $100 & enjoy watching her die.

[Judi Lynn]

26. You bet! I agree.

Also, it's hard for me to believe people who have been captured and are awaiting questioning and torture themselves from another country's military would, in a heavily guarded prison, by people who might kill you, actually rape their countrymen/children.

It just doesn't have the ring of truth.

[michael_1166]

27. He just looks as stupid

as every person who rapes and denies his own humanity by joining the military (any military in any country).

In my view, following orders is one of the most stupid and self-harming things a human being can do, and if you do, it just shows on your face. Any military parade (again, in any country) is proof of that: Pretending to be the soulless executor of someone else's will just breaks the light of the soul in your eyes.

If ever somebody pushes the red button, he or her will have exactly that robot-like face expression shown above. There is no "good" military. As long as people agree to put on an uniform and submit to someone else's will, we're in danger.

[DistressedAmerican]

28. Kick for Conscience!

[DistressedAmerican]

29. Mid Morning Kick

[blogslut]

33. pork pie porking by CNN

Businessman on Train: I see the police have made another lightning raid.

Priest on Train: I suppose young girls were involved?

Businessman on Train: One found naked in the bathroom. "Breasts smeared with peanut butter. The police also found a bag containing 15 ounces of cannibus resin. The bag may also have contained a small quantity of heroin."

Denis Dimbleby Bagley: Or a porkpie. The bag may also have contained a porkpie.

Businessman on Train: I hardly see what a porkpie's got to do with it.

Denis Dimbleby Bagley: Then how about a turnip? The bag may also have contained a large turnip.

Priest on Train: The bag was full of drugs. It says so!

Denis Dimbleby Bagley: It's the oldest trick in the book.

Priest on Train: Book? What book?

Denis Dimbleby Bagley: The distortion of truth by association book. You all believe heroin was in the bag because cannibus resin was in the bag, but the chances of it actually being there are certain 100 to 1.

Businessman on Train: A lot more likely than what you say.

Denis Dimbleby Bagley: About as likely as the tits smeared with peanut butter.

Priest on Train: The tits were spread with peanut butter! It says so! Who's a man you are to think you know more about it than the press?

Denis Dimbleby Bagley: I'm an expert on tits. Tits and peanut butter. I'm also an expert drug pusher. I've been pushing drugs for 20 years, and I can tell you a pusher always protects his pitch. We want to sell them cigarettes, and we don't like competition, see? So we associate a relatively innocuous drug with one that is more deadly, and the rags go along with it because they adore the dough from the ads!

Businessman on Train: I'm getting off at Datchet.

[DistressedAmerican]

34. LOL!!!!!

I'm an expert on tits. Tits and peanut butter. I'm also an expert drug pusher. I've been pushing drugs for 20 years, and I can tell you a pusher always protects his pitch. We want to sell them cigarettes, and we don't like competition, see? So we associate a relatively innocuous drug with one that is more deadly, and the rags go along with it because they adore the dough from the ads!

:rofl:

[blogslut]

35. How to Get A Head in Advertizing

Great flick. See it if you can find it.

[DistressedAmerican]

36. Debunking Kick!

Typical Freep Behavior. Abuse People then cry persecution and stigma...

[redacted]

37. DistressedAmerican is a Great American

Thank you for organizing this campaign.

[DistressedAmerican]

38. Thanks To You And EVERYONE That Has Responded From The Heart!!!

:pals:

[DistressedAmerican]

39. ...

[DistressedAmerican]

41. Kicker!

[DistressedAmerican]

42. ...