18 June 2006 - clerical error

< yesterday -- tomorrow >

ACLU: All right, let’s hear the official torture whitewash.
Pentagon: Ah, you mean the report on regrettable circumstances. Here we go. The treatment of the detainees—
ACLU: In blatant violation of the Geneva Conventions.
Pentagon: —was wrong but not illegal. There’s a reason it’s called a convention, you know; it’s only conventional.
ACLU: Pfff. So who was at fault?
Pentagon: The troops did nothing wrong. They had been sent incorrect policy documents due to a clerical error.
ACLU: Clerical error? You think you can get away with blaming torture on a clerical error?
Pentagon: Well, what can be done? It is a government bureaucracy.

clue:

Actually, the Pentagon didn’t try to get away with it; they tried to suppress the report. We can only imagine what happens to reports that openly admit serious mistakes... if any such reports exist.

give me a clue so sweet and true

the Daily Whale || copyright 2006, 2024 Jay J.P. Scott <jay@satirist.org>