SmithAntics

But what the fuck happened to the Iraqi prisoner abuse scandal?

The brutal torture authorized at the highest levels of our government of mostly innocent Iraqi detainees by American military personnel and contract sadists has been reduced to a back-burner discussion point among the cowed corporate press, and apparently a non-issue among our elected representatives.

How can this be happening?

An issue of such staggering importance to our country and our standing in the world now ranks somewhere between commentary on John Edwards’ hair-grooming practices and the “news” that an Olson twin has a propensity to upchuck her lunch.

Infuriating!

Remember this?

Lawmakers Shocked By Evidence Of Abuse
Images from Iraq prison more graphic than expected
From Journal Sentinel wire services
Posted: May 12, 2004

Washington - Lawmakers who viewed hundreds of images of mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners said Wednesday that the photographs were even more graphic than they had expected and included pictures of forced sexual acts between male detainees, consensual sex between American soldiers and a soldier posing with the body of a dead prisoner.

All afternoon, a parade of solemn senators and House members filed into secure rooms in the Capitol and House Rayburn Office Building to view more than 1,600 images, along with some video clips. The lawmakers emerged shaken and aghast, even though they already had seen some of the images in news photographs.

"What we saw is appalling," Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) said.

"I don't know how the hell these people got into our Army," Colorado Republican Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, who served in a police unit in the Air Force, said after viewing what he called a fraction of the images.

"I saw cruel, sadistic torture," Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.) said.

"It's like looking at one of the rings of hell, and it's a ring of hell of our own creation," Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) said.

A ring of hell of our own creation.

That sounds pretty serious to me. In fact it sounds like the most serious situation our government has faced in fifty years—perhaps ever.

So where is this issue?

In the Arab world, it's the single most powerful terrorist recruiting tool ever.

In America, it's now barely a blip on the radar.

Where is Congress?

Where is the press?

Out to fucking lunch, as usual.

Unbelievable.

UPDATE: The abuse of children and the media indifference.

I'm about to blow a gasket.