Michelle Malkin » The human rights outrage in Iran…and a challenge to Rosie O’Donnell and her ilk Update: The NYTimes backs away

The human rights outrage in Iran…and a challenge to Rosie O’Donnell and her ilk Update: The NYTimes backs away

By Michelle Malkin • June 25, 2007 11:16 AM

Updated and bumped

Originally posted June 24, 2007 @ 06:30am

Today I am joining blogs Gateway Pundit, Ali Eteraz, and Iran Focus in reprinting the latest batch of Iranian repression photos being distributed by the regime’s state-run FARS News agency and ISNA. The innocent young men in the photos were beaten, humiliated, and arrested for wearing Western clothing and hairstyles. It is in the public interest to spread these photos far and wide. The images should be seared onto the global conscience:

Masked Muslim moral police force a man wearing clothes deemed un-Islamic to suck on a plastic container Iranians use to wash their bottoms.

Bloodied, beaten, then taken away.

Whipped for wearing a soccer shirt.

Behead all those who wear their hair too long.

Another public beating.

The Iranian morality police arrest the infidel after forcing him to drink from the toilet watering cans hanging around his neck.

Another head busted open in the name of Allah.

Question: Will these photos be blared across the front pages of the international media with as much disgust and condemnation as the photos of Abu Ghraib or the manufactured Gitmo Koran-flushing riots?

Answer: Fat chance.

Question: What do leftist apologists for the Iranian regime have to say about the brutal, appalling, and escalating crackdown on human rights? Yeah, you, Rosie.

Answer: Nothing.

Question: Will the same moral cowards who sat silently while Mohammad Khatami, former President of Iran, advocated executing gays during a Harvard lecture stand up now against this barbarism?

Answer: Of course not.

The latest wave of repression has been going on for months. No one, not even Khatami himself, has been spared scrutiny. Now, the New York Times finally ~~(a rare note of thanks and praise to them)~~ reports* ( see update below):

Young men wearing T-shirts deemed too tight or haircuts seen as too Western have been paraded bleeding through Tehran’s streets by uniformed police officers who force them to suck on plastic jerrycans, a toilet item Iranians use to wash their bottoms. In case anyone misses the point, it is the official news agency Fars distributing the pictures of what it calls “riffraff.” Far bloodier photographs are circulating on blogs and on the Internet.

The country’s police chief boasted that 150,000 people — a number far larger than usual — were detained in the annual spring sweep against any clothing considered not Islamic. More than 30 women’s rights advocates were arrested in one day in March, according to Human Rights Watch, five of whom have since been sentenced to prison terms of up to four years. They were charged with endangering national security for organizing an Internet campaign to collect more than a million signatures supporting the removal of all laws that discriminate against women.

Eight student leaders at Tehran’s Amir Kabir University, the site of one of the few public protests against Mr. Ahmadinejad, disappeared into Evin Prison starting in early May. Student newspapers had published articles suggesting that no humans were infallible, including the Prophet Muhammad and Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The National Security Council sent a stern three-page warning to all the country’s newspaper editors detailing banned topics, including the rise in gasoline prices or other economic woes like possible new international sanctions, negotiations with the United States over the future of Iraq, civil society movements and the Iranian-American arrests.

So what does Amnesty International USA have to say about the Iranian human rights debacle on its homepage today? Nothing. Instead, the site promotes two campaigns for Darfur and a lead story about the campaign to secure habeas corpus rights for terror suspects at Guantanamo Bay:

A challenge to Rosie and Amnesty International USA members and America’s progressive left (I know there are a few on the story, but they are far between): How about taking a day off from Bush-bashing and America-blaming to raise your voices against the mullahcracy’s brutal human rights abuses?

How about posting the FARS/ISNA photos on your blogs and calling attention to the innocent Iranian men being bloodied to a pulp for the crime of embracing Western dress?

Or how about spreading the word about the work of Nazanin Afshin Jam on behalf of Iranian minors sentenced by sharia courts to death for defending themselves against rape or for crimes against “chastity?”

Or how about joining the campaign to stop public stonings?

Or how about embedding these videos so that the cries of Iranian women and girls don’t go unheard:

Here. Let me put this in haiku form so even left-wing poet laureate Rosie O’Donnell can understand:

Stifling of dissent
Massive crackdown on freedom
Blame mullahs, not Bush.

***

Ali Eterez notes in comments that Human Rights Watch has done a good job covering the crackdown. Yes. As I noted, there are a few. But not nearly enough.

And to answer commenter John: No. This is not about calling for war. It’s about confronting reality, exposing the threat of sharia, and calling out libs who pay lip service to human rights only when America is accused of violating them.

The Corner’s Iran news round-up is here.

Previous MSM coverage here and here.

***

Update: The NYTimes has curiously removed its lead photo and removed the paragraphs I quoted. In an “editor’s note,” the paper says:

A front-page article yesterday described a crackdown in Iran that has included the jailing of three Iranian-Americans, repression or intimidation of nongovernment organizations pressing for broader legal rights, warnings to newspaper editors against articles on banned topics, arrests of advocates for women’s rights and of student leaders, and the detention of 150,000 people for wearing clothing considered not Islamic.

