Can I Use The "Following Orders" Excuse, Too?

It's an understandable desire for the American people to put the Bush Administration behind us, along with all the dark shadows of his regime. The eight years we made it through were marred with scandal and questionable ethics, and weren't the kind of thing you find celebrated in history books. However, in President Obama's assertion that doing just that is the thing to do in order to move forward, he is letting people, literally, get away with murder. Included in those dark shadows we are putting behind us is an ever growing stack of evidence that torture, in some cases causing death, was used against detainees in the War on Terror.

As I'm sure you know, President Obama has already taken steps to put an end to the questionable practices that have come under fire. Guantanamo Bay, where torture knowingly took place, is being closed, and along with it, the numerous overseas CIA prisons used to duck out of international law. You know, like that pesky Geneva Convention. He has spoken out and assured the American people torture would not be used under his administration. Well, that's wonderful. It really is. We need to make sure these things don't happen in the future. But when Obama also claims going after those people who have committed these acts of violence is counterproductive, he's sorely mistaken.

It's easy to look at the situation and try to make it less than it was. They were "supposed terrorists." We needed "intelligence." America is, after all, the great spreader of Democracy and Freedom, and not the dreaded abusers of power. Well, sorry, but we apparently became just that while interrogating these "enemy combatants." By ambiguously pressuring soldiers to obtain intelligence from those brought into prisons such as Bagram, Abu Ghraib, and Gitmo, and then giving them few (if any) directions in regards to how to do this, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez, and President Bush are directly responsible for the violence that took place in all three prisons, as well as others. Of course, they act surprised these things -- the photos of prisoners being sexually humiliated in Abu Ghraib, the numerous homicide deaths of detainees, the videos of men driven to their breaking point, pounding their heads against the wall -- but how can they not know what the shackles on the ceiling are used for? How do they not know their soldiers are, as in the case of one detainee, "pulpifying" their legs using knee kicks?

The detainee referred to above was picked up by Afghan militia in Yabuki. His name was Dilawar and he was a taxi driver. If you've seen the film Taxi to the Dark Side, you know this story. After being hired by three men in a nearby town, he was taken in with them as the "get away driver" after a bombing. Dilawar had nothing to do with the bombing; he had picked the men up afterwards on the street when they said they were going to Yabuki. He was taken to Bagram prison, where he died a week later. The cause of death was ruled homicide -- blunt force trauma. Soldiers who dealt with -- or rather, beat -- Dilawar have since admitted use of force was unnecessary. After days of sleep deprivation, the detainee was hallucinating and hysterical, calling out for his parents late into the night. The soldiers used the knee kicks -- digging into the upper thigh with one's knee, which is supposedly non-fatal -- to silence him, or, in some cases, to hear him scream out, "Allah!" The same soldiers have also said they didn't think he was guilty of anything from the very beginning. And yet, Dilawar was killed.

So, where's the justice in that? What about the other 37 homicides caused by this same kind of violence? If that's not torture, I don't know what is. War on Terror (a term which will not be used in the Obama administration, according to Secretary Clinton) aside, there comes a time when you need to look at it for what it is. People beating people to death. People humiliating people. People playing on the fears and cultural values to demean people. Much like these things were unacceptable during World War II, they are unacceptable in this supposed War on Terror. The claims that people were "just following orders" is ridiculous. Let the courts decide who was "just following orders," and who was just giving those orders.

The issue of torture is not a partisan battle. Or, at least, it shouldn't be. It's a moral issue, a human issue. A matter of people not accused of anything but, in many cases and like Dilawar, being in the wrong place at the wrong time. To use one of those precious Nazi references thrown around lately, Hitler himself never gave explicit orders to kill any Jews. He just said to take care of the problem. Rumsfeld never said to "torture" anyone, he just said to get the information. Well, as information slowly leaks to the American people, I can only hope more of us become as outraged as we should be that these things were carried out in our name. And let's hope we do carry out the promises of leading the world morally, not just militarily, under Obama. So let's all take step one together. Let's bring the people responsible, at the highest levels, to justice.

I Feel Lost

Alright, look. I became politically aware during the 2000 election. Yes, that battle royale between Bush and Gore was what lit my little political flame. I was 11 years old, and read my parents' Newsweeks and watched CNN religiously. I even made collages to hang in my windows. I wasn't the coolest kid in Junior High, okay? Of course, this interest blossomed into full blown obsession after 9/11. While the rest of the world was rallying behind Cowboy Bush, I was once again researching and reading, and even made a collage or two. During high school, politics was my main hobby. I read the Communist Manifesto when I was sixteen, making me the beloved Socialist I am today (please don't stone me to death.)

But that whole time, I had someone to rail against. I had the Bush administration. I was driven by the desire to make things better, to change foreign policy, and to open the eyes of my peers to the lies the country was being fed. Again, I wasn't the coolest kid. I was angry. I was very, very angry. Change was needed. It had to come.

And then it did. With Obama, our country is (hopefully) going to turn a new leaf. And that is wonderful. It's necessary, and it's great, and while I'm not trying to be unrealistic, I really think things are going to get better. So here's the problem: I'm happy.

