If bush won't apologize to the Arab world, I will

[mopaul]

I, Mo Paul, a citizen of the United States of America, apologize for the barbaric treatment given Iraqi prisoners of war by our troops.

No prisoner of war should be humiliated, terrorized, and outright tortured, no matter what their crimes, or how much we loathe them.
The large majority of decent Americans rejects this behavior outright. We would not like it if one of our own soldiers was mistreated under similar situations. We would feel the same outrage that the Arab world is now feeling.

I further apologize for our president's lack of an apology. This is most unacceptable, even to a growing number of bush's own supporters.
The fact that bush has not apologized as commander in chief for the unlawful actions of these few troops, only means that he supports this type of abhorrent behavior. Indeed, the U.S. military hires 'contract workers', actually mercenaries, to do the unspeakable interrogations, to prevent the assigned troops from taking the blame.

Perhaps the Geneva Convention laws enacted against criminal treatment of prisoners of war should be enforced properly, or re-written altogether.

Please understand that this man does not represent all Americans, and many of us wish he would just go away. Many of us feel that he is deliberately fanning the flames of Armageddon, and intentionally enraging the Arab world.

I speak for myself, and millions of other freedom loving Americans, when I offer an apology. We were shocked and disturbed by the now infamous photos from the Baghdad prison, and many of us feel outrage, and deep sadness that our proud nation has sunk to the level of the Nazi aggressors.

I apologize for all Americans. I believe that the decent citizens among us will see to it that the practice of terrorizing and torturing any prisoners of war, will be exposed and immediate actions will be taken to prevent these atrocities in the future.

And of course, I apologize for there ever being a war waged on the countries of Aghanistan and Iraq, whom bush inferred somehow were involved in the New York City attack on 9-11, even though they were not. We who hate bush, see the whole military aggression as imperialism, not the defense of freedoms and liberties.

Common, human decency and compassion seem to be absent from mr. bush's personality, and his arrogant refusal to apologize to the Arab world will only inflame the matter further. He is not a compassionate man, he is not a Christian man, and he does not speak for all Americans.

[RobertSeattle]

1. Good piece MoPaul!

I think the only way we can get any ground back from the Prisoner debacle is for Bush to end the ridiculous Bus tour and "finally" apologize to the Arab world regarding the Prisoner abuse?

Will he though? Rove is taking a poll...

[Misunderestimator]

2. BIG DITTO!

Well said.

[seabeyond]

3. i apoligize also

for our ugliness that we have allowed and encourage thoughout our nation. for our feeling that we are a better people and have rights over all others on this planet. and we do this under the name of god which is the greatest of hypocrisy. we dont deserve the respect of the world. we have not earned the trust of the world

we no longer have the right to be a nation of example.

please encourage this nation to self reflection. an understanding that we can be a better people

i hold my head down in shame for this country, and our arrogance in dominating the world and our fellow human beings.

and i personally hold my hand out to my fellow brothers and sisters in the muslim world

[mopaul]

4. Peace!

it's contagious

[markus]

5. Neil Boortz said Bush should apologize

on the early morning CNN news program (he was on with Mike Malloy).

I don't think Bush has it in him to apologize, frankly. He's much to "sure of himself" (i.e., delusional) to recognize the need.

[mopaul]

7. yeah, i saw that

i nauseates me, but there he was, demanding that bush apologize. several other rightwing pundits are echoing this.

it really would do a lot to ease tensions, and very likely prevent the same atrocities to come home to our troops. but i don't think he will, because outrage among the arabs is what he really wants.

[DeepModem Mom]

6. I join in your apology, as my rage against Bush grows by the day --

I want this ignorant, sanctimonious fraud off his bus, and out of the people's White House. He brings disgrace to our country and the office illegally seized for him, and sickens the world with shameful acts and needless death and suffering. May God help us rid ourselves, and the world, of this man, and the corrupt and greedy cabal which placed him in office. May the press put aside its fear and selfishness; may the people, many of whom still support this imposter President, wake up!

[mopaul]

8. ...

...

[AgentLadyBug]

9. wait a minute...... Afghanistan wasn't involved in 9-11?

lil help plz?

Not to open a can of worms, but my understanding was that, generically:

Afghanistan run by Taliban, Taliban tangibly supported bin Laden/Al Quaeda, bin Laden/Al Quaeda perpetrated 9/11. Thus, the line of thought goes, Afghanistan was involved with 9/11, via being a state sponsor of terrorism. How precisely is this substantially mistaken?

damn - and i liked it so much up to that point....

totally with ya on iraq tho, and subsequent fiascos....

[Skip Intro]

10. bush will NEVER apologize for Anything - Ever.

I do join your apology.

America under bush is not America.

[spooked]

11. No, he WILL be sorry when he loses

in November

[Minstrel Boy]

12. "I will never apologize for the United States of America -

I don't care what the facts are."

Spoken by Poppy in 1989, after the US shot down an Iranian airliner, killing 290 people.

[laylah]

13. May I add my apologies

to yours. This country should hang it's collective heads in shame! To my Arab brothers and sisters, please forgive us the actions of the idiot(s) in charge.

Jenn