The headline over the article said that Iran was cracking down on dissent and “parading examples” in the streets, and one paragraph in the article also said that young men detained for wearing tight T-shirts or western-style haircuts had been “paraded bleeding through Tehran’s streets by uniformed police officers.” The Times caption on an official Iranian news agency photograph that ran with the article said that it showed a police officer punishing a young man in public for wearing un-Islamic clothing by forcing him to suck on a plastic container normally used for intimate hygiene, a punishment the article also asserted was for that offense.

But the man in the photograph, according to widespread Iranian news reports, was one of more than 100 people arrested recently on charges of being part of a gang that had committed rapes, robberies, forgeries and other crimes. The caption published on the Web site of the news agency, Fars, had said only that the man was being punished as part of a roundup of “thugs” in a Tehran neighborhood.

The current repression has made reporting in Iran difficult. In this case, The Times relied on an interview with a researcher for a nongovernment agency that no longer operates within Iran who said the photograph was evidence of a more visible police role in public crackdowns on what the authorities consider immoral behavior. The reporter then wrongly interpreted what the researcher said as applying to a crackdown on dress, and incorporated the erroneous interpretation into the body of the article, without giving any indication of the source for it.

These errors could have been avoided with more rigorous editing. The article should not have said that young men had been paraded through the streets for wearing un-Islamic dress, and the headline over it should not have said that dissenters were being paraded as part of the crackdown.

So now they will take the word of the repressive Iranian regime and its state-run “news reports” over dissident groups and citizen reports. Here is what Iran Focus reported last month when it published some of the FARS/ISNA photos:

Iran’s State Security Forces (SSF) are clamping down on youths across the country.

Residents in Tehran say that bogus charges are being used as justification for the arrest of political activists and those perceived to be potential threats to the security of the clerical establishment.

One Tehran resident reached by telephone told Iran Focus that thousands of youths had been arrested on “phoney charges” such as non-conformance to the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code or even drug trafficking. “Maybe less than one percent of those arrested have actually done something illegal. The rest are being picked up at random for socialising in public or looking at the security forces in a certain manner”, the resident said on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution.

Kamangir reports that the crimes included drugs, alcohol, and selling satellite dishes.

After looking at the photos, watching the videos embedded here of women being dragged off the streets for un-Islamic dress, and re-reading the past coverage of the ongoing crackdown, I’ll let you decide which interpretation is more accurate.

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#97227

On June 24th, 2007 at 6:54 am, zorro2 said:

Michelle Malkin dot com, doing the job America’s main stream media refuses to do, once again.

Thanks for the updates, I hope our “agencies” can help these people regain their freedom.
#97229

On June 24th, 2007 at 7:05 am, mnmike said:

Reminders of Nazi Germany. Where are the protectors of freedom? Oh, accusing freedom loving Israelis.
#97233

On June 24th, 2007 at 7:39 am, DanME said:

I wonder if Jimmy Carter will scream and hell about this human rights violation.
He sure spoke up about the human rights violations of the Shah back in the 1970’s.
Hey Jimmy, what do ya have to say now ?
I seem to hear silence !!
#97234

On June 24th, 2007 at 7:42 am, KA said:

The worst part about this is that the regime themselves released these pictures, which should leave absolutely no doubt as to what their intentions are.

And these guys want a nuclear bomb.
#97235

On June 24th, 2007 at 7:45 am, tarpon said:

Torture? We don’t see any torture — Selective vision media.
#97236

On June 24th, 2007 at 7:57 am, Uplander said:

What struck me first was ‘Police’ wearing masks. Why would they need masks, I wonder.
#97237

On June 24th, 2007 at 8:00 am, Summernite said:

I don’t believe that is it neccessarily a leftist trait but rather an American trait. It’s called the “Me Factor”. If it doesn’t affect “Me”, then it is not “My” problem. “It’s their country, let them deal with it”.
The day after 9-11, the “Me” became “We” because the impact effected “Us”. After a few short years, “We” forgot what impacted “Us” and “We” are back to “Me”.
Sad isn’t it.
#97238

On June 24th, 2007 at 8:03 am, huhwhat said:

If that is how Muslims are treated in Iran, what would they do to a Christian?
#97241

On June 24th, 2007 at 8:22 am, petergwynne75 said:

Iran always make me think of Carter.

If you guys want to read some great stuff, check out IBD’s 10-part series — Jimmy Carter: Profile on Imcompetence, a 10-part series on the worst president in history. — YOU’LL ALL LOVE IT. Remember, Iran was our ally in the region before Carter fugg’d it up.

(p.s. — not for nothin’, but some of the women in Iran are stunningly beautiful.)
#97242

On June 24th, 2007 at 8:22 am, petergwynne75 said:

here’s the link to the IBD series

http://ibdeditorials.com/Special3.aspx
#97243

On June 24th, 2007 at 8:32 am, ali eteraz said:

hi michelle,

human rights watch has been quite good in covering iranian dissent

the ironic thing is that moments before i heard about this particular HR abuse by iran, i had written about state terror and liberty

You may try and contacting the Office of Iranian Affairs recently opened by the Pentagon, maybe put them on your show to hear their thoughts
#97244

On June 24th, 2007 at 8:40 am, Welder said:

…and that’s powerful stuff.
#97247

On June 24th, 2007 at 8:51 am, Mindcrime said:

I feel bad for the Iranian people. It’s too bad they don’t have the means to over throw that bunch of fundamentalist wackos who are in charge, like the Super Mullah and his legion of wacko ski-masked cronies.
#97253

On June 24th, 2007 at 9:24 am, BKennedy said:

Oh Michelle, you’re so silly. Bad things only count when America does them. That’s what gets us invited to fart and cheese parties at the UN.

