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Richard Fernandez laments that, “History will probably remember the Guantanamo Bay prison for longer than the already forgotten Prison S-21, where up to 20,000 people were tortured and killed by the Khmer Rouge.”
As for me, I prefer being held to a higher set of standards than Pol Pot. I mean, of course we’re better than some of the most evil regimes in the history of the planet. But we’re aiming for shining city on the hill.
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Look up to the shining city, but also there are negative consequences when we do not follow our own laws and when we concentrate too much power into the hands of too few people. I still believe that if there had been proper discussion among the correct parties (how could they not include State in a decision which had obvious international implications?) the Bybee memo would have been much different.
Steve
As you say, “of course” we’re better than some of the most evil regimes in the history of the planet”. And of course that presumes a knowledge of those regimes, a sadly mistaken presumption it seems. Without having a “worse” to compare against, the comparatively minor Guantanamo quickly becomes “worst” and perspective is warped to the point that the ability to comprehend and react against things like S-21 is lost. Certainly any abuses at Guantanamo should be investigated and prosecuted but we are committing a far worse crime if allow our failings at Guantanamo to be used to deflect criticism of so many atrocities past, present and future.
Fernandez is off base,
Yes, we know about your shining city on the hill, the one with the torture chamber in the basement.
The far right has done an interesting rework on “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”, now it’s “Oh please, oh please, keep me safe from Obama, whatever you must do…”.
So much for “Sounding forth the trumpet”…
“As for me, I prefer being held to a higher set of standards than Pol Pot.”
Nobody is saying we should be held to the standard of someone like Pol Pot. Richard Fernandez is just pointing out the absurdity that people will remember non-war crimes versus not even knowing about real war crimes that were on a vast scale.
