Time for a Little Perspective

Source: NewsMax.com "Time for a Little Perspective" by Mike Gallagher May 5, 2004
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2004/5/5/93507.shtml

Time for a Little Perspective

I think it's time for a little perspective over the furor and hysteria regarding the alleged mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners by American soldiers in Iraq.

As you hear the howls of anger and condemnation, I want you to try something: pretend that the ultimate fate that these Iraqi prisoners received was brutal death, not being forced to pose for photographs. All of a sudden, the outrage starts to make sense. In other words, the reaction would be fitting for a massacre or mass killing.

But the fate of THESE Iraqi prisoners, alleged bad guys who have been part of the murderous bunch of insurgents responsible for killing Americans and other members of the coalition fighting the war on terror? They were embarrassed. A handful of solders humiliated them. They lost their dignity. I suppose they had their self-esteem compromised.

Funny, I don't remember a lot of war critics being too worried about the self-esteem issues or humiliation that the families of American contractors felt when their loved ones were ambushed, slaughtered and hung over a bridge like pigs. Come to think of it, in some circles there is considerable more anger and protestation over what a few soldiers did to Iraqi prisoners with a Polaroid than there's been over the killing of American soldiers and civilians in Iraq. And that's despicable.

I watched in amazement as a Democrat from New Mexico, U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman, was angrily railing against this incident on NBC's "Today Show" this morning. His equally enraged interviewer, Matt Lauer, asked him who was to blame for this "scandal." Bingaman began to say, "The President." After saying, "The Pr..." he stopped himself and said, "the highest levels of our government." He went on to blast Defense Secretary Rumsfeld for lapses in policy and judgment.

It's obvious that Democrats are ready to pounce upon the Bush administration over anything unpleasant that comes out of this brutal, ugly war on terror.

They're going to try and score political points over something like this, hoping to turn the voters against our President and this just and noble war.

Frankly, trying to turn a war into political opportunities while Americans are fighting and dying for our country seems a lot more offensive than humiliating a few Iraqis with some inappropriate photographs that led to their "humiliation."

Besides, if I had a choice between being shot to death, burned, my corpse being dragged through the streets and hung over a bridge, or having to pose naked in front of a few soldiers, I couldn't get my clothes off fast enough.

(Mike Gallagher's radio show is nationally syndicated by the Salem Radio Network - he's currently working on his first book, "Surrounded by Idiots -- Fighting Liberal Lunacy in America" to be published by William Morrow, a Harper Collins imprint).

Joyce Notes: Radio talker Mike Gallagher wrote this great article about the Democrat's uproar over the current controversy of the U.S. Department of Defense taking some pictures of alive Iraqi insurgents in humilating positions. Gallagher wrote: It's obvious that Democrats are ready to pounce upon the Bush administration over anything unpleasant that comes out of this brutal, ugly war on terror... They're going to try and score political points over something like this, hoping to turn the voters against our President and this just and noble war...Frankly, trying to turn a war into political opportunities while Americans are fighting and dying for our country seems a lot more offensive than humiliating a few Iraqis with some inappropriate photographs that led to their "humiliation."...Besides, if I had a choice between being shot to death, burned, my corpse being dragged through the streets and hung over a bridge, or having to pose naked in front of a few soldiers, I couldn't get my clothes off fast enough. Besides Gallagher's article you might want to check out and even donate something to Citizens United at http://www.citizensunited.org/ so that they can get YOUR message through in radio and television commericals this year.