If we went about criticizing every ACTUAL dictator and madman, why, we might lose our heads!

/dinosaur media, Eurocrats, and Blame America Firsters.
#97254

On June 24th, 2007 at 9:27 am, Cricket said:

One of the reasons I started reading your blog several years ago was because of your courage.
#97255

On June 24th, 2007 at 9:31 am, bear1909 said:

Iran is sinking deeper into mayhem economically and it is losing control on the young,a demographic majority that was not alive when the Ayatollah Khomeini came to power a la Jimmy Carter and Zbigniew Bresinski. The repression is a necessary step for the Iranian Islamic regime because the deprivation being experienced by the young in Iran is being compared to the abundance of young Iranian Americans living in the USA. “What’s wrong with this picture?” becomes the obvious question to those living in Iran.

Iran is importing its gasoline because the mullah-ocracy is incompetent. And tey believe that if they sell their oil on the world market for euros that it somehow hurts the US. Pendejos! As if there is such a thing on the world oil market as “Iranian oil” “Iraqi oil” or “Saudi oil” or “British oil”…… they understand very little about anything while trying to pose “Iranian” culture as being so nuanced, advanced and intelligent.

Kind of like Rosie, dontcha think?
#97258

On June 24th, 2007 at 9:36 am, ctmom said:

And the big news on Drudge is that Larry King landed the Paris Hilton interview. Whats wrong with America in a nutshell.
#97260

On June 24th, 2007 at 9:39 am, skoolingmamaof4 said:

Where are our feminist leaders crying for justice for all?

They can fight and defend the right for our taxpayer dollars to pay for abortions in foreign lands ~ but not the right of Iranians to live freely in the smallest of ways!

Kind of like Jessie J. taking on the fights that don’t get really messy ~ like gun shops instead of gangs!!
#97263

On June 24th, 2007 at 9:51 am, John said:

Michelle, I know where you are going with this, but we absolutely do not need or want a war with Iran. No matter how bad the Iranian people have it now, it can only get worse if we destroy the only form of organized society they know.

And as for our own people, we have a golden opportunity to save literally thousands of lives by simply not poking the Iranian bee hive.
#97264

On June 24th, 2007 at 9:54 am, Tantor said:

But how is Bush to blame? That’s the central question. I mean, after all, when foreign thug regimes violate human rights, it’s always because America made them do it, right?
#97265

On June 24th, 2007 at 9:56 am, Tantor said:

John: “And as for our own people, we have a golden opportunity to save literally thousands of lives by simply not poking the Iranian bee hive.”

That’s right, John. Let’s avoid the alligator and give it what it wants. Maybe it will eat us last.
#97267

On June 24th, 2007 at 10:01 am, Sergeant Tim said:

Nothing? (Speaking of Rosie’s silence on Iran’s repression). Not quite. The following comments are on her site:

Toni writes:
US Official says Iran supplying Taliban – true terrorism = Bush + pals finding a way to invade Iran. Can we stop them in time? Noone is safe from US appetie for oil! I am truly terrified.
[Rosie's response] u should b

Paria writes:
I am a student at the U of Oregon. I am Iranian. My fiance just joined the army. I fear that one day I will tell my children that their father killed my people. Or that my people will kill my fiance.
[Rosie's response] hmmmmmmmmmm

“Nothing” confirmed.
#97269

On June 24th, 2007 at 10:16 am, MarshaK said:

As always, Michelle says what needs to be said without fear of “hurting” someone’s feelings. I only wish Rosie O would take the challenge and speak the truth for a change. What a novelty that would be. Keep it up Michelle. America needs your voice.
#97272

On June 24th, 2007 at 10:28 am, Michelle Malkin said:

Thanks, Ali. I’ll note that.
#97276

On June 24th, 2007 at 10:40 am, Cepperson said:

John: “And as for our own people, we have a golden opportunity to save literally thousands of lives by simply not poking the Iranian bee hive.”

That sounds like Neville Chamberlain in the 30’s

I am also amaized about the lack of support of the all the people in Iran, especially from women and gay groups. The appaling treatment of gays and women in Iran is shocking.

Something needs to be done and done soon. I agree with a friend of mine who told me from Iraq about 2 years ago that the best exit strategy for Iraq is through Damascus and Tehran.
#97279

On June 24th, 2007 at 10:52 am, gippergirl said:

The entire left sounds like Neville Chamberlain in the 30s.

Meanwhile, speaking of attire, Rosie is probably in a snit because she can’t find her favorite handbag that she forgot she loaned to galpal Cameron…
#97280

On June 24th, 2007 at 10:53 am, capitano said:

Cepperson,

I couldn’t agree more.

Mark Steyn has an excellent column on Sir Salmon Rushdie and how the Quislings in the West have played into the hands of the Iranians for three decades.

In 1989 Salman Rushdie went into hiding under the protection of the British police. A decade later he decided he did not wish to live his life like that and emerged from seclusion to live a more or less normal life. He learned the biggest lesson of all – how easy it is to be forced into the shadows. That’s what’s happening in the free world incrementally every day, with every itsy-bitsy nothing concession to groups who take offense at everything and demand the right to kill you for every offense. Across two decades, what happened to Rushdie has metastasized, in part because of the weak response in those first months.
#97293

On June 24th, 2007 at 11:38 am, RyanInSanJose said:

Isn’t it telling that the Iranian Police are wearing ski masks? I always thought the criminals wore the masks. Err, wait..
#97294

On June 24th, 2007 at 11:39 am, Craig said:

…not poking the Iranian bee hive.

