I'm not sure why it's taken such a long time for the story to break, but now the scandal over the systemic abuses of Iraqis, our erstwhile liberatees, is in full swing. Hundreds of additional photographs (beyond those long displayed at thememoryhole.org) of Iraqi prisoners being humiliated, forced to simulate sex acts, or in other degrading positions are circulating, made by and for the entertainment of military personnel, and they have reached the press.
There are many good articles on the topic, but the best has to be A Wretched New Picture Of America
Photos From Iraq Prison Show We Are Our Own Worst Enemy, By Philip Kennicott in the Washington Post. The idea that Americans wish to take credit for all good in the world, but insist all evil is done by rogue elements is... completely true. This is a fabulous article - if you read one opinion this week, well, you're already reading mine, but go here to read a second one.
Another great article on the same theme is Willing Torturers, by Anne Applebaum. (also washingtonpost.com) Applebaum says the belief that atrocities are extraordinarily unusual events which occur due to the flaw in one lone national character (never ours) are based on pure fantasy.
There are also several very informative excerpts from international news sources at Morley's compilation of world viewpoints (washingtonpost.com), including:
"This is the face of freedom. The face of righteousness," said columnist Firas Atraqchi, a Canadian-Iraqi journalist for Islam Online.(If you're not checking in with Morley's compilations for a reality check against our domestic news sources routinely, start now.)
"Next time someone asks you the most idiotic of questions -- 'why do they hate us' -- ask them to see the pictures in question. Next time someone asks you how Iraqis could have cut US and South African mercenaries to pieces, ask them to see the pictures in question. Next time someone asks you why Iraqis are taking up arms, tell them to shut up."
