Bush Refuses to Condemn Proponents of Torture


President Bush has publicly deplored the treatment of Iraqi prisoners at Abu
Ghraib, having apologized for the fiasco. Yet, just days after his apology,
the White House is refusing to condemn its right-wing allies who are making
light of the situation and defending torture.

For instance, conservative radio host and White House supporter Rush
Limbaugh this week called the torture "decent punishment," said soldiers
were simply "having a good time, and also said "I don't see the big deal
here"1. White House spokesman Scott McClellan refused to answer when asked
how the President felt about those comments2. Additionally, when McClellan
was asked whether Vice President Cheney would continue appearing on
Limbaugh's show (as he did in March), McClellan again refused to comment3.

Similarly, Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK), who President Bush has repeatedly
praised as an ally, said that he was "more outraged by the outrage" than by
the abuse4. Inhofe also said that all the prisoners are "murderers,
terrorists and insurgents"5 despite the fact that the Red Cross notes that
between 70% and 90% of the Iraqi detainees were "arrested by mistake"6. The
White House again has refused to rebut these comments, in stark contrast to
other Republicans like Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) who said such comments are
"undercutting us in terms of our international standing"7.


Sources:
1.. Media Matters for America.
2.. Press Briefing by Scott McClellan, 05/06/2004.
3.. Press Gaggle with Scott McClellan, 05/11/2004.
4.. President Bush Calls on Congress to Act on Clear Skies Legislation,
09/16/2003.
5.. Senator 'Outraged at Outrage' in Iraq Prison Case, Reuters,
05/11/2004.
6.. Up to 90% of Iraqi detainees arrested by mistake, Red Cross says,
Chicago Sun-Times, 05/11/2004.
7.. Iraq prison debate takes partisan turn, Houston Chronicle, 05/11/2004.