Wednesday, June 22, 2005

What "Mistreatment"?

Today, the New York Times 'reports' on Dick Durbin's (D-Guantanamo) 'apology' for comparing US troops to Nazis. The first graph of the 'report' states:
After a steady drumbeat of criticism from Republicans, Senator Richard J. Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, apologized Tuesday for likening American mistreatment of detainees to the acts of "Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime - Pol Pot or others - that had no concern for human beings."
Two things: First, there was no mistreatment -- none at all. The left and its media mouthpiece may not like the tactics, but that's tough. In truth, the tactics are just fine with them, the left is just upset that another group is employing them. Would they criticize a Democratic administration? Well, we know they did not. As with everything, it all comes down to power, or, more specifically, the lack thereof, with that bunch. Just because the Times calls it mistreatment doesn't make it so. And why is it that the Times is making such judgments? I thought their job was to report the news, not make it . . . (Related to all this 'mistreatment' crap, see Scrappleface for a parody that, but for being on Scrappleface, could fool almost anyone). Second, the "steady drumbeat of criticism" was joined by many from Durbin's own party (e.g., Mayor Daley of Chicago) and numerous traditional Democratic allies (e.g., the Anti-Defamation League). News of intra-party "pummelling" is, I suppose, unfit to print.

In the end, I'm glad I cancelled my Times subscription last summer. The house smells so much better with Krugman, Dowd and Rich lying around.