I am not one who usually gets too excited about political issues and other things the President and the government does, but this story caught my attention.  I read this story in the Star Tribune this morning.  Here is the link to the complete story:  http://www.startribune.com/587/story/603460.html

Basically President Bush wants to make it harder to prosecute people for certain war crimes that violate the Geneva Convention.  Here is a quick excerpt:

"The draft U.S. amendments to the War Crimes Act would narrow the scope of potential criminal prosecutions to 10 specific categories of illegal acts against detainees during a war, including torture, murder, rape and hostage-taking.

Left off the list would be what the Geneva Conventions refer to as "outrages upon [the] personal dignity" of a prisoner and deliberately humiliating acts — such as the forced nakedness, use of dog leashes and wearing of women’s underwear seen at the U.S.-run Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq — that fall short of torture."

How is forced nakedness, use of dog leashes on people, and forcing someone to wear women’s underwear not torture.  These offenses may not physically hurt the person.  No medical treatment may be necessary after being forced to endure these acts, but what about the emotional and mental abuse and torture.  These acts do not fall short of torture…they ARE torture.  Is the Bush administration really that blind?  Do they not value the dignity of human beings?  Here’s what I think:  The Bush administration is so embarrassed about the abuses at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq that they are willing to go to these lengths to justify their actions.  I think it is clear that the orders came from higher up than what we know.  Plain and simple.  Dealing with prosecuting US military personal is something that really hurt The US efforts in Iraq. 

But this proposed new law will not help anything.  It will only give the administration more leverage with prisoners and that is scary.  The International Committee of the Red Cross is even concerned(This is the group that is responsible for making sure the Geneva Convention is enforced).  And we should be concerned as well.  If this law passes, what is to prevent them from eliminating other abuses from the torture list.  This is a slippery slope.

Anyway, that is my thought on the matter (at least for right now).  What do you think about this proposed new law?  Am I over-reacting?  Am I missing something?  I would love to hear (read) your comments.

Thanks for putting up with my rant this morning.  I needed this outlet since I am alone in the church building today.  God bless you in all that you do.  Jesus loves you.  -EDH-