You Quisling twit. Tell you what John, try the U.N….another 16 resolutions ought to stop Iran.
#97295

On June 24th, 2007 at 11:40 am, lgm said:

The situation in Iran is bad, but Malkin is wrong to imply that Amnesty International and the New York Times are not covering it. In fact, it was a big headline in the NYTimes today. Amnesty International is not a news organization, but it has been covering human rights abuses in Iran for years.
#97298

On June 24th, 2007 at 11:41 am, The Raging Republican said:

Michelle:

You should not be surprised. This does not fit into the media’s agenda, so it is of no concern to them. There is no ‘Bush Bashing’ angle here, so why should they waste their time and resources.
#97299

On June 24th, 2007 at 11:41 am, stoo said:

I respectfully disagree, Summernite. What you describe is multi-culturalism, and that is most assuredly not only an American flaw. It is one of many flaws in the Liberal orthodoxy of Western Civilization.

Hypocritically, the same people who are so determinedly silent on the brutality on display in Iran — a nation that has contributed to the death of Americans serving in the ME, as well as threatening Israel and Europe — have demanded that we DO SOMETHING!!!!11!!! in Darfur.
#97303

On June 24th, 2007 at 11:46 am, mattymatt10 said:

It never ceases to amaze me the number of people who are ignorant that things like this going on, or simply choose to ignore/not believe them. As other commenters have noted, the State released these images, which can only mean they are not afraid of the world seeing them.

Incidentally, this is my first comment here after 2+ years of daily reading. Thanks to Michelle for opening registration back up. It’s refreshing to communicate with folks who share the same ideas. They are few and far between where I live.
#97306

On June 24th, 2007 at 11:51 am, 3Steps said:

@John

Michelle, I know where you are going with this, but we absolutely do not need or want a war with Iran. No matter how bad the Iranian people have it now, it can only get worse if we destroy the only form of organized society they know.

And as for our own people, we have a golden opportunity to save literally thousands of lives by simply not poking the Iranian bee hive.

“I know where you are going with this”… ok.. so John is a mindreader now. Tell me PLEASE what AM I thinking? I’m pretty sure it doesn’t actually take a mindreader to guess as better than half the people reading your post probably had the same thought.

Did it occur to you that as a stalwart fighter of Shi’ria law and Jihadists in general that she may have just been pointing out the obvious… not calling for WAR.

And in reality… even if she is calling for WAR… what exactly IS wrong with that?

These people are barbarians who are dead set on having a nuclear bomb to destroy their enemies. But I’m sure if we ignore them they will go away. Right? Isn’t that what you are trying to say?

Don’t poke them and they will leave us alone? Oh yes, that has worked SO well in the past. *rolls eyes*

Let me guess.. Pearl Harbor was our fault too.

Frankly, I don’t want a war in Iran. I don’t think MM does either. But that doesn’t mean that we are happy to leave things be. If the UN and the rest of the middle east don’t get these guys under control. Something will need to be done. And the sooner the better.
#97310

On June 24th, 2007 at 12:07 pm, puhiawa said:

It is crystal clear that Iran wants a war, it wants to brutalize it’s citizens as well as those of the world. Like the Nazis and Soviets, Iran feels a need to torment all with it’s twisted ideology. As the Ahyatolla said, Iran is just a place name. It’s citizens are not special to Allah or the Mullahs. All must submit to Islam and only the Mullahs know what that entails.

Here is what Christians are going through in Iran,

http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=56323
#97319

On June 24th, 2007 at 12:39 pm, schratboy said:

Iranian political correctness has no appeal to the US MSM. There aren’t any profits to be made pitting Americans against the pathetic and morally-bankrupt Iranian government. There aren’t any starving or oppressed Africans that the public can be made to feel sympathies. And they most certainly would NEVER validate any of the Bush policies!

No, we’ll never read about these atrocities. They’re not the stuff of our unbalanced and grossly skewed form of MSM “News.”
#97329

On June 24th, 2007 at 12:58 pm, Defector01 said:

We need to provide as much support as possible to the resistance movements in Iran, there must be someone left we can help.
#97338

On June 24th, 2007 at 1:17 pm, feralcat said:

Islam, the more you know … … … …
The less you like
#97341

On June 24th, 2007 at 1:19 pm, commonsensehoosier said:

My guess is the rationale from Rosie, Hanoi Jane and the like would be:
“Our undue social and political influence has enticed them to wear t-shirts and long hair, in contrast with their beliefs, therefore it is OUR fault. Had we not tried to “change” them this wouldn’t have happened…

See?? It’s always our fault!
#97343

On June 24th, 2007 at 1:23 pm, feralcat said:

Moderate Unicorns (original source unknown)

In medieval times, people created fairy tales and magical creatures to make sense of their world. One of the most endearing is the unicorn, a horse with a single horn that symbolized purity and wholesomeness. In our modern times, people in Europe and the United States consider themselves more sophisticated and rational than people from the Middle Ages, but we still create myths, albeit more subtle ones.

