Once Again

As one of the readers' posts point out, only one person has apologized for Abu Ghraib (and Abu Ghraib isn't the sum total of the abuse experience, according to journalist Sy Hersh and others): this being General Kimmitt, lead spokesman for the Coalitional Provisional Authority.

But why not Rick Sanchez or Gen. Abuzaid, why not Paul Bremer, why not the head of Military Intelligence? And, more importantly, why not Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld or US President George Bush (who certainly stopped far short of an apology in his remarks on US-funded Arab TV today)?

The Arab world is supposed to take us on faith. Trust us, Condi told them. This isn't representative of the American people, George Bush said.

But why should they believe that? While I'm certain a majority of Americans do indeed find it abhorrent, watching everyone at the top quibble and point to a few renegade GIs like, "aw, this ain't nothin" does little to inspire my trust.