Yesterday, the Weekly Standard posted an article by Jonathan V. Last cricitizing the President’s paternalistic treatment of the Muslim world regarding the Abu Ghraib incidents. According to Mr. Last:

“On May 5, just days after the scandal broke, Bush rushed onto two Arab television networks, Al Arabiya and Alhurra. He apologized (or nearly apologized) to the people of Iraq for the behavior of the American abusers. Then he went on pleading with his audience to understand that these abusers are not indicative of the rest of America.”

Mr. Last quotes President Bush’s statements about the images, then contrasts this response to the lack of an administration reaction regarding the mutilation of American contractors in Falluja:

“When these images became public in America, there was no condemnation of the Iraqi people. There was no concern that American citizens might view the wider Iraqi public as savages or evildoers. There was no worry about repercussions throughout the Western world.”

“Americans and other Westerners instinctively saw these images for what they were: The product of a few deranged, dangerous men--not an example of the broader Iraqi national character.”

Mr. Last concluded with some rhetorical questions:

“So why is it that Americans were able to take the Falluja pictures in stride, yet President Bush is ‘sorry that people who have been seeing those pictures’ in Iraq ‘didn't understand the true nature and heart of America’? Is there something about the Iraqis and others in the Middle East that the president thinks makes them incapable of making reasonable distinctions? Or could it be that there are cultural differences which cause people to react differently?”

I read the article yesterday, and at that time, I thought Mr. Last made a valid point.

The first thing I saw when I turned on the TV this morning was the footage (edited, thankfully), from the vile murder of Nick Berg. That single image is causing me to change my original opinion about our chances of instilling democracy in Iraq and questioning who and where are those “moderate Muslims” that are going to work and fight for freedom in Iraq. Where are the apologies from the Arab world? Does Jordan's King Abdullah II have anything to say to us?

I agree with Mr. Last that Americans can distinguish a few evildoers from the Iraqis as a whole, but the ranks of the evil doers in Iraq are growing. The distinction is blurring.

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» Roundup Leads to Rage from LeatherPenguin Blog
4:24AM I expected all sides of the blogosphere and surrounding 'net universe to be awash in fallout from the release of the Berg execution video. Drudge has, besides the obvious... [Read More]

Tracked on May 12, 2004 9:47 AM

» Roundup Leads Back to Rage from LeatherPenguin Blog
4:24AM I expected all sides of the blogosphere and surrounding 'net universe to be awash in fallout from the release of the Berg execution video. Drudge has, besides the obvious... [Read More]

Tracked on May 12, 2004 1:59 PM

» Roundup Leads Back to Rage from LeatherPenguin Blog
4:24AM I expected all sides of the blogosphere and surrounding 'net universe to be awash in fallout from the release of the Berg execution video. Drudge has, besides the obvious... [Read More]

Tracked on May 12, 2004 2:15 PM

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4:24AM I expected all sides of the blogosphere and surrounding 'net universe to be awash in fallout from the release of the Berg execution video. Sorta got let down. Drudge... [Read More]

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» Roundup Leads Rojo Back to Rage from LeatherPenguin Blog
4:24AM I expected all sides of the blogosphere and surrounding 'net universe to be awash in fallout from the release of the Berg execution video. Sorta got let down. Drudge... [Read More]

Tracked on May 12, 2004 11:24 PM