Seeing The Forest - a Weblog of Politics: "'Arab commentators reacted with shock and disbelief on Monday over President Bush's robust backing of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld against calls for his resignation.

[. . .] 'After the torture and vile acts by the American army, President Bush goes out and congratulates Rumsfeld. It's just incredible. I am in total shock,' said Omar Belhouchet, editor of the influential Algerian national daily El Watan.

'Bush's praise for Rumsfeld will discredit the United States...and further damage its reputation, which is already at a historic low in the Arab world,' he added.

[. . .] 'After Mr. Bush's decision to keep Rumsfeld, all their apologies seem like lip service,' Dubai-based political analyst Jawad al-Anani told Reuters. 'Mr. Rumsfeld would have certainly lost his job if the prisoners were American.

[. . .] A Saudi businessman, who asked not to be named, said keeping Rusmfeld would be seen as Washington's quiet approval of the abuse. 'This just confirms that what is happening in Iraq (news - web sites) in general, and especially what is happening in Abu Ghraib is sanctioned by the American administration and that is a hell of a position to be in.

'I see no advantage in keeping Rumsfeld. Bush should be building bridges with the outside world.'"

From Seetheforest, a great point. How much credibility does Bush's "apology" have when the people who are "responsible," who had the "watch," are reinforced and told they are doing a good job?

Unfortunately, I think that Bush may be getting some pressure from his right wing (hard to believe there are people farther right, huh?) to move on from this. These people think that the Arabs are to blame for this, that our apology sounds like weakness, and ultimately, Like Rush, think that the atrocities were nothing to worry about. In their mind, we should be killing more Arabs to scare them into not suppporting terrorism. I don't think they understand the problem of ruling out of fear alone. At some point, people stop respecting you, and start finding ways to undermine you. And those are often your former friends who start resenting your arrogance. Weren't any of these people bullied? Or were they the bullies? I was bullied. I know what it feels like. And this administration acts like bullies.