where we are

Sorry for the delay in posting. This weekend I spent reflecting on the state of this country. We are having a genuine debate on torture. The word has been uttered by the President of the United States in a denial that we practice it, even though he surely knows that we do. Bloggers have united against this disgraceful period in our history, offering a point by point rebuttal to the apologists on the right.

The right wing of the GOP, who have lost all sense of reason, are defending torture. From the Wall Street Journal to Bill O'Reilly there is a sense that we must do ANYTHING to win the battle against jihadist extremism. Anything folks, even torturing those in our captivity. We are engaging in practices once perfected by the Khmer Rouge, the Nazi Party and Stalinist Russia.

It's taken the courage of two people, John McCain and Captain Ian Fishback to bring this issue to light. Abu Gharib was forgotten. The work of Seymour Hersh was ignored. We are becoming what Saddam was, a menace to the people of Iraq.

James Fallows has an excellent piece in the Atlantic describing the need for an Iraqi army before we can leave this country. How can we leave and expect what we've done to not linger? The dogs we've sicked on prisoners, the torture and humiliation we have inflicted on these people. Sometimes, it is our fault. Sometimes its correct to blame America. We've done this.