My comment was this: Gareth Smyth is far from a “useful fool.” He was far and away the foreign reporter in Iran with the best sources. His articles were well-researched and well-written. People talked to him who wouldn’t talk to any other reporter.

He stated the obvious which you quoted at the top of this post. Do you think Iranians do not know what goes on in Evin? Of course they do. Why do you think that Iranians in Iran did not get worked up about Abu Gharib? This does not mean that people do not make comparisons. The Iranian government wanted that very comparison made: it was a ploy. And, unfortunately, we made it easy for them with Abu Gharib and Guantanamo. Who cares that Evin is a pit?

A reporter not stationed in Iran should explain to Westerners how Evin compares to a British prison or to Abu Ghraib.

Let me read it exactly how viewers in Arab in Muslim countries read it..

“The contrast to how citizens in Arab and Muslim countries are treated compared to foreigners is enormous. A citizen arrested usually appears on TV bloodied and beaten.”

It’s hard to believe, but that’s what we’re hearing from Capitol Hill. A resolution has been proposed in the House of Representatives that condemns Iran for the seizure of British sailors and marines, expresses support for our British allies. It’s hard to see anything controversial in that. But apparently, the resolution has languished all week while Pelosi refuses to allow it to come to the floor.

Earlier today, Congressman Eric Cantor wrote the following letter to Pelosi:

Dear Madam Speaker:
Fifteen kidnapped British marines and sailors recently became the latest victims of a systematic Iranian campaign of terror and international defiance. The illegal seizure of the British forces is a signal that Iran views us as powerless to prevent it from realizing its aggressive ambitions.

For the sake of our standing in the world, our allies and most importantly the 15 British personnel and their families, I urge you to bring H. Res. 267 to the floor today before we adjourn. The resolution calls for the immediate and unconditional release of the British marines and sailors. It would also call on the U.N. Security Council to not only condemn the seizure, but to explore harsher sanctions to counter the growing Iranian threat.

A Republican Congressional staffer writes:

It is simply staggering to me that Pelosi refuses to stand beside America’s closest ally. I literally would not have thought this possible, until I saw it this week.
Staggering, indeed. We’ll see what happens this afternoon.

Posted by John at 01:17 PM | Permalink | |

As Roger points out, much worse happens in other countries. We can argue that this appears true not just of Iran and North Korea, but of many countries. America has lost a little more innocence after 9/11 and even more after AG. The fact that we have to have some place like Guantanamo doesn’t negate the distaste that many display. We may have to do it, but that doesn’t mean we have to be proud of it, or revel in it. For many people, adjusting to lost innocence takes time and I think many people that were already having problems with our post-9/11 world and some of the social issues already in play before then, haven’t been able to accept the true horror of our times.

I think I feel safer with American citizens that detest AG and Guantanamo, rather than those that gleefully say “They deserve it”. On the other hand, I’d prefer American leaders that can accept the bitter pill and feel ill when they support what we must do.

Now if only Henry Waxman’s panel could find out why some White House emails were generated from RNC accounts as opposed to hotmail or Yahoo we would have something.

Now that Yahoo announced unlimited e-mail storage Henry is going to have to expand the investigation (more money). How are we going to know how much spam the WH has generated?

We need to get to the bottom of this.

The truth is the Arabs and the French could give the Russians lessons in how to run bad prisons. And most people know that. Including Smyth.