Kristof - unreliable and carrying water for Rumsfeld:

In today's New York Times Op-Ed, Nicholas Kristof writes in defense of Donald Rumsfeld regarding the toture of prisoners. One point he makes is this: (emphasis added)

If Mr. Rumsfeld turns out to be complicit, he must go. But if, as Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba has said in his report (deservedly praised as tough and unsparing), the problems were at much lower levels, then why make a scapegoat of the defense secretary?

But surely Kristof knows that, as many have observed, Taguba's assignment was limited in scope and did not go up the chain of command. In fact, Taguba made that point in his public testimony: (emphasis added)

... my task was limited to the allegations of detainee abuse involving M.P. personnel and the policies, procedures and command climate of the 800th M.P. Brigade.

posted by Quiddity at 5/22/2004 07:51:00 AM