We're supposed to be the "good" guy.

The remaining "official" reasons for the War in Iraq seem to be the removal of saddam hussein from power based on his noncompliance with international law. His most egregious offense (since the Gulf War) being his lack of accounting for weapons of mass destruction. The weapons were not found by United Nations weapons inspectors in the time allotted them by this administration, nor were they found by the two consecutive United States weapons inspection teams appointed by this administration. In fact, the most recent team does not think there have been weapons of mass destruction produced in Iraq in a decade. The point of this web log entry is not to argue the merit of these inspections or discuss whether or not the former dictator "wanted" weapons of mass destruction, like the ones We possess (What leader wouldn't?). The idea that has struck me lately is that the War in Iraq is a war based on international law enforcement. Doesn't it follow that enforcers of international law must also abide by it?

Specialist Charles Graner was sentenced to 10 years in military prison for his role in the abuses and violations of international law that took place at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. Defense of these criminal offenses seems to be three fold. The first defense minimizes the abuses that were committed in the name of "intelligence" gathering. The second compares the actions of Our soldiers with the actions of barbaric kidnappers. Last, but not least, there is the "following orders" defense that didn't work in the war crime tribunals at Nuremberg following World War II and doesn't work now.

Defenses like attorney Guy Womack's "Don't cheerleaders all over America make pyramids every day?" are attempts at minimizing the fact that the specialist and others forced men of faith, albeit misguided but surely extreme, to sin against their religion by having them strip naked, masturbate, simulate oral sex on one another, and stack in pyramids while guards and other inmates watched and were forced to watch. Analogies like Mr. Womack's fail for obvious reasons. And I can't remember any cheerleaders being attacked by German Shepards, hooked up to electrodes, or beaten to death at any pep rally I've ever attended.

The brutal beheadings that have taken place in Iraq are some of the most disturbing acts we've seen in this war. These acts were absolutely atrocious. They were criminal acts committed by terrorists. Are we not in Iraq to put an end to such atrocities? We are supposed to be the "good" guy. Actions like those at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay tarnish Our image as the world's good guy. As an American, I am insulted by the "they're beheading people" excuse. We are to bring enemies to justice through means within the laws of war, however difficult that may be. We can not lower Our standards, morals, and adherence to international law while simutaneously fighting for them.

Specialist Graner and others have testified that they were following orders. This does not dismiss the fact that they committed these crimes against the oath they are sworn to when enlisted. Offenses were committed by their hands and their boots. This defense does beg the question of how far up the chain of command approval of such methods went (and goes). The investigation conitunes. Attorney General nominee Alberto Gonzales's memo on why the Geneva Convention does not apply to some of those detained by the United States of America is just a glimpse of who may have been involved. The details of specific procedures that were approved of, and by whom, has yet to be made public.

With 202 people killed in the first two weeks of January, one wonders what "intelligence" these tactics produces. "Insurgent" numbers are rising, a suicide bomber killing 22 people at a "coalition" mess hall, and the slaying of the governor of baghdad are just a few of the recent stories coming out of Iraq. Are Our tactics working? Are we seen as "liberators"? I wonder what the "liberated" think of the sentence that Specialist Graner received?

Thursday is Inauguration Day. If you are making the trek to Washington D.C., good luck and thank you. There will be "Anti-war bleachers" set up at 4th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. Let 'em know we're here!