The problem with Terrie England and people like her -- you read that right, not her daughter Lynndie, who has major problems of her own (check out this other stunner of a photo) -- is their amazing capacity for denial. Denial, arrogance, stupidity -- I can't tell which:
"She wanted to see the world and go to college," said Terrie England, whose T-shirt bore a design of heart-shaped American flags. "Now the government turned their back on her, and everything's a big joke."I suppose this is what passes for "pranks" in America....At most, the 372nd's alleged abuses of prisoners were "stupid, kid things -- pranks," Terrie England said, her voice growing bitter.
"And what the [Iraqis] do to our men and women are just? The rules of the Geneva Convention, does that apply to everybody or just us?"A great question, indeed: what did the Iraqis do to our men and women, exactly?
But it's unfair singling out one person -- I can't imagine that her daughter had anywhere better to go after Wal-Mart -- so: denial, arrogance, stupidity -- sounds much like the Bush administration to me. After all, "Iraq is free of rape rooms and torture chambers."