Monday, May 10, 2004

Gitmoize It looks like we have Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Miller to thank for a new term in the War on Terror: "Gitmoize." From the front page of today's Washington Post: Less than two weeks after 1,000 pounds of explosives demolished U.N. headquarters here on Aug. 19, driving the organization from Iraq, Maj. Gen. Geoffrey D. Miller arrived in Baghdad from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where he was warden of the U.S. detention facility for suspected terrorists. Miller's mission in Iraq signaled new zeal to organize an intelligence network that could hit back at the insurgents, but through unorthodox means. "He came up there and told me he was going to 'Gitmoize' the detention operation," turning it into a hub of interrogation, said Brig. Gen. Janis L. Karpinski, then commander of the military prison system in Iraq. GITMOIZE Rummy, Rummy, Rummy Can't you see? Sometimes your words just Gitmoize me And I just love your hawkish ways I guess that's why they choke At what you say. 2:48:41 PM    comment [] Human Rights White House Iraq Fact of the Day February 19, 2004: Iraqi Ministry of Human Rights Iraq Fact of the Day A building formerly used by Saddam's Ministry of Defense to repress the citizens of Iraq was re-opened as the Iraqi Ministry of Human Rights last weekend. The new Ministry is commissioned "to protect and respect the Iraqi people." Iraqis employed by the Ministry will immediately focus on documenting the fate of hundreds of thousands of those missing at the hands of Saddam's regime, preparing an Iraqi Declaration of Human Rights, and encouraging the growth of independent human rights organizations throughout the country. Source: Coalition Provisional Authority, Baghdad. The UK Guardian May 10, 2004: Bremer knew, minister claims Luke Harding in Baghdad Iraq's first human rights minister launched a blistering attack yesterday on America's chief administrator in Iraq, Paul Bremer, saying that he had warned him repeatedly last year that US soldiers were abusing Iraqi detainees. In an exclusive interview with the Guardian, Abdel Bassat Turki, who resigned a month ago, said he informed Mr Bremer last November and again in December of the rampant abuse in US military prisons. "He listened very well. But that was all he did," he added. Dr Turki also claimed that he had received "information" of abuses committed against prisoners "just this week", but refused to give details. Following allegations of abuse, he said, he had asked for permission to visit Abu Ghraib prison last November - the month the photos were taken of US guards abusing naked Iraqi inmates. But Mr Bremer refused his request. [via Buzzflash] Postscript: The latest conservative spin is that the abuses only involved six low-level soldiers. Putting aside the evidence of endorsement at higher levels of the military, let's just start with one of the Abu Ghraib pictures. I count 9-10 soldiers in this photo (including the person holding the camera) -- a photo in which they are abusing prisoners openly in the middle of the corridor. 9:24:10 AM    comment [] A Good Christian On Saturday, May 8, Karl Rove was the keynote speaker at Liberty University's commencement ceremonies. [Who better to show Liberty's graduates that you don't really need a college degree to climb to the top of the ladder?] Liberty's Chancellor, the Rev. Jerry Falwell, commented in the press release: The class of 2004 and Liberty University are highly honored that Mr. Rove would take time from his very busy and strategically important schedule for the Liberty Commencement address. I have known Karl Rove for many years and I am greatly impressed with his wisdom, dedication to President Bush and his love for Jesus Christ. Yes, it was nice of Rove to put his "strategically important schedule" aside to address the graduates of Jerry Falwell's university. Liberty's announcement added: Labeled one of the most influential aides in the history of the modern White House, Mr. Rove has a relationship with the President that spans more than three decades. Respected among Republicans and Democrats alike for his political achievements, Mr. Rove is also known for the key role he played in what Texas Monthly magazine called "one of the great tectonic political shifts in American history, the Republicanization of Texas." Mr. Rove is deeply involved in the substance of governing and is guided by the philosophy that "the best politics is sound policy." He has been called a "policy implementer" and an "idea factory." The reports on his comments have been brief. According to the Baltimore Sun, President Bush's chief political adviser told graduates of the Rev. Jerry Falwell's Liberty University yesterday to judge leaders on the basis of character. America needs people who have "the moral clarity and courage to do what's right, regardless of consequence, fashion or fad," Karl Rove said. Rove also reminded the 2,041 graduates to pay off their credit cards. He