Daily we hear reports of violent acts committed by Islamic terrorists on every inhabited continent. We try to wish it away with the myth of the ‘Moderate Muslim’, telling ourselves the Islamic agenda has been’ hijacked’ by a ‘tiny minority of extremists’ and that soon the huge, silent, moderate majority of Muslims will take charge and change things. However, post 9/11 very few Muslims have condemned terrorist actions. We are still waiting for moderates to stand and deliver, identifying and removing extremist thugs from their mosques and their communities. Waiting for this self-correction is our modern version of unicorn searching.

Moderate Muslims will not be able to wrest control of the agenda for several reasons. First of all, Mohammed, the Messenger of Allah’s eternal word, was not moderate. No moderate can legitimately tell another Muslim to stop doing the extremist things Mohammed himself did. Also, the Qur’an condones violence and coercion to further the Islamic agenda. People whom we call moderates are labeled hypocrites by Allah Himself in the Qur’an. Moderates will always lose the argument because, as ex-Muslim author Ibn Warraq says, “There may be moderates in Islam but Islam itself is not moderate.”

Islamic expert Daniel Pipes and others estimate ten percent of the Islamic world to be militant. In 1933 when the Nazi party took control of Germany it had 2 million members, comprising only three percent of Germany’s sixty-six million citizens. A tiny minority of extremists can control a vast number of moderates, making them irrelevant.

Placing hope in ‘The Moderate Muslim’ is like searching for unicorns in the forest.
#97350

On June 24th, 2007 at 1:30 pm, pmain said:

Let’s see, according to John, by pointing out real actual human rights violations vs. those the US is accused of, Michelle is promoting war w/ Iran. The implications being that war should be avoided at all costs, regardless of the number of innocent Iranian deaths, weapons supplied & used to kill US Military personnel or publicly stated goals like driving Israel into the sea; or that simply reporting the truth, is to be treated like propaganda, thus leaving the only acceptable narrative regarding Iran to one that has either been filtered to point that no western reaction is necessary or warranted. Meanwhile, the real human rights violations & torture are ignored because of the implications such acknowledgements might bring about. Funny how the narrative is more important & requires more protection than say, tortured, unarmed civilians in a country that has been screaming “Death to America” for several decades. nuance

I’d also be willing to bet that John also believes that the “progressive” side is the more humane, reality based side of American politics. Which might, to their side at least, seem true since they have collectively closed their eyes to anything that would force them to question themselves, their narrative or their understanding of the world.

Great job again Michelle!!! Maybe we could generate a counter showing the number of innocents’ deaths caused directly by muslim extremists… the number of infidel school children beheadings (typically little girls) in Thailand alone would problem force John to quip that we are actively promoting war against Thailand next.

I’d also suggest a counter displaying the number of innocent Americans killed by illegal aliens or killed in Mexico, but that would probably be considered racist.

The real question is since when did reporting the truth become merely another variable to the political narrative & not the means used to make an informed opinion?
#97353

On June 24th, 2007 at 1:37 pm, pmain said:

Another unintended implication of John’s comment is, if telling the truth about Iran is promoting war against it, then aren’t all of the MSM figures pointing out the alleged human rights violations of the US promoting & asking for war against the US?
#97362

On June 24th, 2007 at 1:52 pm, Rick Moran said:

I’ve gotten a lot of grief on my own blog from my friends on the right when I make the point we are fighting the War on Terror with only one hand; that until the left fully engages in this struggle, we are expending as much energy fighting them as we are the jihadis.

There has been a discussion in the last couple of days about this. It has to do with the left’s pre-emptive defense of their actions in undermining the War by predicting loudly that conservatives will seek to blame any defeat in Iraq on them with a “stabbed in the back” meme:

You can almost smell the stink of desperation from the pro-war crowd. The next couple of years is going to be a nonstop frenzy of books, articles, TV shows, op-eds, radio segments, blog posts, and white papers about how everyone except George Bush and his enablers were responsible for our catastrophe in the Middle East. Anyone will do, as long as it’s not them.

Glenn Reynolds calls them out on this faux defense:

IN THE MAIL: Col. Buzz Patterson’s War Crimes: The Left’s Campaign to Destroy Our Military and Lose the War on Terror.

I don’t think that the left wants to lose the war on terror, exactly — they just want Bush to lose the war on terror. I suspect, however, that Patterson’s theme is one that we’ll hear more in the future, especially if things go badly in Iraq.

Sadly, it appears to me that the only way to get most of the left to join the fight is if they feel they have a political stake in the outcome, i.e. a Democrat as President with a Democratic Congress.

It is truly a sad commentary on our times when national survival is used as a political football.
#97364

On June 24th, 2007 at 1:55 pm, pmain said:

Lastly, & apologies to all for the multiple comments…

Kind of sheds light on the push for the Fairness Doctrine & the blowback aimed at Fox News.
#97370

On June 24th, 2007 at 2:06 pm, least said:

Have y’all noticed that the use of facemasks by those who wish to force their will on you is increasing almost exponentially?
And that most of those who support the masked ones all seem to have blinders on.
#97375

On June 24th, 2007 at 2:12 pm, The Raging Republican said:

left-wing poet laureate Rosie O’Donnell

Thats Great!!!! You ought to put together an entire outline of their Utopian society……Might I suggest Bill Maher as court jester……and maybe Keith Olbermann as lead anchorman on the Six o’clock news…….and of course George Soros as Commander in Chief……with maybe Al Sharpton as Vice President or perhaps even Attorney General!
#97379

