Resident Scholars of the A.P.I.
Forced Nudity - A Nazi / Rumsfeld Strategy
The photo on the top, taken during WWII on the Eastern Front, captures Nazi operatives about to excute a Russian Jewish man. This photo has been cropped out of consideration. An elderly man, a little boy of about five years of age, and several other men, all nude, also appear in the original. The second photo was taken almost sixty years later. Naked Iraqi men stand exposed, outdoors, under the guard of Rumsfeld's American military.
Picture yourself sans clothing under guard. Picture a family member, co-worker, friend, church member, neighbor, or an American prisoner of war being subjected to "forced nudity". Donald Rumsfeld has opened the door for this to happen to any one of us the world over. SHAME, SHAME, SHAME on Rumsfeld's Nazi tactics!
"Never Again" was the mantra most repeated and most symbolic of international revulsion to the inhumane practices institutionalized during the Second World War. "Never Again" was, for sixty years, the foundation upon which an international standard of "human rights" was based.
That "forced nudity", a perverted, demoralizing method of Nazi dehumanization, would be sanctioned by the government of the United States, was unthinkable. However, War President, George W. Bush, together with his Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, have rejected "Never" and embraced "Again" by resurrecting the practice of "forced nudity". This time around, it is being used against Arab and Muslim men and women, detained by the American military.
The Nazis implemented "forced nudity" to exert psychological and physical control over prisoners (mostly Jewish), to cruelly humiliate and degrade their victims, and finally to harvest the valuables (jewelry, money) sometimes hidden in the discarded clothing. Secretary of Defense, Rumsfeld implemented "forced nudity" to control and degrade, but unlike the Nazis, he does not seek to harvest valuables hidden in discarded clothing. The harvest Rumsfeld, his Commander-in- Chief, and Vice-President hope to glean from such depraved procedure, is intelligence.
Warned by FBI interrogators that "intelligence" gained form demoralized victims of torture was apt to be tainted (made up), "Rummie" rammed ahead. Cautioned by civilian and military attorneys alike, that the Geneva Conventions would be dangerously compromised, Rumsfeld with the blessing of Alberto Gonzales, had detainees stripped, paraded around, and left naked for days on end.
Similarly, when then Secretary of State, Colin Powell, premonished that to pervert the Geneva Conventions would "reverse over a century of U.S. policy and practice...and undermine the protection of the laws of war for our troops", Rumsfeld and the Bush administration turned a deaf ear.
Many of our fathers and grandfathers fought their way across Europe during WWII, to stop Hitler's demented quest for a global Third Reich. In the process, the men and women of "The Greatest Generation" upheld the Geneva Conventions even when confronted with the genocidal horrors of the Nazi death camps. Regular Nazi soldiers, officers, and the members of Hitler's high command who had access intelligence or were known to have committed unimaginable atrocities, were all treated humanely by the American and Allied forces. "Forced nudity" and other forms of torture were never considered. Americans used to be above the such behavior. No longer.
"Never Again" means something altogether different now. "Never Again" will Americans be trusted by her neighbors around the globe. The lies have piled up too high and go down too deep. "Never Again" will we, as a nation, be seen as a light in the darkness cast by man's inhumanity to man because we have systematically utilized torture. "Never Again" will Americans mouthing "Freedom" be considered liberators. It is now known that we come as occupiers with an adgenda.
SHAME, SHAME, SHAME on George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Steven Cambone, and Alberto Gonzales for implementing "forced nudity" and others forms of torture against the people of Afghanistan and Iraq. SHAME on them for taking America backward.
No more "forced nudity" or other forms of Rumsfeld-approved torture. Rumsfeld must resign. Not only is he an inept, obsessive nano-manager...he is a madman. He would have made a perfect Nazi but in today's world he needs to take up residence in an institution for the criminally insane.
"Never Again" do I want to see the children we raised be issued American military uniforms and Donald Rumsfeld's mindset. They only debase themselves, their families, and their country by forcing other people to strip and remain in naked humiliation.
.........Kitchen Window Woman...............
posted by Kitchen Window Woman at 8:40 PM
19 Comments:
It's beyond imagination and it shows how little they understand about the principles they cite when sending others to fight and die.
ZENYENTA...
This administration understands only that it wants power and its principles are based on profit regardless of the cost in suffering and blood.
I see that you wrote about the generals who have been courageous enough to speak out against Rumsfleld while I described one of Donald's dirty deeds...We Gramdmas, east coast and west coast, have sure covered this one!!!
MAMA MIA...Thank you. It needed to be said.
I continue to be complete amazed at how you liberal types compare this current administration to Nazi Germany. As a Negro I frankly find this amusing.
I often wonder, I see this on so many liberal blogs repeated over and over I’m not sure how seriously to take this. Is there some national Democratic Party memo that circulates to you people telling you to post this mess over and over no matter how utterly ridiculous.