advised them that when they go to job interviews, "don't act like you're smarter than the person you're interviewing with. Even if you are." Liberty was fortunate that Karl Rove could fill in on such short notice. Their first choice, NY Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, could not attend. He is on assignment in Iran. [n.b. This post has been edited.] UPDATE The AP write-up has more on the commencement ceremony. Rove told the following annecdote about his love for politics as a boy: "As long as I can remember, I've always loved politics," Rove said. "At the age of 9 I put a Nixon bumper sticker on the wire basket in the front of my bicycle. Unfortunately the little Catholic girl down the street was a couple years and about 20 pounds on me. She was for Kennedy. "When she saw me on my bike with my bumper sticker for Nixon, she put me on the ground, flattened me out and gave me a bloody nose," he said. "Despite that beating I never lost interest in politics." Yes, those Catholics are a nasty sort, aren't they? Although Rove does not have a college degree, Falwell awarded him an honorary doctorate of humanities for his "commitment to conservative ideas." Postscript: Liberty University has several unique degree programs. For example, they offer a Bachelor of Science in Worship and Music Ministry. The program serves a pressing need in today's Church: Some are calling this the next Great Awakening of the church: a revival of participatory worship and a recognition of worship as a lifestyle that hve both been growing like wildfire for several decades. But this calls for a return to biblical worship leading: a worship leader with the heart of a servant, the calling of a prophet, and the musical skills of David. The Worship and Music Ministry degree is an exciting major that blends the training needed for churches today. And what does a BS student in Worship and Music Ministry learn? Studies in music: voice, guitar, keyboard, theory, arranging, how to teach others good vocal technique. A variety of ensemble experiences and a senior capstone internship. Ministry courses such as Biblical Foundations of Worship, Role of the Worship Leader, and Church Administration. Supplemental training in areas such as communication science, drama, and stagecraft, and computer software for the musician. And the goal of the training: It is the expressed desire of the Center for Worship at Liberty University to develop individuals to serve and direct the music/worship ministry within the context of a church or Christian ministry. We will encourage and mentor students to think "outside-the-box," incorporating non-musical elements such as color and texture. Above all, our students will understand, and be equipped to teach, that worship is a lifestyle. Now I know why I wasn't terribly fond of my church's 5:30pm "unplugged" mass while growing up. Our church's song leader didn't have a BS from Liberty. 1:53:12 AM    comment [] America Remains Strong Abroad In case you were as worried as I am that the photos of torture and abuse at Abu Ghraib might hurt our products abroad, Frank Romero reassures us in his Sunday NY Times piece, "War and Abuse Do Little to Harm U.S. Brands." For a variety of reasons, American companies that sell globally say that they have so far experienced little if any disruption from discontent over the war in Iraq. For the most part, consumers around the world seem as likely to be influenced by economic conditions as by politics. And, in a display of the growing sophistication in marketing big American brands in global markets, many people see products originating from the United States as firmly rooted in their own home nations. [snip] Still, while there are few signs that goods and services clearly identified with the United States are being shunned overseas, that has not prevented American companies from worrying that their products might eventually become a bigger target for dissatisfaction with the Bush administration's conduct in Iraq. "We're more concerned at the moment with higher taxes than with anti-Americanism," said Fred Irwin, president of the American Chamber of Commerce here in Frankfurt. "That said, there's always a cloud over industry if political issues are left unattended. You have to remain vigilant about reminding people that politics is different from business." [snip] Companies that have been operating internationally for decades seem relatively immune to anti-American attitudes, in part perhaps because they avoid being perceived as particularly American. At many longtime multinational companies, executives say they always try to give their products, marketing and image the unique flavor of the locality where they operate. Other companies try to blend in by maintaining a geographically generic image, so they are not associated with any one country or culture. Rest assured that the Left's attempt to damage business abroad has failed. 1:08:37 AM    comment []

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