At first, I was skeptical about Glenn Greenwald's post describing the "general in your pocket" controversy. If you want to get people to feel outraged, focus on Iraq, not Guantanamo Bay. The "independent" retired military commentariat that wasn't so independent was giving its thumbs up to a great deal more destruction in Iraq than Guantanamo Bay. Plus, Americans die in Iraq, but not on the tip of Cuba.
(I really hate having to make these sorts of comparisons at all. Which unjustified, self-destructive policy is worse? Anyway, onwards.)
However, Greenwald's target seems to be the media more than the generals themselves. Therefore, the willingness to swallow what the retired officers were saying about Guantanamo Bay is no worse or better than any of their claims about Iraq or Afghanistan. It's the gullibility and cowardice of the media that's the real topic of Greenwald's post.
I'll add one tiny detail to Greenwald's already detailed analysis: you'll note that, in spite of watching only one interrogation, Shepperd implies that he observed multiple interrogations.
Exactly so! I've had the same opinion, this is a media scandle, not a Pentagon scandle. One can understand the motives of OSD political appointees, especially here where it is not at all clear if any laws were broken (as has been alleged). I have been especially outraged over the left-wing slander against the general officers involved (to include Glenn) - although a few may be out for themselves, I believe overall their motives were good. Let's focus on the issues and not on the implied motives of these men who were only providing their professional opinions.
Posted by: J. | 05/12/2008 at 07:16