C’mon people lets get real, being Negro if we were indeed being run by a Nazi regime, just how would I have access to the computer I am sending this message on as I look out of my beautiful office at the trees and blue sky.
No reasonable seemingly intelligent individual can make the idiotic claims and stretch you have in this post.
Now I read a lot of blogs particularly liberal ones and I would assume that being older than most bloggers that you would not be as likely to follow Democratic marching orders so easily.
“Picture yourself sans clothing under guard. Picture a family member, co-worker, friend, church member, neighbor, or an American prisoner of war being subjected to "forced nudity".
Hey this sounds like the treatment of Negros during slavery, ya know I don’t think Rumsfeld was alive then.
I'll admit to being moderately baffled at the last commenter's point of view. Especially the phrase: "As a Negro..."
I'm also a "negro" (and unsure why we're using such outdated terminology) yet I'm not at all in agreement with Sniffer's response.
We're all entitled to our opinions. But the assumption that all "negroes" possess identical political views is rather "amusing" in itself. So are terms like "you people" and "Democratic marching orders."
Anyway, just wanted to say that this was a very well written post. And I, as a "negro," thoroughly enjoyed reading it. ;)
kw: first I’d like to say that nicole and i enjoyed reading your post. there are a lot of political blogs that ramble on and on without holding your attention but yours was a good read.
sniffer: as a negro i'm probably not as old, educated or, from the looks of it, as blind to the truth of the current state of our nation as you are. i couldn't agree with KW more: we are under the control of a new nazi regime. there’s illegal wire taps, price gouging, nepotism and just plain lying to our faces. how can you not see this?
and as a negro, for you to make the comparison to slavery is almost embarrassing.
take a second and get all the crap you have in your head out. this is a new day and there is a new kind of nazi out there. they want you to possess material things and earn money. they smile in your face and shake your hand just like the next man. but when it’s all said and done, they know that they are still pulling the strings. It seems that you have fallen in line with the rest of the puppets. wake up before you lose sight.
People like "Sniffer" either (1) force themselves to ignore the parallels in history and also what is going on day to day here in America, or (2) hope that by vocally cheering it on, they will be spared by their masters (which also ignores history, as men like Zivoniev and Ernst Roehm would tell you.)
While this is sad, it is common. We must not spend too much time wondering why the blind are blind-we must go forward with spreading light for those who can see.
While it would be foolish to state that Nazi Germany at its peak (marching over Europe, slaughtering German Jews and ethnic minorities), is identical to today's America, itisn't unreasonable to point out parallels between many of BushCo's tactics and a nascent fascist government.
Evil governments like Hitler's Third Reich got their start somewhere. They didn't just go from good to bat-shit crazy overnight.
A real patriot doesn't blindly wave the flag, chant, "America is Number One" and take offense at every little "slight." A real patriot criticizes their beloved country for its own sake and the sake of democracy.
SNIFFER...
As an aging white woman with two bad knees, I am delighted that I am still able to both amaze and amuse, thank you.
If you knew me at all you would know that I have spent most of my nearly 56 years questioning anything and everything that doesn't add up and speaking out about it. I take "marching orders" from no one...you made my husband laugh with that statement.
Since I was a little girl, I have questioned how slavery came to be and why it was an acceptable practice in the United States, and how and why Hitler was able to lead the majority of the German population into war and commit such massive genocide. I have read many books in my quest for answers.
I have found that a psychology of justification is necessary because it allows human beings to be demeaned or vilified. This ususually preceeds torture or death of victims because those who do the actual "dirty work" must feel that they are above their captives, and therefore exonerated from any wrongdoing. This psychology is currently being used by Rumsfeld, Bush, and Cheney to JUSTIFY the mistreatment of hundreds of detainees and the deaths of thousands war victims.
Hitler was very successful in making his "final solution" for the Jews sound very reasonable. He was also in total control of the German media.
Mistreatment, abuse, and death directed by society or their governments usually directly benefit those in power.
The practice of basic "Human Rights" and those outlined in the Geneva Conventions and do not allow for the practice of or justification of any such mistreatment, abuse, or death.
I question why you do not seem to be concerned about the tortures that are now sanctioned by our government. Forced nudity is only one of them. Many of Rumsfelds "approved procedures" are religiously or culturally specific - the use nudity, womens underware, etc. and intimidation with snarling dogs...Very unbecomming of an American!
You are where you are, at your computer, in an office with a view, because you worked hard and are good at what you do. You are also there because a Civil War was fought and years later, Dr. King, his wife Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks, Rev. Abernathy, Harry Belefonte, and numerous others including my family stood against the American-styled aparthied (or institutionalized racism) that allowed civil and human rights violations against black citizens in every aspect of American life.
