Reductio Ad Absurdum Weblog

13 May 2004

Nothing To Add

As usual, Orrin Judd says what needs to be said with economy of words:

So, last month's storyline was that the intelligence services didn't do enough to stop al Qaeda from launching 9-11. This month's is that they're doing too much to prevent the next one?

Pretty much.

[Posted by Kevin Whited] [05/13/04 10:16 AM] []

07 May 2004

Hanna's Perspective

As we continue digging around for interesting perspectives on the Iraqi prison controversy, here's something from my friend Tom Hanna:

The investigation into the abuses started in January and the arrests were made in March. The media are treating this as though CBS found a story that surprised the Pentagon when what they actually reported on was old news and a situation the Pentagon was already dealing with. This is comparable to finding a photo of Michael Jackson doing something he shouldn’t with a young boy and then blaming the prosecutor who’s already secured an indictment against him.

Tom is more succinct here.

[Posted by Kevin Whited] [05/07/04 03:46 PM] []

More Perspective

While we're reflecting on bold contrarian perspectives on the Iraqi prison abuse, we might as well check in with the Conservative Observer:

Is no one in all this bruhaha making distinctions? As , for instance, among torture and humiliation for sadistic amusement, the same for control, the same for interrogation, and the same for punishment? We should. Not only because these different phenomena have different moral statuses, but also because, while some are apt to reflect only the spontaneous brutality of individuals and small groups - especially lesbians with a shot at working off their hatred of men - others are much more apt to entail organization and commitment at the highest levels.

See his "Should Rummy Go? No, Of Course Not" in its entirety.

[Posted by Kevin Whited] [05/07/04 02:11 PM] []

The Good And The Bad

One of the great things about our technological age is that Dan Rather and CNN and Peter Jennings no longer have a monopoly on news, images, and analysis.

Here's a photo you probably won't see on their broadcasts:

Robert Alt, Ashbrook's man in Iraq, has more stuff like this on their website.

[Posted by Kevin Whited] [05/07/04 12:23 PM] []

Perspective

Friend Julie Neidlinger posts some thoughts on the Iraqi prisoner abuse.

At a time when it seems like people are falling all over themselves to condemn what happened in even starker terms than the last guy, it's nice to see some perspective.

[Posted by Kevin Whited] [05/07/04 08:14 AM] []

06 May 2004

CNN: Then and Now

By Eason Jordan's admission, CNN simply ignored Saddam Hussein's atrocities over the years in order to maintain their "access" to the country.

Contrast that with their overblown coverage of the Iraq prison photos.

The National Debate blog takes up this topic here.

[Posted by Kevin Whited] [05/06/04 04:31 PM] []

02 May 2004

Metaphor For A Wreck Of A Campaign?

Senator Kerry took a spill from his bicycle today.

No word on whether he cursed the accompanying Secret Service agent and blamed the spill on him.

[Posted by Kevin Whited] [05/02/04 08:28 PM] []