On June 24th, 2007 at 2:20 pm, BluegrassHindu said:

The silence is shameful, the left wing haters really do suffer from a serious illness. The most disturbing part to me in the photos is the joy these creatures seem to be getting from their actions. Notice the bystander in the 4th photo grinning ear to ear, just sick.
#97380

On June 24th, 2007 at 2:22 pm, twoninerkilo said:

Great post Michelle.BTW John’s an a#%hole.
#97382

On June 24th, 2007 at 2:44 pm, Michelle Malkin said:

Don’t say that. John has a different opinion. He’s not an “a*&hole.”
#97383

On June 24th, 2007 at 2:47 pm, St. Legalize said:

Nah, Amnesty International just publishes reports like this one, and this one, and this one, and this one. But whatever it takes.
#97386

On June 24th, 2007 at 2:59 pm, GrumpyOldMan said:

Way to go Michele!

Your comprehensive coverage of these atrocities should open the eyes of even the blind.

Now we need to prod the our leaders to view this and take action.

Keep up the good work.

Al
#97388

On June 24th, 2007 at 3:05 pm, JDPendry said:

You probably won’t see these on the evening news for the same reasons the videotaped beheadings of trussed up noncombatants were never shown and why you rarely see footage of the 9/11 attacks. Instead, Americans and the world thanks to the invention of satellite communications are treated to mega doses of Rosie O’Donnell like idiocy. We’re sold the message, by fools, that all evil is American made. That’s why media and politicians treat us to pictures of naked terrorists on dog leashes as representative of who we are, but never show what is truly representative of who the enemy is.
#97390

On June 24th, 2007 at 3:16 pm, josetheguerilla said:

Having served in Iraq, I can tell war is awful. War should be undertaken as a very last resort. MM is not advocating war with Iran. She does make the valid point, sharia is a clear and present danger to the American way of life. Johns’ difference of opinion should be welcomed by everybody. It’s people like Rosie and supporters of the fairness doctrine who don’t want to hear other peoples opinion.

Jose the guerilla Las Vegas
#97391

On June 24th, 2007 at 3:17 pm, Keli said:

what people don’t understand is that Iran wants war with us whether we want war or not. Nobody WANTS war, but putting our hands in our pockets and whistling is not going to stop Iran from starting war. I don’t know how much more proof anyone needs that Iran is on the warpath. Ahmadinejad has promised many many times to wipe Israel off the map and led chants of Death to America, Death to Israel. We just look the other way and pretend that he doesn’t really MEAN it, like he’s a 2 year old whose just throwing a tantrum and should be ignored. But he’s a 2 year old with Nukes, or soon will be
#97393

On June 24th, 2007 at 3:23 pm, feralcat said:

And meanwhile how do Commander Guy’s great friends the Saudis feel about Iran?

Islamic Republic News Agency – “Saudi Minister of Health Hamad bin Abdullah al-Manea said here Sunday Iranian progress in various fields of ~~suppression, murder and torture~~ science, education and research is a matter of honor for the Islamic world.

Al-Manea made the remark in a meeting with Iran’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Mohammad Hosseini.

Iranians have always played a leading role in global ~~terror~~ civilization, he said.

He added Saudi Arabia approves Iran’s ~~holocaust II~~ peaceful nuclear activities, adding it is surprising that the Zionist regime has stockpiles of nuclear warheads, without any protest from the international circles.

The minister called for broad cooperation with Iran on ~~suppression, murder and torture~~ medicine, exchange of medical experts and use of capability on hydrotherapy.

Hosseini, for his part, said senior officials of the two countries have a strong resolve to expand ~~global terror~~ bilateral relations, adding, “Tehran and Riyadh enjoy enormous potentials for ~~killing infidels~~ bolstering bilateral relations.”
He cited ~~fighting among ourselves rather than killing infidels~~ unawareness and discord as two main factors which would weaken the Muslim world.

He said the Iranian nation has made ~~torture and terror~~ scientific and technological progress thanks to national solidarity and hard work.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to transfer its valuable experience in various ~~torture and terror techniques~~ medical fields to Saudi Arabia,” the envoy stated.
.”
#97394

On June 24th, 2007 at 3:33 pm, Entelechy said:

And as for our own people, we have a golden opportunity to save literally thousands of lives by simply not poking the Iranian bee hive.

#19, how strange. Did you have in mind “live and let be abused?”
#97398

On June 24th, 2007 at 3:41 pm, shooter said:

The images should be seared onto the global conscience:

We all should do what we can to help Michelle make sure this is seen and heard everywhere possible. Send it to your TV stations.
Think about it…what are you wearing today? Will you be beaten for it? Will the women in your neighborhood be stoned today?
Do something, today.

And clairvoyant john…

“On June 24th, 2007 at 9:51 am…Michelle, I know where you are going with this, but we absolutely do not need or want a war with Iran. No matter how bad the Iranian people have it now, it can only get worse if we destroy the only form of organized society they know.

It can only get worse IF WE DO NOTHING.
You must not know Michelle very well to have made such absurd comments.
#97401

On June 24th, 2007 at 3:51 pm, skoolingmamaof4 said:

John … who wants war …

let’s just want integrity in the MSM
or
the integrity of all of the human rights advocate groups
or
a look at our own future if we don’t all wake up

If you don’t know history, you are doomed to repeat it. I have to add to that: that even if you do know history, but keep your head in the sand and ignore the times in which you live, the repetition of history will overtake you.

