Crossing the line

They're disconcerting of course. The pictures of the abuse of Iraqi prisoners. Absolutely unacceptable and appalling. And definitely damaging to our efforts to rebuild Iraq.

So are the soldiers who did it animals? Not likely in my estimation.

I attribute it to 2 things. Skirting the line by trying to gather intelligence thru psychological rather than physical torture. And putting troops untrained in that practice in charge of it for months at a time. Both things add to a failure of leadership. In skirting the line they crossed it. Court-martialling the privates won't accomplish anything. Some leaders have to take the fall.

There's no doubt that the Bush-haters and the anti-war folks will rightfully make good mileage out of this dreadful situation.

Fix it. Fire someone. And move on.