McClellan: "Abu Ghraib was contrary to our military procedures and values"

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/05/20050518-1.html

Q Scott, you just mentioned that our enemies are looking for any material that they can find to damage us or our reputation. Isn't it the case that the Newsweek article would not have done the damage that it has if our reputation hadn't already been damaged by the atrocities at Abu Ghraib?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, you actually bring up a very important point. Abu Ghraib and the individuals that did things that were contrary to our military procedures and contrary to our values did do damage to the image of the United States abroad. And that's why we have worked to make sure that people know that we take such matters very seriously. People are being held to account. They're going to jail for what they did at Abu Ghraib, because it went against everything we stand for, and it was against our laws, as well.

We're also -- we also have taken a number of steps to prevent something like that from ever happening again. When a problem like that arises, the United States deals with it, and deals with it swiftly and takes steps to prevent it from happening again. With the material in the Newsweek report, obviously, as everybody saw, was used to incite violence. It was additional material that people opposed to the United States took and used to incite violence and it had some serious consequences.

I think the American people are outraged about the report, to learn that it turned out to be wrong. And we share in that outrage. And that's why it's important to work to repair the damage that has been done by that report.

Q Can you assure us that there have been no instances of desecration of the Koran?

MR. McCLELLAN: The Department of Defense actually addressed that yesterday, and I talked about it, as well.

Q You can assure us of that, there are no cases?

MR. McCLELLAN: You ought to talk to the Department of Defense. They talked about it yesterday. They have found nothing to substantiate any such allegation that was made by the Newsweek report. And Newsweek, itself, retracted the report because they realized it was wrong.

[Brotherjohn]

1. Ummm... and naming the man who found the Geneva Convention to be "quaint"

... to the post of Attorney General?

Is that what you mean by "we have worked to make sure that people know that we take such matters very seriously"?

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

3. Excellent point.

:toast:

[indepat]

2. Could it not be argued that Abu Ghraib was wholly reflective of the values

of those who took this nation to pre-emptive war?

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

4. They're Bush Administration Values until they're caught.

Then they cease to be Bush Administration Values.

It's a "cause and effect" kind of thing.



:grr:

[gratuitous]

5. Translation of Scottiespeak

When he says "Abu Ghraib was contrary to our military procedures and values," he means "Abu Ghraib was the epitome of our military procedures and values."

Actually, now that I type it out, I note that Scottie was talking exclusively of the military's procedures and values, not the administration's procedures and values. Maybe he was telling the straight truth after all . ..

[Roland99]

8. Exactly. CIA ain't military.

[Roland99]

6. Worst. Liar. Ever.

[killbotfactory]

7. Pre-9/11

After that, Bush assessed that he was free to play emporer Nero.

Sure, we have a legal memo authorizing torture, but we aren't torturing people. huh... huhhuh...

[Disturbed]

9. Bush Junta widespread policey of abuse and torture.

This policy has been and prolly still is praticed in the many U.S. prisons that will allow no Red Cross access. Abu Grahib is only one of aprox. 14 various places that keeps "detainees". Afghanistan has such prisons, as well. The Bush Junta is a Criminal Enterprise and the top War Criminals has so far not been brought to justice, according to the GC, Intl. Law and The Constitution of the USA.

[FrenchieCat]

10. FrenchieCat:

"George Bush is contrary to our American procedures and values"

[fujiyama]

11. He's right

proper procedure would have had the camera man shot.

Leave no witnesses and evidence behind.

He's basically saying that things didn't go exactly according to plan.