Joe Conason (New York Observer): Officers and Veterans Defy Neocons

[Jack Rabbit]

From The New York Observer
Dated Monday August 8

Officers and Veterans Defy Bush's Neocons
By Joe Conason

Among the most durable stereotypes of American political culture is that military officers secretly yearn for authoritarian rule and blind brutality, especially if they happen to be from the South, while civilian officials and intellectuals supposedly cherish our constitutional order.

Those old liberal clichés have been proven false in the struggle to curtail the lawless misconduct symbolized by Abu Ghraib. We now know that the most reliable defenders of the Constitution are lifetime military officers—bolstered by a trio of Southern conservative Senators who also happen to be decorated veterans.

They have been pushing back against the neoconservative academics and experts whose advice led to torture scandals and the abrogation of civil and human rights.

In an effort to restore the honor of the armed forces and prevent future abuses, Senators John McCain of Arizona, John Warner of Virginia and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina have proposed amendments to the Defense Authorization Act that would institute standards for the treatment of military detainees. Having loyally muted their criticism during last year’s election season, the three Republican Senators are again voicing demands for candor and reform.

Read more.

Conason asks: What kind of country would the United States become if we allowed our military officers to behave like criminals? We are allowing the occupant of the White House and his chief advisers to behave like criminals. What kind of country are we becoming indeed?

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

1. Of course the Bushies won't listen

They're the hand chosen opf a higher power.

[applegrove]

2. You are becoming a country that reflects back the image & structure

of the sociopaths who lead the myth followers & have a puppet president.