The Tease of Things I Don't Need

Crass Action Suit?

Now that it's come to light that several Arabic Reuters employees had leveled complaints of abuse while detained. When these items begin to pile up, I always stop and wonder if any of them are opportunists, dogpiling on some person or organization only after they see that there might be something to gain. I don't believe this applies here - as I read it the allegations were made back when these employees were released, only to be dismissed by the military.

The first of the courts martial proceedings are scheduled for Wednesday - much closer to now over in Baghdad, where they're to be held, than here on the East Coast of the US. It's likely to be an interesting set of trials, as most of the accused have hired separate, civil lawyers to help defend them, and the principal defense anticipated is reminiscent of Nuremberg: "We were only following orders," a defense that didn't stand then and isn't likely to fare any better now. How far up the chain of command any such orders will lead is what most of us will be interested to see.