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2004-05-12 Home Front: WoT

Rumsfeld Backs Iraq Interrogation Methods

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Posted by Steve White 2004-05-12 12:23:09 PM|| || Front Page|| [2 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Rummy is right that rough (but reasonable)methods are valuable for interrogation, as we all know. Thats another reason Abu Graib was bad news - we dont want to lose valuable methods, because some idiots (im still not clear which idiots) took it too far.

I am moving away from position on dumping Rummy
A. Biggest problem is that it might take too long to confirm a successor, and the next two to 4 months are too important to go with just an (overstretched) acting SecDef
b.No obvious candidates - Id luv McCain, but thats not politically realistic. Only real choice who could get confirmed quickly is Sen. John Warner, (R-Va)
c. So far the seething about Abu Graib has come most from Europe, secondarily from the arab world, and lastly from Iraq. As long as the Iraqi street isnt seething, it may not be worth the interegnum at DoD to sac Rummy.
d. The Berg beheading has begun to change the subject - at least enough to focus on real responsbility for Abu Graib - and to let real advances on the ground come back to the fore.
e. Remaining concerns - the handover on June 30. A government consisting 100% of 'technocrats', largely Sunni Arabs, and subordinate to outside Sunni Arab states, would be a defeat for democratization, and could lead to more dissension within Iraq. Better outcome would be a balance with some representation for Iraqi political parties, especially the Kurds, but also the Shia.

Posted by Liberalhawk 2004-05-12 2:06:18 PM|| 2004-05-12 2:06:18 PM|| Front Page Top

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