May 11, 2004
LOOTING CONFIRMED, IRANIANS TRUSTED
The Sydney Morning Herald’s Paul McGeough reports:
Perhaps the inmates of Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison should count themselves lucky that in the days after last year's US-led invasion, one of my press colleagues souvenired the noose from the gallows in the prison west of Baghdad.
Er, Paul ... that’s called “looting”. McGeough concludes another report with this:
Iran, Iraq's neighbour and foe of Washington, yesterday weighed in to the scandal, claiming it had obtained documents showing the abuses in US detention were far worse and had been going on much longer than had so far come to light.
Those Iranians, always so deeply concerned about human rights abuses. McGeough will accept the opinion of anybody -- murderers, torturers, whoever -- just so long as that opinion is anti-US. It degrades his opposition to the war and to the appalling treatment of those in Abu Ghraib.
Posted by Tim Blair at May 11, 2004 03:39 AMInteresting that the media engaged in looting. A number of US soldiers have already been prosecuted over this. McGeough's "press colleague" should turn himself in for violations of the laws of war.
And the choice of loot is disgusting. Good God, that rope was used to execute people! That reminds me of the stories around execution in France, back when the guillotine was used. People used to mop up the blood as souvenirs for well known criminals. Taking that rope was just as tasteless.
Posted by: The Real JeffS at May 11, 2004 at 05:47 AMAgreed The Real JeffS, that IS a disturbing choice of "souvenir".
That reminds me of the stories around execution in France, back when the guillotine was used. People used to mop up the blood as souvenirs for well known criminals.Like the post-Hellfire car swarms in Gaza...
Sounds just like the AB stinking C. We only get half the story from that lot. Taxpayer funded pack of lying bastards.
Posted by: Kate at May 11, 2004 at 08:14 AMSpeaking of looting journalists, do you recall the Japanese reporter that had a live round of ammunition in his baggage?
Unbelievable.
Posted by: JDB at May 11, 2004 at 08:28 AMThey souvenired the noose?? this is the piece of rope that is used to execute people right?
I just want to be clear here, "noose" isn't an Iraqi word for gold pen holder or some such thing that normal people see as souvenirs is it? We are talking about the piece of rope that either snaps people necks or slowly chokes them to death and is the last thing they feel, right?
If so, we have a journalist that either has what would have to be one of the most powerful symbols of Iraqi death and misery sitting his home like a trophy, or has sold it to someone else. Either way I think this is worth following up on as it shows the complete indifference most of these people have shown for the past atrocities of Saddam, I for one would really like to know who this sicko is.
And does anyone have McGeough's work email? Its not on his article, and I really want to let him know how sad it is that so called journo's like him can be so incredibly biased that they apparently don't see anything wrong with this symbol of Saddams evil being considered a 'keepsake'
Michael:
A good idea! There is a reader's feedback page at http://www.smh.com.au/contacts/readerlink/.
Posted by: The Real JeffS at May 11, 2004 at 10:06 AMI think McGeough should be called on to name the looter. After all, this person committed a crime, and a tasteless one at that.
Posted by: EvilPundit at May 11, 2004 at 11:17 AMHell, check around for it on eBay. The sick bastard may be strapped for cash. Besides, they have everything there!
Posted by: Sean M. at May 11, 2004 at 11:22 AMYeah, Tim. Just like you will accept the opinion of anybody, so long as its anti-UN. Eritrea, really (refer next post). Evidence first, then the conclusions. You already seem to treat it as a fait accompli.
Posted by: Fabian at May 11, 2004 at 01:44 PMIf someone was willing to loot a piece of rope unremarkable except for what it was used for, wouldn't a human shredding machine be far more valuable to loot?
Posted by: Andjam at May 11, 2004 at 01:44 PMYes, but those shredders are harder to bring back through customs. The sick bastard that took the hangman's noose could pack it in his luggage, and tell the customs officials that it was a new fashion in Middle East neckties.
Posted by: The Real JeffS at May 11, 2004 at 04:03 PM"one of my press colleagues souvenired the noose"
In English "souvenir" remains a noun
Posted by: rexie at May 11, 2004 at 05:18 PM"If someone was willing to loot a piece of rope unremarkable except for what it was used for, wouldn't a human shredding machine be far more valuable to loot?"
Or even better, the result of its use. A little messy maybe but eminently spreadable for an even mounting on the mantle piece.
Seriously though, Paul McGeough's attitude to this disgusting bit of souvenir hunting shows that not only does he sound like a ghoul but he is one as well.
Posted by: J. at May 11, 2004 at 07:32 PMIn English "souvenir" remains a noun
That's true, rexie, but someone on another thread pointed out that the left has declared a war on nouns. "Souvenir" appears to be one of the first confirmed casualties.
Posted by: The Real JeffS at May 12, 2004 at 01:22 AMToo bad the kidnapping of civilians in Iraq seems to have began and ended... with a few genuinely tragic exceptions...with those Japanese arseholes, because I can think of one more prick that deserves to be on the wrong end of an AK-47.
McGeough is a real grub!