The Pentagon’s Credibility Problem
The Pentagon’s Credibility Problem
The Pentagon’s response to numerous allegations of Koran desecration has been that those allegations aren’t credible. Yet, until last week, the Pentagon had never investigated any of these allegations to find out if they were credible or not. What gives? This graph from an AP story this morning provides some insight:
DiRita said the charges of deliberate Quran desecration by U.S. military personnel were “fantastic” and “not credible on their face” because U.S. commanders were careful not to inflame passions among the detainees.
“Commanders knew it was a very sensitive issue and they didn’t need the trouble,” the spokesman said.
In other words, it was just assumed the allegations weren’t credible because the Pentagon believed U.S. commanders would never allow that sort of conduct. In the wake of Abu Ghraib, that attitude seems hopelessly naïve and irresponsible.
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Yes, and prior to Abu Ghraib the Pentagon probably believed that soldiers wouldn’t humiliate naked detainees for sport.
May 26th, 2005 at 8:59 amPrior to the Pentagon telling soldiers to humiliate naked detainees to soften them up for questioning, they didn’t think it would be done for sport.
May 26th, 2005 at 11:03 amThe military will always be out of control unless a strong civilian leader reins them in. And, that is something we clearly don’t now have. Alternatively, we do have a strong civilian leader, but he/she wants the military to be out of control. Pay your money and take your pick.
May 26th, 2005 at 11:15 amNot suprisingly, the Left is more inclined to believe and protect the interest of alleged al-Qaida members. It is really a difficult task to ascertain why many question the patriotism of leftists…
May 26th, 2005 at 12:21 pmJed,
Delusion called….it wants its ideas back.
May 26th, 2005 at 12:24 pmThom,
Thanks for the opinion and advice, it is quite wise. I would respond, but you really did not provide much to learn, particularly referencing 9/11 to Pearl Harbor…which nation attacked us? The ummah? A self-proclaimed caliphate?
Your desire to make the argument that the policies of Bushie has made more extremists is merely your own bias. There is no way to empirically prove this point, it is mere hopeful conjecture.
One man’s opinion does not make a truism that the policies of GITMO is ineffective and wrong.
Regarding the resistance as well, I never argued that it did not make “sense.” Further, I have read and listened to Scheuer, I just prefer taking my sources of the resistance from Iraqi friends in Baghdad, a question of who we chose to get our information.
Your opinion that this administration is failing this nation is your own. FYI, I could never vote for someone who attempted to write bigotry into the constitution.
May 26th, 2005 at 2:03 pmJed:
Thank you for your reply. No nation attacked us, and the organization did, got plenty of time to leave Afghanistan.
Do we really believe that Al Qaeda was a formidable as Germany and Japan? Yet in the
past five years, what progress have we made?
The claims that we’re losing the war on terrorism are, sadly, not just my opinion.
We could backtrack to the 2004 Report of the
Defense Science Board Task Force.
Or listen to what our strongest ally recently said (15 May 2005) Trigger-happy US troops ‘will keep us in Iraq for years.
Or listen to the Iraqis are saying (24 May 2005)In Iraq, efforts to catch militants fuel rage, fear: “We have advisedâ€? the Americans “that these random attacks on people and houses gives the insurgents a bigger base,â€? said Hadi al Ameri, an Iraqi lawmaker and commander.
Or listen to what people of the Islamic faith now think of the US: http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/05/22/news/gitmo.php
Or listen to the current estimates for troop commitment: now 5- 10 years.
Or consider the fact that after two years in country, we don’t control 80% of the roads, including the road from the capital, Baghdad, to the airport.
Or that to secure Fallujah we reduced 2/3s of it to rubble, declared victory, only to have the fighting start over.
And I could go on and on.
Just my opinion, but we’ve spent $300 billion dollars for what? To radicalize even the moderate Muslims against us?
In the words of “river,” a young lady and Iraqi who blogs from Baghdad:
##
“It does seem like the people in charge have decided to make degradation and humiliation a policy.
By doing such things, this war is taken to another level- it is no longer a war against terror or terrorists- it is, quite simply, a war against Islam and even secular Muslims are being forced to take sides. ”
##
Smell like victory to you?
May 26th, 2005 at 3:20 pmI can tell you never met an Iraqi, and “River” has been opposed to the war since day one, not much of a source because there are many other voices which do not reflect her sentiments.
So the war on Islamic terrorism does go through Iraq?
You are most correct that the AQ got plenty of time to escape Afghanistan, what since they moved from Khartoum in 1996 and after multiple attacks we allowed them to build more and more networks, but history guides more of an overall view of the world than you are presenting.
Which moderate muslims are you referencing, you cite none?
Victory in two years to five years in Iraq is only from one who is naive and knew nothing of this country prior to the invasion.
I do know many who have passed great thanks to me for the efforts of Americans in their “victory” over the most recent ruthless dictator. Something you have obviously never experienced because you would present equal but opposite perspectives rather than those cited above.
Fyi, Germans and Japanese would fight with uniforms, usually, in a defined theatre. AQ is global, and an ideology that cannot be defeated by the military might alone, as I am sure you know.
I don’t think I know the smell of victory in war…
May 26th, 2005 at 3:45 pm“Not suprisingly, the Left is more inclined to believe and protect the interest of alleged al-Qaida members. It is really a difficult task to ascertain why many question the patriotism of leftists…”
Let’s see if i got this correct, for it certainly is from the right. It is one man’s opinion, it is without any factual or evidenciary support whatsoever, and it evinces a specific bias. BUT since it is from the right it must be the only truth spoken, because Jed keeps telling us that over and over. Bushckot lives on.
May 26th, 2005 at 7:25 pm1028
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