Prisoner Abuse

I tend to support our administration in what they do, generally giving them the benefit of the doubt. I figure that if they aren't as evil as many left-leaning pundits would have us believe, then probably these are ordinary people running our country in the best way they know how. It doesn't hurt that I tend to agree with their policies much more than I do with the Democratic agenda.

However. In recent and not so recent reports we have been made aware of the (alleged) tactics of this administration's army during prisoner interogations. Some of the accounts are sickening, but many of them are rightfully not given the full weight of truth due to their source. What has come about now is a seemingly reliable person with extensive knowledge of army practices directly confronting our leaders. There is an account here of Capt Ian Fishback's actions and the response of Senator John McCain. There is another report here.

If these allegations turn out to be true, and there are so many of them from such reliable sources that it's hard to believe they are all false, then I can give this administration the benefit of the doubt no more. This behavior is unacceptable, and when we have frontline soldiers telling us they would rather die than behave like this, I think we can all agree it has to stop. I'll admit, I first read in "Bush at War" that the "gloves came off" (I'm paraphrasing) and thought that was probably a good thing. But no more can I support that philosophy, seeing where (and how far) it has taken us. Thus, I am extremely pleased to hear Senator McCain is on the case. If there's anyone with the credibility to convince people and the spine to see reforms through, it has got to be him. Moreover, I'm equally pleased to hear that Capt Fishback is a devout Christian. Too many people think this administration speaks for those of us who are incommunicado Sundays at 10. Now there's someone showing us what real Christians do, at the expense of his career. God speed, Capt Fishback.

Via Andrew Sullivan