...lies to launch the war, launching the war, killing thousands, abusing prisoners, trashing friendhips, ignoring our real enemy, letting Iraq and Afghanistan go to hell in a handbasket, trashing our country in the eyes of the world, and lying, cheating and steamrolling over America to inflict another four years of this horror...
...this entire presidency has been a dismal failure, a disgrace and a danger. It's almost overwhelming how much they've torn this world to shreds. Even John McCain is calling out Rumsfeld (see italics below). It's over-the-top disgusting. If this doesn't make you at least as angry as I am right now, you need help.
U.S. prisoner abuse scandal explodes with more cases in two countries
WASHINGTON (CP) - It has become the explosive turning point of the Iraq war, leading in all the wrong directions.
A scandal involving sadistic abuse and humiliation of prisoners by U.S. soldiers blew wide open Tuesday when the military acknowleged more than 20 cases of deaths and assaults are under investigation, not only in Iraq but Afghanistan, too.
Outraged U.S. politicians, who demanded to know how such rampant abuse could possibly have happened, worried even more cases will come to light.
And there's fear degrading, graphic pictures of Iraqi prisoners at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison that have infuriated the Arab world will embolden terrorists and lead to more bloodshed in the Middle East.
Despite the best efforts of U.S. Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to portray the assaults Tuesday as an "exception" among the actions of "wonderful" soldiers, the widening cases lend credence to long-stated Arab complaints about the behaviour of Americans.
"A picture's worth 1,000 words," said U.S. Representative Jane Harman, the ranking Democrat on the House of Representatives intelligence committee. "(They have) undone thousands of acts of kindness and courage," Harman told CNN. "It has changed the face of America in the world."
"I was stunned by all of it," said Rumsfeld, who called the incidents "totally unacceptable and un-American."
Senators demanded Rumsfeld appear on Capitol Hill before the armed services committee to answer some tough questions, including why he didn't receive an internal Pentagon report on abuse at Iraq's main prison that was completed in February or inform Congress of the magnitude of the problem.
"We need to have a hearing with (him) as soon as possible," said Republican Senator John McCain. "Congress should have been notified of this situation a long time ago."
