Last week, Tunisian lawyer, Mohamed Abbou faced trial for a couple of crimes. He was accused of "defaming the judicial process", and being "likely to disturb public order". He was found guilty and now faces over 3 years in jail. What did this man actually do? In a story about prison conditions in Tunisia, he compared the treatment of political prisoners there with the treatment that U.S. extended to detainees at Abu Ghraib in Iraq.
That is how far have the image of the US has sunk. Now being compared to the actions of our government is considered criminal. Unfortunately, our systemic prisoner abuse is not our only failing. We are using rendition to hold people outside the law, and to move people to nations where torture is acceptable. To some our nation is now defined by outrageous, illegal and intolerable behavior.
We have been in Iraq for two years. We still don't seem to be able to operate a simple Checkpoint without risking the lives of others. We all know about the death of Nicola Calipari , and have no doubt heard of the occasional Iraqi family shot down, but how many have died because we just don't care enough to make some basic changes.
All of this has been done in the name of our security. We are busy making the world safe for the citizens of US by carelessly torturing, maiming and killing those who just happen to be in the way.
What a wonderful world we live in.
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