Bush's speech on Wednesday presents more questions than it answers. If, as he said, these interrogations have led to the exposure of conspiracies to commit terrorist acts why haven't those allegedly involved already been brought to justice through the legal system if the evidence is so solid? Why have these detainees been held at secret locations all of this time without any legal rights or exposure to human rights agencies like the Red Cross? Why is he only now moving 14 detainees from those secret prisons to Guantanamo Bay and why are they suddenly, supposedly being afforded rights via the Penatgon's new field training manual.
Interrogators may not force a detainee to be naked, perform sexual acts or pose in a sexual manner, and cannot place hoods or sacks over a detainee's head or use duct tape over his eyes. They cannot beat or electrically shock or burn a detainee or inflict other forms of physical pain.
They may not use "water boarding," a type of simulated drowning, or perform mock executions. They may not use treatment that would lead to heat injury or deprive detainees of the necessary food, water and medical care. And they may not use dogs in any aspect of interrogations.
That manual does not apply to the CIA however and today's announcements from the Pentagon and the president are not only meant to affect global opinion but to convince congress to pass legislation allowing for the military tribunals rejected by the Supreme Court which includes restrictions barring defendants from seeing all evidence against them - seriously limiting any possible defense. Bush also faces opposition from some GOP members who are opposed to Bush's proposals.
In his two most recent speeches, Bush has taken a calculated risk by racheting up the rhetoric about bin Laden (equating him with Hitler and Lenin - a tactic which he was warned against using long ago), reminding everyone that it's been 5 years since 9/11 and the al Qaeda leader is still on the loose, followed by Wednesday's speech which brings the issues of torture, extraordinary rendition, secret CIA prisons and detainee abuse to light once again. And that risk may certainly backfire as he reminds voters of the failures of his administration just prior to the crucial November elections.
Terrorism prosecutions are actually at pre-9/11 levels, despite all of the administration's blustering, Americans are angry, Iraq is in the midst of a civil war, the situation in Afghanistan is worsening, congress has refused to provide funds to make the country safer, Rumsfeld refuses to resign and yet Bush is relying on Rove's strategy to highlight national security as the main pillar of the Republicans' campaign strategy. The more they do that, the larger their failures loom and all of the macho speeches by Bush are not going to change that.
That calculated risk is a failure and the blowback is already mounting against an administration desperate to save what's left of its reputation in America and around the world. If the Bush machine if unable to see that, at least some GOP members are willing to break ranks - hoping that they can save their congressional seats while fighting an uphill battle as their president continues to remind their constituents of their most obvious weakness: their inability and unwillingness to successfully fight the so-called war on terror.
So, let's hope they let Bush make such speeches each and every day until November. He'll preach to the choir (some of whom actually derive a perverted sexual satisfaction from his appearances) while providing more fodder for his opponents to use against him. It's a winning strategy - for the Democrats.
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