I know. It's awful. I have no sense of condescension when I think about who is running the country. No sense of being able to do it better myself. I'm not bitter, or disillusioned, or anything like that. I'm hopeful, happy, and proud of my own country. This has never happened before, and I honestly don't know how to feel about it. I suddenly have faith in who is running the show, and even feel protective of him. It's . . . it's. . . shocking.

In time, I will learn how to deal with my new found patriotism. I'll come to terms with the fact that I don't want to flee the country and actually agree with the president. But until then, I'm stuck in this uncomfortable state of contentment, and will have to find something else to target my resentment on. At least I'll always have Bill O'Reilly. . .

Next Go 'Round

I only just became aware of the new Oliver Stone movie, W. It's a biopic about Dubya, and if the trailer is any kind of measure, it looks like it will at least be entertaining. Probably not informative, probably not insightful. I can't see it changing anyone's opinion one way or the other. But it will at least be . . . fun. I'm no Oliver Stone fan. I never even got through his other biopics before turning off the TV in disgust. But I'm giving this one a fair shot. I want to like it.

But it does raise an important point. We, in case you weren't aware, love Bush Bashing. Getting in a few good whacks at George's intelligence, military service, foreign policy, or administration is as therapeutic as anything else, and even makes you feel a little better than that oh-so lovable Commander-in-Chief of ours. It's turned into a national pastime over the past few years.

Here's the problem with that: We, as a nation, aren't learning anything. You would think over the years we would have picked apart this man's administration, unearthed the secrets, listened and read the words these people have said and take cautionary steps to ensure this will never happen again. But we aren't. Eight years in and we still refuse to embrace the disturbing facts emerging everyday about the entire Bush administration. Politicians have to play the "good-ole-boy" role. Can't be too elitist, can't be too smart. Gotta play to the masses, ya know.

People, we've been down this road before. We already elected the guy we want to have a beer with. And look at where we ended up. Two wars and trillions of dollars deep, and yet we still cast a wary eye on anyone who uses words too big. I know a lot of people I would love to invite to the BBQ for some beer and hot dogs, but that doesn't mean they should be running the country. That doesn't mean they should be running a gas station. That doesn't mean anything. Intelligence is a good thing. Are we really so vain that our leaders have to reflect exactly who we are? There is a reason they are up there. They are, in fact, more intelligent, more saavy, more. . . whatever than you . And that is a good thing. That is what you want in a leader. Someone capable of leading, not being lead by his administration.

We need to step back for a minute, people. We need to admit the past 8 years were a horrible mistake, and take the necessary steps to fix it. How about we start in, say, a little over a month. We can take the first step together. We can vote for the candidate who seems the smartest, most capable, most likely to lead our country out of the fog. Take a deep breath. We can do this. Don't worry -- you'll still be a good American.

I've Seen Enough

Last night was President Bush's big ole address about the state of the economy. Standing in front of what I thought was a backdrop from Saturday Night Live, he went into what would have been a comic, if it wasn't so terrifying, 12-minute speech regarding our deteriorating economic system. He discussed what brought us to the edge of the cliff, and how he intends to rope us back in like the cowboy he wishes he was. And boy oh boy, do I feel safer!

Bush painted a scary picture: job loss, businesses closing, even more foreclosures. The housing crisis did us in, according to him. And that is why we need to save institutions like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Help the big guys out, in order to help the little guys, right? It's that good ole trickle-down economic theory, or at least a variation on it. Hmmmm, yes, it only makes sense that by keeping the multi bazillionaires from going out of business, we everyday folk will have such easier lives.

But let's look at the actual foundations of this problem. Not the housing crisis, maybe in a roundabout way. Look, people, the problem is the debt. National, personal, it's all over the place! Our country is so in debt right now, due to the Kazillion Dollar War we're fighting you-know-where. Not to mention that's all on credit cards, meaning we're racking up quite a bit of interest on top of the astronomical cost of toppling a dictator and ensuring we'll leave the country in shambles. It's as if Americans have taken that as their role model -- racking up debt like it's 1928. Loans on top of loans on top of mortgages on top of credit cards. All of it with companies unchecked by the government, allowed to charge interest and fees as they like in order to pay for the bonuses and salaries of their CEOs.

It's time politicians buck up. Go ahead -- point the finger at the American people. Not just those who lost all common sense and went on the vacations they couldn't afford. Not just those who take out more loans than they could ever pay back. But those who exploited the situation. Those who thought, "Yes, we'll take your money. Jack up the interest!" Everyone is at fault here, and we need to know that.

So, Mr. President, here's the question. What institution is more important to save? Is it really the financial institutions, or is the American people? How about instead of throwing $300 at us you actually do something that will really help us? Set up some serious regulations against this happening again. Regulate interest rates on loans -- they are through the roof! I'm tired of this trickle-down attitude. Remember how in February you said a recession wasn't coming? It's just a slow down, you said! Yes. A recession. Right? Well, it's here. And it's big. So are you going to use this as an opportunity to help bridge the huge gap between rich and poor -- currently the largest since the Great Depression -- or are you going to bulster corporate America and keep the vicious circle of exploitation goin'?

At least McCain is on his way to Washington to save the day. . . Oh boy. Time to start keeping your money in a mason jar under a floorboard . . .

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/24/bush.transcript/index.html#cnnSTCText