As more details emerge from Camp X-Ray, the hysteria of the British and foreign press about the alleged inhumanity and torture and evil going on there seems more and more naked anti-Americanism. Here’s Katharine Seelye’s piece in the New York Times this morning. She relates a story of how one 21 year-old terrorist is getting eye surgery for an ancient injury and has asked to have tea with his surgeon afterwards. They have a Muslim chaplain who has ordered large-print Korans for them and has prevented any further shaving. “I look into their soul to see what they want from me, and how I can help them spiritually,” Lieutenant Saifu-Islam, the chaplain, tells the Times. Seelye adds:
There have been 18 operations on six patients, including one amputation of a middle finger and a reconstruction of the hand. Most of the treatment is for infections from gunshot wounds, shrapnel and explosives. Doctors also said there have been two cases of psychological disorders, with one prisoner a manic- depressive and the other with post- traumatic stress syndrome. Both are being treated with medication.
Medication for mental illness? Chaplains? This is what the foreign press whipped up into a travesty of human rights? The transparency of the press’s motives is now unmissable. But I won’t be holding my breath for any apologies or corrections.
BOOK CLUB UPDATE: An amazing start. Our first book, “Warrior Politics,” by Robert Kaplan, has rocketed to Number 13 on the Amazon charts in one morning. Move over, Oprah. Join in now. All the details are on the new Book Club page.
SUPERBOWL SCHLOCK: A reader makes a good point about the odd spectacle of screaming rock fans and a full-screen obit for 9/11:
Just a thought on the uneasiness about the scroll of the dead of September 11th during the Super Bowl halftime show. At first, I was not only uneasy, I was disgusted. I thought it was a beautiful gesture to scroll these names, and then the crowd started cheering, and U2 egged them on. And then I was even more disgusted when they cut the list short. (around the late Cs if I recall) But then a friend of mine made a comment – The Super Bowl was THE target last night. If a terrorist could have attacked anywhere in the world, that would have been the crown jewel. And all of the thousands present knew that. Their cheering was a taunting, a recognition that the terrorists will not stop them from enjoying a game and a show, and a tribute, though not solemn, to the people who died. They cheered because they would not let the terrorists stop them. They cheered in spite of, not in support of, terror. Though I’m still a little uneasy on the whole idea of the scroll, that explanation made me feel a lot better about it.”
He has a point, doesn’t he?
GREAT INSULTS, CTD: “Frank Munsey contributed to the journalism of his day the talent of a meatpacker, the morals of a money changer and the manner of an undertaker. He and his kind have about succeeded in transforming a once-noble profession into an 8 percent security. May he rest in trust.” – William Allen White, editor of the Kansas City Star, on the man who first brought front-page advertising into newspapers.
The Dish 