The Media and the Latest 'Torture' Revelations

[babylonsister]

The Media and the Latest 'Torture' Revelations

The latest "torture" revelations from The New York Times this week seemed to shock many in the media, which also says a lot. That the U.S. has been torturing prisoners has been known for years, producing only measured outrage from most editorialists and pundits. Now how will they respond?

By Greg Mitchell

(October 06, 2007) -- Those who recall the indignity of President Richard Nixon having to declare, in response to a question from the press, “I am not a crook,” must have winced yesterday when President George W. Bush, also talking to the press, was forced to avow, “This government does not torture people.”

That the questions had to be asked speaks volumes in itself. That the answers from both presidents were thoroughly unconvincing says just as much.

Or perhaps Bush was only suggesting that our military and our private contractors may torture people but "this government" does not.

In a dead giveaway, he added, “We stick to U.S. law and our international obligations.” This reference to "international obligations” rather than “international law” was a veiled admission that we have been violating the Geneva accords.

The latest “torture” revelations from The New York Times this week seemed to shock many in the media, which also says a lot. That the U.S. has been torturing prisoners has been known for years, producing only measured outrage from editorialists and pundits. Even in the news pages, reporters and editors have rarely used the 'torture" word, caving to the administration’s insistence that these were merely “enhanced interrogation” measures (a term which could also have applied to, say, the time-honored cutting off of fingers).

If you want to believe that torture is justified in the war on terror, fine -- but just call it what it is. Don't make jokes about it, like David Brooks did on the PBS NewsHour last night, when he said listening to Fred Thompson on the stump might violate the Geneva Conventions.

more...

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/columns/pressingissues_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003654922

[Flabbergasted]

1. It's a constant losing battle.

[Solly Mack]

2. if we just ignore it long enough it will all go away

I get the feeling far too many people tell themselves that

[babylonsister]

3. Yes, as they ignore so many things. nt

[Solly Mack]

4. Yes

People claim they want change - yet they fear acting to bring about change...might be risky...better the devil you know and all that

they're comfortable and they just want any bad to be something that happened years ago...because then no one expects them to do anything about it.

Anyone willing to allow Bush Inc to go free isn't going to get change...or bring change. They're just propping up the status quo

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. Torture = "Enhanced interrogation" Rape = "Enhanced Seduction"

The language is also tortured...er, "enhanced".

[Solly Mack]

6. More recommends would be nice