Good Guys And Bad Guys

WaPo:

[Armed Services Committee Chairman John W. Warner (R-Va.)] says his committee has a "solemn responsibility" to discover what went wrong and to "make sure it never, never happens again." But some conservatives are angry about the high-profile televised hearings, saying the prisoner-abuse issue is overblown and threatens to undermine the United States' primary mission in Iraq.

As a result, the 77-year-old Virginian finds himself in an uncomfortable but familiar position: more at odds with the right flank of his own party on some critical issues than he is with Democrats.

Just as with McCain, I don't see eye-to-eye with Warner on a lot of things, but I have always respected his overall principled approach to his job. I hate the idea that doing what's right and bucking your party is considered "maverick", but whatever. Contrast Warner's political philosophy to Senator "Outraged by the Outrage" Inhofe's:

"I think he should stop the hearings at this point; we've heard enough," said Sen. James M. Inhofe (R-Okla.), a committee member. "We have a war to win, and we need to keep our talents concentrated on winning the war as opposed to prisoner treatment."

Exactly what talents are you using to win the war, Senator? Leading the Bluster Brigade in the valiant fight against French Fries?

I'm really sickened by Inhofe and all the other apologists who talk about the various investigations (9/11, WMD, Abu Ghraib) somehow distracting our nation from what really matters (winning the war). We are engaged in a moral conflict, which requires that we get to the bottom of US torture in Iraq. Inhofe is sadly mistaken in thinking that the Abu Ghraib hearings are hindering us in our fight--quite the contrary, they're absolutely critical if we are to succeed.

Senator Warner might not think exactly in terms of moral conflict, but he is completely correct in pursuing the truth. Would that more in the GOP were constructively engaged in our war effort.

The only way we're going to win is by actually being the good guys again.

ntodd