Can you say the Roman Empire overtaken by the barbarians??

(the you’s in all of that is not directed personally at you, John. They are rhetorical and for all of us)
#97402

On June 24th, 2007 at 3:51 pm, St. Legalize said:

…and why you rarely see footage of the 9/11 attacks…

Staggering.
#97403

On June 24th, 2007 at 3:55 pm, purplepeep said:

ctmom said:
“the big news on Drudge is that Larry King landed the Paris Hilton interview. Whats wrong with America in a nutshell.”

ctmom, since Drudge is a first and foremost a Hollywood gossip columnist that’s par for the course.

On a related note – has anyone else noticed how the Grand Scammers seem to schedule Amnesty cloture votes on days they know the MSM has been/will be “all Paris, all the time”?

The “she’s outta the bighouse” frenzy will cerainly keep Matt and the MSM busy to the exclusion of nearly all else for days.
#97405

On June 24th, 2007 at 4:15 pm, purplepeep said:

Keli said:
“what people don’t understand is that Iran wants war with us whether we want war or not.”

Indeed, Keli. And that is painfully evident to anyone who has listened to just about any speech by Iran’s leaders.

Although today’s liberals have a built in hatred for America and show reverence to those who wish to destroy America, sometimes their ignorance on such things is due their extreme naivete.

Even someone like famed avaitor Charles Lindbergh couldn’t understand what the big deal was about the silly German guy with the moustache back in the 1930s.

It took awhile for Lindbergh to wise up on that account. There is a remote chance liberals likewise could come around to reality. As Alice Cooper sang citing a Bowery Boy’s movie title; “School’s Out”.
#97406

On June 24th, 2007 at 4:16 pm, Boomer said:

This regime needs to be over thrown by its own population. They have been at War with us since 4 Nov 79 when they stormed our embassy and held its personnel hostage and began the repression of their countries population. They and Syria have done all they can to stir the pot in Iraq to cause sectarian violence and kill our troops with IED and indirect fire weapons while providing support to the insurgency. The proof has been gathered and published by the DoD and suppressed by the MSM. The current administration in DC is more concerned about the destruction of our sovereignty by leaving our Southern border wide open to invasion, while allowing the mullahs to develop nuclear programs. I was once a SAC aircrew member pulling alert during the “cold war” and the thought of these guys getting a nuke scares the pants off of me. A well planned and ruthlessly executed air campaign to decapitate the Iranian government on day one while destroying the Republican Guard Military infrastructure over the next few days would allow these down trodden slaves of Islam to rise up and destroy them. Sending in ground troops would be counter productive because the full revolt of the long repressed Persian people against the current regime would take care of itself with the loss of its leadership and the military muscle to back them. Of course the administration would have to “grow a pair” and authorize the attack. A guy can dream, rant mode off.
#97410

On June 24th, 2007 at 4:59 pm, MikeB said:

First, human rights abuses should not be tolerated anywhere, whether by Islamists, Serbs, or Americans.

I see Michelle got her fresh talking points in order to beat the drum for war with Iran. Just what we need another foreign policy disaster from the Bush Administration to go with Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine.

The Chicken Hawks strike again. Limbaugh, Malkin, Coulter, Hannity…You know those who say W and Cheney (who avoided Vietnam at all cost) while Gore and Kerry who actually served are not tough.
#97415

On June 24th, 2007 at 5:17 pm, Rick Moran said:

Mike B;

Perhaps if you read the post before writing your tired, worn, and totally discredited talking points, you may have noticed that no where is there a call for war. There is, in fact, a call for world solidarity in opposing this kind of brutality.

But you can’t be bothered, eh Mikey? Too busy trying to score political points to see that by actually trying to change the subject, you are aiding and abetting the oppression.

God bless ya, kid. Good work.
#97416

On June 24th, 2007 at 5:18 pm, Michelle Malkin said:

I see Michelle got her fresh talking points in order to beat the drum for war with Iran.

With all due respect, you have a very low reading comprehension level.
#97419

On June 24th, 2007 at 5:23 pm, 3Steps said:

MikeB – First, human rights abuses should not be tolerated anywhere, whether by Islamists, Serbs, or Americans.

I see Michelle got her fresh talking points in order to beat the drum for war with Iran. Just what we need another foreign policy disaster from the Bush Administration to go with Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine.

The Chicken Hawks strike again. Limbaugh, Malkin, Coulter, Hannity…You know those who say W and Cheney (who avoided Vietnam at all cost) while Gore and Kerry who actually served are not tough.

No, human rights abuses should NOT be tolerated anywhere..

And this is EXACTLY the point trying to be made. That MSM is willing to IGNORE the abuses made by Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, Taliban, etc, etc, while constantly bashing Israel and the US for even minor issues.

And I read MM’s commentary AGAIN just in case I missed what Mike and John took for granted.. but I didn’t see that drum call to war. I saw a call to the MSM and liberal establishment to get their heads out of their butts and see what they are supporting.
#97421

On June 24th, 2007 at 5:30 pm, MikeB said:

I must have struck a chord. I agree human rights abuses should be publicized in the MSM. However, it’s funny that this site only notices abuses when they’re committed by Muslims, except in Darfur. Speaking of Darfur, you Conservatives say we should not get out of Iraq because that will result in genocide. But Darfur has genocide and what are we doing about it?
#97422

On June 24th, 2007 at 5:38 pm, Quiglag said:

The only life the left cares about is there own, and the lives of people in jail. If you are not in one of those groups you are out of luck. This is why murders live, babies die, and criminals go free.
#97424

On June 24th, 2007 at 5:50 pm, purplepeep said:

“I agree human rights abuses should be publicized in the MSM.”

