Right Wing Ignores Torture and Undermines War on Terrorism

The failure of conservatives to decisively condemn the torture at Abu Ghraib highlights their critical lack of understanding about how these events harm our efforts in the war on terrorism. Rush Limbaugh recently used mock dog barks to denigrate the torture victims in Iraq and defended the abuses by saying "some might call that decent punishment, some might say here's a taste of your own medicine." Rather than fully condemning these acts, the New York Times reports today leading conservatives in Congress are planning to use the criticism of torture as a political tool against opponents.

• Congressional conservatives are willing to defend torture to attack opponents on terrorism. The New York Times reports today that congressional Republicans "will intensify their effort to help the White House in coming days by suggesting that Democrats are politicizing the issue…[and] have already sought to equate criticism form Democrats with a lack of support for fighting terrorism." Attacking critics for condemning severe violations of international law and American values can only mean conservatives tacitly approve of these methods.
• Downplaying torture exposes conservatives' failure to comprehend the terrorist threat. After failing to address the issue decisively and immediately when allegations arose, conservative leaders now want to excuse the actions as insignificant. This dangerous miscalculation reveals the paucity of strategic and moral thinking from the right on terrorism. America will never defeat terrorism without convincing the Arab world that our values and ideals are right and our intentions sincere. Conservatives' disregard for human rights and dignity gets us no closer to this goal.
• Conservative policies are eroding America's moral authority and undermining the war on terrorism. Three years of strategic blunders by conservatives in the war on terrorism have left America more vulnerable – not less – to future terrorist attacks. Al Qaeda is still operational. Iraq is a deadly and costly mess. And respect for America is at an all time low across the globe. Tough talk from conservatives – and tacit approval of gross ethical and legal violations like the torture at Abu Ghraib – has gotten us nowhere and will only make matters worse going forward.

Click here to see more on conservatives downplaying torture at Media Matters for America.

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