Rape, shame, honor, vengence, Abu Ghraib and Rob Roy

[chookie]

There has been discussion about how the humiliation -- especially sexual -- of detainees was systematically used to "soften" them. The geniuses behind this tactic base it in the culture of "shame" which prevails in the Middle East. Pose a guy naked with a pair of panties on his head, or simulating oral sex, and you have a ticket to preventing the next Sept 11 -- right?

These geniuses should thunk it through a bit more. Go just a trifle beyond the "culture of shame" in the Middle East, and you will find that much more profoundly, it is a culture of HONOR.

Yeah, breaking a teenager down by raping him MAY gain you a snippet of information, but if you think you will prevent further violence by scaring people that you have the power to do such things -- you are mistaken.

What you will achieve in the long run, and on a massive scale, is the desire for vengence. In an honor-based society, vengence is the only address to the violation for honor. Otherwise, one has lost face, and has lost one's identity and all self- and community worth.

I was reminded of the rape scene in the film Rob Roy. Yes, it was the sadistic act of a sadist, who was acting out his power and subjugation over the vanquished BUT, you may recall, Cunningham raped Rob Roy's wife in order to outrage his honor, to cause him to leave his place of hiding in the hills in order to redress it. Cunningham was well aware of the culture of honor and how he could use it to his advantage.

Were the social science geniuses behind the tactics of humiliation on detainees unaware of what they were stirring up? Were they totally oblivious to the inevitability of vengence for their actions -- or did they think they would get away with it because they possessed total military and economic superiority?

I don't think anyone in the adminstration comprehends how profoundly they have insulted the Middle East, and how serious the consequences are going to be. Tragically, no amount of apologies or reparations can address these outrages on the honor of Iraqis -- it can only be redressed with vengence and violence.

American national security took a nose dive with this stupid war. Americans will not be safe anywhere for the foreseeable future.

Only possible solution -- take it upon ourselves to avenge the Iraqis by impeaching Bush et al and indicting him for war crimes. I say this dispassionately.

[mike_c]

1. I'll agree, but not dispassionately....

Personally, I'll dance in the street if I ever see the Bush cabal in custody. Doing the perp walk? Oh, be still my heart!