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| WSJ Opinion Journal: 49 Votes For Abuse? |
| 2004-05-08 |
| from WSJ Opinion Journal for May 7th The House passed a nonbinding resolution yesterday "deploring the abuse of persons in United States custody in Iraq." You’d think this would be something everyone could agree on, but the vote in favor was only 365-50. Of the 50 "no" votes, one came from Rep. Ron Paul, an eccentric libertarian Republican from Texas who often votes against congressional resolutions, especially on foreign policy. The other 49 were all from Democrats, and by our quick scan almost all of them come from the left-wing fringe of the party, such as John Conyers, Barney Frank, Dennis Kucinich, Barbara Lee, Jim McDermott, Nancy Pelosi, Charles Rangel, Pete Stark, Maxine Waters. Are these folks in favor of abusing Iraqi prisoners? Well, maybe not. The resolution, summarized here, actually has two parts: Deploring the abuse of persons in United States custody in Iraq, regardless of the circumstances of their detention, urging the Secretary of the Army to bring to swift justice any member of the Armed Forces who has violated the Uniform Code of Military Justice, expressing the deep appreciation of the Nation to the courageous and honorable members of the Armed Forces who have selflessly served, or are currently serving, in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and for other purposes. So do the 49 Democrats object to honoring the "courageous and honorable members of the Armed Forces"? Some may, but from browsing the debate transcript in the Congressional Record (link in PDF), it appears those who object do so mainly on two grounds: that the resolution does not call for a congressional investigation of the abuses, and that it does not cast blame widely enough--that is, it does not condemn military leaders, contractors and others who may or may not have been involved, as well as the known perpetrators of the abuse. Both these points are arguable, but the resolution takes no position on either of them. Out of frustration that their colleagues aren’t prepared to take as hard a line as they would, then, 49 Democrats have effectively gone on record supporting the abuse of prisoners and announcing their lack of appreciation for the troops. Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face. Taranto sometimes zings the idiocy pretty well! |
| Posted by:.com |
| #2 Maybe someone should have told these 49 democRATS that they were voting to abuse American troops - I'm sure they would have voted "Yes" immediately. |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2004-05-08 12:40:54 PM |
| #1 heh, heh. I sat at a table surrounded by lefties and watched them wring their hands and try to word their way around the fact that their party has sunk to depths that even they can no longer apologize for. In the end, they could only agree on what they were against: The evil Republicans and George Bush. That's what these leftie leaders are really all about, ABB. They have NOTHING more to offer than that. Long ago, they had ideals...even if their methods to achieve them were flawed...they had ideals...clean air, end to poverty..etc..peace..love and happiness. Now they have nothing but ABB. Hey lefties..you are a pathetic shell of your past ideals. |
| Posted by: Anny Emous 2004-05-08 9:38:58 AM |