MUST READ:

[neweurope]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4934050

I've been trying to kick this since yesterday... maybe I chose the wrong headline; hardly anybody seems to have read it. It's about the torture at Abu Ghraib. It's important.

It's important because it shows that the torture is/was systemic; that it's not just some "bad apples".

It's important because it shows that the perpetrators can be victims, too.

It's important because it is journalism at it's best.

Please read - and when you have read it, kick it. Everybody should read it. Please.

------------------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[existentialist]

1. In general I feel insulted

when someone tells me I must read something. I prefer a one line indication of what it is about so that I can attempt to make an informed decision.

Commands in general do not command my respect.

[China_cat]

2. A tale of 2 victims

one Iraqi, one American.

And a perfect one for the line "I don't hate YOU...I hate what I became because of you".

[ret5hd]

4. DO NOT read the article listed above!

[willing dwarf]

23. Are you giving them a more winning headline?

Seems to me we all are drawn in by the line "please do not read."

[springhill]

5. Oh please........

You are being ridiculous! The person just thinks it's important and wants to make sure people read it. Wake up on the wrong side of the bed or something?

[Southsideirish]

13. I agree -what's with some of these "touchy" folks???

[neweurope]

6. I had tried it with the original headline. Now I was trying it with

what I've seen so often here: "Must read". Some other poster has told you meanwhile what it's all about. I don't care how you feel about it - as an American, as a human you must - yes must - read it. It is very, very important. For all of us. And I'm neither American nor Iraqi.

---------------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[Southsideirish]

14. You did good. Its a great article. I have passed it on to 2 people!

[Southsideirish]

12. You must be very easily insulted. N/t

[shadowknows69]

27. ah but it worked

n/t

[TallahasseeGrannie]

3. I believe torture

is inevitable in warfare. Period. I'm not saying I condone it. But when you have total power (at the end of a gun) over people there will always be some who abuse it.

What used to make America special was the impression that we were different. Ask my father in law how he lost his teeth in an American POW camp during WWII. (He was German)

However, one thing comforts me. God damn it we try! We are publishing the pictures, they have been reported, people have been convicted, fired, lost commissions, lost promotions, etc. It might never get to the point where the top dogs get theirs (they often don't) at least we have not been burying this under the rug.

The standard is high, near impossible, given human nature, but we must attempt to achieve it.

[Benhurst]

7. Thanks, neweurope. It should be read by every American.

But then we don't have our "Genral Eisenhower" to make us read it, at least not yet.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

8. Must Title

Properly.

[neweurope]

9. I HAD titled properly in the original post. I'm trying desperately to

get more readers.

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Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

10. Well, you've attracted the idle curious and other aimless riffraff!

[neweurope]

11. So - evidently I haven't attracted you :( Even though I swear it's

important....

:cry:

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Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[fooj]

24. Thanks for hanging in...

You're right! DUers need to read this!

Peace.

[Just Me]

16. Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed or somethin'?

Cranky, eh?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

17. No. Proper titles attract interested people and keep out riffraff like me!

If the original post failed to get the response desired, putting a nullish title on the thread isn't going to help much. Try reposting at another time. Try posting pointers to your thread in response to posts in related threads. Variations on the title are not a bad idea, but if it is generic then the idle curious and skulking riffraff like me are likely to wander in, instead of the audience that should be targetted.

[Mr_Spock]

19. I've noticed the crankiness as well.

But I'm just an inarticulate name caller - what do I know? :(

[Just Me]

15. I've nominated. This is an superb depiction of the painful,...

,...circumstances imposed upon Americans and Iraqis by the cruel BushCO/neoCON "policies" to engage in destruction while profiteer off the suffering and chaos.

I just can't help myself,...I hate those bastards!!! They have no space in their hearts or minds for humanity because they are hardened by profit and power. Crazy thing is, even if they rightfully were convicted of war crimes and treason, I would still advocate against them being subjected to the same death sentence they have rendered upon hundreds of thousands, perhaps even millions upon millions of people.

[neweurope]

25. So would I. There can only be one standard.

When you're on the side of humanity that's it.

Thanks for nominating.

-------------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[chelaque liberal]

18. I read it before in the first post. It is excellent.

Consider it kicked.

[Pooka Fey]

20. Kicked and Nominated.

[IndyOp]

21. Thank you for working so hard to get folks to read the article -

Two thoughts:

I read a lot of threads (and linked articles) that I don't necessarily reply to - so a lot more people read the thread and article you posted as "A Tale of Two Lives Destroyed by Abu Ghraib" than you will ever know.

I will confess that I saw your post but did not read the DER SPIEGEL article. I am have tensed into a very, very tight ball awaiting the release of the second set of Abu Ghraib photos. I will be tremendously grateful if they are released and seen by millions - and, good God I dread it, I just dread it. I will have to look at some of them and I know that they will knock me to the ground - literally. I did not read the DER SPIEGEL article because I know the kick to the gut that I cannot avoid is coming, it is coming.

Finally, I did not read the DER SPIEGEL article because I knew already that the torture is/was systemic and that perpetrators can be victims, too. Anyone who grows up in an abusive household knows.

Keep posting. We need your energy. Keep posting. Push. Expect that people here at DU will read what they can read, when they can.

On Edit: Yesterday I posted a thread that was very, very important to me and did not draw the attention I thought it deserved either. All I can do is 'put it out there' with the intention of doing good in the world and then let what happens, happen. I know that I will post more about this in future: OUTRAGE!! Red Cross Airs Bush propaganda

Peace.

[neweurope]

26. You are right :) - I read your article about the Red Cross and

didn't post on it, either. Now I'm seeing the error of my ways :) - I just kicked it. Too late to recommend unfortunately.

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Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[IndyOp]

22. Oh and by the way YOU ARE ON THE GREATEST PAGE -

Lots and lots of people are reading this thread and article now!

Perserverance pays!

:toast:

[pacalo]

28. Indeed.

Anyone who knows the character of this administration can see that the orders for abuse came from the White House's Iraq Group & that these soldiers were used as scapegoats. The WH has been given a free pass, thanks to a Republican majority in congress.