Conservatives Justify Torture As 'Blowing Off Steam'

Rush Limbaugh, the voice of conservatives across America, claimed the torture at Abu Ghraib was "about people having a good time" and that the perpetrators just needed to "blow some steam off." Displaying his trenchant understanding of geopolitics, Limbaugh later claimed, "Maybe the people who executed this pulled off a brilliant maneuver." Weekly Standard editor Jonathan Last also downplayed the allegations claiming, "Worse things happen in frat houses across America." Syndicated columnist and Fox News host Cal Thomas stated, "If there has been humiliation, it isn't the fault of the West. It is Muslims' fault."

• Leading conservatives are trying to whitewash the torture allegations. White House spokesman Scott McClellan told an off-camera gathering of reporters yesterday that Limbaugh's comments were "wrong, unacceptable and inexcusable." However, during yesterday's official press briefing, he refused to repeat his earlier repudiation of Limbaugh when asked directly by a reporter. Clearly, the White House wants to have it both ways on the issue – pander to the conservative base by not publicly rebuking Limbaugh while appearing contrite to the Arab world.
• The unwillingness of conservative leaders to take the issue seriously undermines our efforts to win hearts and minds in Iraq. Attitudes like Limbaugh's are part and parcel of conservatives' failure to effectively win the peace in Iraq and convince the Middle East that America's intentions are sincere and honorable. President Bush's half-baked contrition on Arab television, and his forced apology yesterday, did little to assuage doubts about the lack of genuine concern from the highest levels of the U.S. government.
• President Bush must take real and immediate steps to help restore America's image across the globe. First, the president should demand the resignation of Secretary Rumsfeld – the leader most directly accountable for the prison failures. Second, he should convene an immediate independent investigation of all alleged abuses in the Iraqi prison system. And third, he should create a Permanent Committee for Monitoring Prison Conditions to formally oversee the prison system in Iraq and should establish a citizen's liaison in Iraq to compile and keep a centralized database of all detainees in Iraqi prisons.

Click here to read our recommendations for immediate steps to address the Abu Ghraib situation.

Daily Talking Points is a product of the Center for American Progress, a non-partisan research and educational institute committed to progressive principles for a strong, just and free America.