The fallout

The story of the disgusting way some prisoners were treated by some soldiers at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq continues unabated, both here at home, in Europe, and in the Arab press. I've mentioned this story before, and other pro-war folks have widely condemned the actions of these soldiers and their commanders (here, here, and here to mention a few), But now I want to look at it from another point of view.

Given that stories where prisoners have told of good treament by US soldiers (such as this one and this one) rarely get widespread play, and given that the Arab press rarely investigates the goings-on in, say, Syrian or Iranian prisions, one has to wonder if there is not a political agenda behind all the coverage.

Well Duh, Cool One. Ya think?

Well, yeah. OK. But what are they hoping to gain and how will it really play out?

I don't know, but I do have a thought.

In the Middle East, when one is taken to prison, do they expect they will be treated humanely?

My guess is they do not expect to be treated humanely.

Do they expect that someone will go to prison for abuse of prisoners? That people could be arrested for abusing prisoners?

I don't think so.

But people will see that Americans (and British) will be arrested, tried and imprisoned for doing such things.

Will that give those living in the Middle East pause?

Will at least some begin to grasp that they can and should be able to expect more for their governments?

So what does the left at home hope to gain from gleefully propagating this story? What's the message they are trying to convey? Have they thought about it in their fever to tear down the US?

Do they hope to villify those who serve a' la' Vietnam? Is that the plan?

I don't think that will work, personally. Not in this day and age. Not since 9-11.

And what does the Arab media hope to gain? Showing the Arabs that American forces are as bad as their own government?

I think the exact opposite will be illustrated. I think to the extent that the story of the arrest and subsequent conviction of people in this case is told, it will work against their own agenda.

But that's just me.