That all human beings should be treated with respect regardless of religion, gender, race, culture, or geographical location is a no-brainer. No one should have to suffer the indignity of torture, endure slavery, or unnecessary death at the hands of sick but powerful leaders who have run amok.
NICOLE...
I was baffled too but did my best to respond.
I am glad that you enjoyed reading what I felt was an important subject to post on the blog. I ran across that photo of the American soldiers guarding the Iraqi men several weeks ago - Abu Grab one step further. Boy, was I mad.
We could be leading the world in the practice of human rights, instead, we bully and violate the rights of others with unilateral abandon!
ERIC...
Thank you. Writing is not something I do naturally or easily....it takes me a long time and is torture.
I agree with you about a "new kind of nazi" or fascist. They pull most of the strings but not all - not yet.
On May 20 of 2005(archives)I posted an edited version of Laurence W. Britt's "Warning Signs of Fascism". It is chilling how many of the signs are glaringly apparent in Bush's America today. If you haven't seen it yet check it out. If you google it the detailed version is available.
The more of us who work to point these things out the harder time Bush and Co. will have trying to destroy democracy here at home.
JOLLYROGER...
Well said. I agree that we must light the way for those who can see but we should still watch for when the ones with their eyes squinched shut open them a tad to peek.
PAT KIRBY...
Beautifully stated, but then you, unlike myself, write naturally.
There are many parallels between Hitler's then and Bush's now.I think that it is because some of the same methods are being used to manipulate the public. Karl Rove has made liberal use of Goebbel's tactics and will probably employ them with a vengence in the NOv. '06 elections.
Yep, governments like The Third Reich have to start somehow and depend on nourishment to grow. We just need to make sure Bush and Cheney's garden is not tended other than to administer a strong dose of regime killing fungicide.
Picture yourself an Iraqi insurrgent... coalition patrols and check points are so well trained and experienced now that you can't get your explosives to the "soft targets" you want to destroy. So you strap several pounds of C4 to your body then put your clothes on, hoping they conceal your deadly cargo.
Your replies to KWW article are beyond imagination and show how little you understand what is happening over there.
I really can't say anymore... your ignorance is so blatantly self-evident.
I sincerely pray to God that no service men or women read this blog, for they would be sickened by the antics of those they have sworn to protect with their lives.
Kitchen window woman, please source your photo. It appears to be Photoshopped.
I SAY IT IS PHONEY, LIKE YOUR CONCERN FOR AMERICA. YOU ARE A MARXIST AND IT WOULDN'T BE SUPRIZING IF YOU FAKED, OR KNOWINGLY POSTED A FAKE PICTURE.
I'm calling you out on this.
THIS PHOTO IS FAKE.
Please source the photo
Jokes and name calling can't hide forever the fact that your arguments are without merit, KWW.
Oh... and we're all still waiting on the source cite for your photo.
Where DID it come from???
And one more thing, KWW... you told Sniffer:
That all human beings should be treated with respect regardless of religion, gender, race, culture, or geographical location is a no-brainer. No one should have to suffer the indignity of torture, endure slavery, or unnecessary death at the hands of sick but powerful leaders who have run amok.
I have to ask: Is this belief only for Americans?
Do you feel this strongly enough to topple a corrupt government that regularly tortures, murders, and commits genocide on its own people?
Where is your passion for what the US accomplished in Afganistan and Iraq?
I tell you, I just don't understand the liberal left in this country. There must be no logic in your thought processes, otherwise how could you justify such a conundrum?!
TROLL...
I found the photo of the nude Iraqi detainees at:
http://www.marchforjustice.com/shock&awe.php
This photo was part of a series of photos orginally published in the Norwegian press. If you can read Norwegian you can view the series at:
http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2003/04/25/367175.html
JBruno - "Paladin" does not equal "Holy Crusader." From history, the paladins were the "Peers of Charlamagne," the Frankish Emperor. The paladins never crusaded as Charlemagne's rule ended over 250 years before the First Crusade!! (Now, who needs to do their homework?!)
And JBruno, you are guilty of the same naive thinking we constantly seem to be pointing out around here: Peace, an end to hunger, better education for our children - these are all goals that we "war supporters" also want! But we are realistic enough to know that we can't have that peace if we're ducking airliner missiles or tasting anthrax in our water!!
Anything worth having (like peace)has a price... grownups understand that. Children must be taught that lesson.
Kitchen... YOU, are a dumbass.
American police were using forced nudity in American cities in the 1970s. I came here as a result of a search trying to find out when the United States began to tolerate forced nudity from our government and police and instead I find this. Your post is wrong. The military's use of forced nudity didn't begin with Bush. Our news media chose to TELL you about it while Bush was president, but it began before that. On with my search. I didn't find my answer here.
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