Just another reminder of the callousness of this administration:
Declaring that freedom is "untidy," Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Friday the looting in Iraq was a result of "pent-up feelings" of oppression and that it would subside as Iraqis adjusted to life without Saddam Hussein.
---snip---
Looting, he added, was not uncommon for countries that experience significant social upheaval. "Stuff happens," Rumsfeld said.
CNN, April 12, 2003
Compare that to what Bush said, today.
Referring to insurance fraud and looting, Bush said there should be "zero tolerance" for breaking the law during an emergency situation.
News24.com, September 1, 2005
So, BushCo orders the troops to hold back while Iraq's national treasures are looted, but gives its approval for a brutal response to the actions of its own citizens.
"I've urged the highway patrol and national guard to treat looters ruthlessly," [LA Governor Haley] Barbour said, "The rules of engagement will be as ruthless as the law allows."
Knight Ridder, August 29, 2005
Yes, the citizens who are looting are criminals, and the disaster requires a tough response, but this is yet another indication of BushCo psychology. Every policy they enact has an inward focus, working towards the suppression and subjugation of the citizens of this country. Is it any wonder, then, that their response to looting would be so different?