The spirit of abuse

You know, I really feel sorry for Lynndie England. She obviously simply made the decision to "go along to get along" and now she's fallen on her sword by pleading guilty to offenses that were, if not directly ordered, unquestionably encouraged. Newsday has published an article by Paul Vitello entitled "U.S. policy fosters abuse" in which he makes this very point:

"... the language of the [Geneva Conventions] is undefined. It prohibits for example 'outrages upon personal dignity' and 'inhuman treatment ... " - White House memo justifying President George W. Bush's decision to deny Iraqi detainees the protections of the Geneva Conventions.

It is almost as if Alberto Gonzales, who wrote that memo, and who is now the U.S. attorney general, was whispering this implied question into the ear of Army Pfc. Lynndie England.

It is as if she heard him, and then demonstrated for him and President Bush the definition of "outrages upon personal dignity," and had herself photographed committing them, and then sent the photos all around the world.

It is hard to avoid picturing this exchange because, in a real sense, it took place.
...
It is ironic that a person such as she, with little education, no authority, and zero training as a prison guard, becomes the poster child for our depravity, while the authors of the American policy toward Iraqi detainees remain virtually untouched by the scandal.

The authors are Gonzales, who drafted the policy; President Bush, who approved it; and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who put it into effect.

The policy, which remains unchanged despite last year's revelations, basically gives the American military a free hand in dealing with prisoners or detainees it considers potential terrorists. Terrorism, in this view, changes all the rules.

Well, the "rules" that apply to common decency haven't changed and never will. The "rule" that a person of integrity takes responsibility for those under his or her command - yes, all the way up the chain of command - still applies whether it is observed or not. And the stench of cowardice that clings to those who disdain those rules smells just as bad as it ever did. I, for one, will not pretend otherwise.