No you don’t Mikey. If you did you would be demanding the liberals join Americans in denouncing it, as Michelle has called for here.

But congrats in so clearly displaying the left’s built-in default hatred for America and for serving as an excellent object lesson/example of the dangers of possessing a complete lack of even the most basic reading comprehension.

You’ll really have to work much, much harder to be the best troll you can be.

Good luck in learning basic reading & comprehension skills, Mikey!
#97425

On June 24th, 2007 at 5:57 pm, sheik_rattle_n_roll said:

However, it’s funny that this site only notices abuses when they’re committed by Muslims

Might be because the vast majority of the abuses in the world right now are being committed by Muslims. When Christians, Jews, Hindus, or anyone else starts subjugating women, beating people for dressing a certain way, stoning people to death in public, strapping bombs to pregnant women and six year-olds so they can blow themselves up in a crowded public area, and decapitating people on video, let me know.
#97427

On June 24th, 2007 at 6:00 pm, MikeB said:

First, of all, my reading and comprehension skills are at least in the top 5% (according to any standardized test scores I took).

Michelle and all of you have all the same definition of good journalism: If a reporter finds Americans acting less than perfectly than there is liberal bias. Whenever there is a story that praises Americans it is accurate.

Why are you Conservatives so hypersensitive that you can never criticize the US military, even when it tortures prisoners?
#97431

On June 24th, 2007 at 6:05 pm, Chief RZ said:

Here is The Truth about what Muslims are all about. Repression, non-freedom and certainly not diversity!
Where will the New York Times be on this? Same place they were during the Ukranian genocide of the 1930’s.
Walter Duranty lives!
#97434

On June 24th, 2007 at 6:17 pm, MikeB said:

I agree Iraq is a terrible, repressive state. Guess who made them powerful? Yes, the US. Saddam was a counterweight to Iran (and al Quedia) in the Middle East, but now there is no counterweight. Again, Bush and his Neo-Con advisers (a/k/a his brain) didn’t get that basic geopolitical fact. The result: More terrorism, thank you President Bush and Right Wing bloggers and talk show hosts.
#97435

On June 24th, 2007 at 6:19 pm, purplepeep said:

“my reading and comprehension skills are at least in the top 5%”

We’re talkin’ about adult-level reading comprehension skill here. Resting on grade school-levels laurels doesn’t impress, Mikey.

If you had the ability to address the posed question – why liberals refuse to join Americans in denouncing Iran’s egregious human rights abuses – you’d
have a chance at earnng some intellectual cred.

As it stands so far, you’ve displayed a severe lack of any reading skills whatsoever and mixed that in with emotional, nontopical crying jags.

As has been said, you gotta a lot of work to do,Mikey.

Again,best of all luck if you decide to work on your issues.
#97436

On June 24th, 2007 at 6:22 pm, drillanwr said:

This stuff’s happening in plain view in the streets … Imagine what’s going on behind closed doors.
#97439

On June 24th, 2007 at 6:31 pm, drillanwr said:

Oh, BTW, I happen to be watching one of the HBOs right this moment. The documentary “Do You Believe In Miracles?” about the 1980 Team USA men’s hockey win … The documentary is highlighting how down in the dumps America was in the lead up to the games. High gas prices and shortages, the Iran hostage crisis, the USSR invading A-stan, USA pulling out of the summer games as a result … and how/why Team USA’s hockey gold was so important.

Remind yourself who was in the White House during this “down” time in the nation.

Yeah, it was just a hockey game … But it proves one very important thing that this country, and the Congress, need to be reminded of … America LOVES to win (especially wars).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDecLiA_Qbw
#97440

On June 24th, 2007 at 6:42 pm, pmain said:

MikeB,

Before dropping the “talking points” meme or bragging about your reading comprehension, you may want to review your own stances. I’m sure you are aware that that John Kerry, repeatedly sought deferment but wasn’t able to get it. His response was to volunteer for the service & duty least likely to send him to Vietnam – USN swift boats. While Al Gore did indeed go to Vietnam, for 5 months & in staff positions for 2 engineering companies – not combat. But you remembered this from your reading of their biographies, check Wikipedia if you don’t believe me.

W, in comparison, volunteered for combat duty, but the planes he flew were not being utilized in Vietnam, whereas most Air National Guard Units were being sent over, unlike the National Guard Gore was referring to. Sure he could have been a journalist or part of the administering staff of an engineer company, like Albert, but he flew one of the most challenging combat aircraft at the time, where his life was in danger every minute he spent in the cockpit.

Apparently it’s your talking points & embarrassing lack of knowledge regarding your own preferred candidates that needs revising. Just a bit of advice, if you base your opinions on facts, you generally don’t have to update them every time a politician on your side decides on a new history.

But of course given the fact you have already resorted the “chicken-hawk” name calling, shows that that probably won’t happen any time soon. So I guess that means that the only people whose opinions count are military personnel.

You do realize that almost 90% of them still support the war & by your standards any differing point you bring does not count. Good luck w/ that.