NYT: Looking At America ("Bush panicked, forgot responsibility to protect American lives & ideals")

[Amerigo Vespucci]

December 31, 2007
Editorial
Looking at America

There are too many moments these days when we cannot recognize our country. Sunday was one of them, as we read the account in The Times of how men in some of the most trusted posts in the nation plotted to cover up the torture of prisoners by Central Intelligence Agency interrogators by destroying videotapes of their sickening behavior. It was impossible to see the founding principles of the greatest democracy in the contempt these men and their bosses showed for the Constitution, the rule of law and human decency.

It was not the first time in recent years we’ve felt this horror, this sorrowful sense of estrangement, not nearly. This sort of lawless behavior has become standard practice since Sept. 11, 2001. The country and much of the world was rightly and profoundly frightened by the single-minded hatred and ingenuity displayed by this new enemy. But there is no excuse for how President Bush and his advisers panicked — how they forgot that it is their responsibility to protect American lives and American ideals, that there really is no safety for Americans or their country when those ideals are sacrificed.

Out of panic and ideology, President Bush squandered America’s position of moral and political leadership, swept aside international institutions and treaties, sullied America’s global image, and trampled on the constitutional pillars that have supported our democracy through the most terrifying and challenging times. These policies have fed the world’s anger and alienation and have not made any of us safer.

In the years since 9/11, we have seen American soldiers abuse, sexually humiliate, torment and murder prisoners in Afghanistan and Iraq. A few have been punished, but their leaders have never been called to account. We have seen mercenaries gun down Iraqi civilians with no fear of prosecution. We have seen the president, sworn to defend the Constitution, turn his powers on his own citizens, authorizing the intelligence agencies to spy on Americans, wiretapping phones and intercepting international e-mail messages without a warrant.

MORE: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/31/opinion/31mon1.html

[ixion]

1. and so the NYTimes responds to these thugs how? By hiring William Kristol

yeah, that'll show'em! :sarcasm:

[Amerigo Vespucci]

2. They "conveniently" left that part out...

...I personally think they did it as a response to Rove being hired by Newsweek. I hope that they love the deluge of hate mail that's sure to follow Billy Boy's first clueless column.

[KansDem]

3. HORSESHIT!!!

Out of panic and ideology, President Bush squandered America’s position of moral and political leadership...

Bush squandered these attributes because he is amoral and a sluggard. Anybody who was half awake during 1998-2000 could have seen this! I find it disgusting that the NYT should "conveniently" forget it was partially responsible for this nightmare by actively not-pursuing the news stories critical of Bush during that time.

**** YOU, NYT!!! You and your fellow "professional journalists" share responsibility for this "squandering" of "America's position of moral and political leadership." :grr:

[indepat]

4. Note to NYT editor: "their" first-most responsibility has been to protect, defend, and

preserve the Constitution of the United States. All sworn to do so but fail in this fore-most responsibility should be immediately removed from office.

Edit to add responsibility

[Rageneau]

5. This is like Goebbals complaining about Hitler.

Without the EXTENSIVE assistance of the NY(w)T, Smirk could never have become pRresident, nor could he have gotten away with his worst crimes.

Now that they have finally acknowledged Bush's evil incompetence, why don't they apologize for their OWN?

[Arugula Latte]

6. F@#$ Off, you Judith Miller-coddling, has-been, bird-poop-catching rag.

NYT, you could have helped save this country...But you FAILED miserably. :grr: