I began this post as an answer to Ricky's call for a lefty to step up to the plate and denounce Senator Durbin's remarks that compared the actions of some American Soldiers to the actions of soldiers in repressive regimes. From there, it evolved and branched out. I really should do this as multiple posts instead of trying to group everything together under "apologies needed". But here I go anyway, because it has been that kind of week.

First: nearly anybody can be a Nazi. Go read. We all want to believe that we and the people we care about are different, and those thoughtful enough take pains to be different. But that belief is flawed. We love and support our soldiers, and in many ways they are, as a group, exceptional. But, some percentage of them, given the right orders - or the right winks and nods - from "above" can be just as vicious as any soldier who happened to be working in Auschwitz in 1944. To react to a Senator's comments about the actions that go on in Camp X-Ray as though they are some ridiculous and unconscionable insult is to close one's eyes to reality.

To compare his comments, meant to raise the awareness of events that should raise the ire of every American, with comments made by Trent Lott, which served nothing but to ingratiate himself with his southern constituents, is impossible. To expect a similar reaction to his comments is also impossible. Durbin's core point: that, as many have said, we are currently not different enough from the Nazis, is far too important to be ignored or lost in the controversy over his statements.

That said, Durbin was wrong to make the statement as he made it. He should have taken great pains to make clear that his criticism was not of the soldiers, but of the policies and orders that the soldiers acted under. He should have taken great pains to make clear that most American soldiers, at Camp X-Ray and elsewhere, are not guilty of any atrocity. He should have made clear, above all, that the abuses at Camp X-Ray were not on the scale of Hitler's or Pol Pot's, but rather that they were a step in that direction. His failure to do so is inexcusable. Apart from that, as John Cole said, so eloquently,

And, I might add, all it does is queer the debate. Instead of discussing long-term options for Gitmo (and no, I don't know what to do with the detainees, either), all the partisans on the left are now explaing that while not quite Nazi's, our behavior is Nazi-ish, and all the partisans on the right are now linking to the Gitmo cookbook or pictures of Buchenwald.

Thanks for elevating the debate, Dick.

... and that's not to mention the PR damage done to the Democratic Party, which John Cole also mentions.

A cogent and high-minded reprimand from all sides, and an abject apology are both in order for Durbin. This is my reprimand. Enough of that.

After Durbin, Cheney. Cheney's remarks on Durbin and Gitmo, characterizing all of the unconvicted detainees as "terrorists", and characterizing our treatment of the detainees as gloriously kind, and free from abuse - despite the facts everybody knows - are dangerous propaganda. His remarks are blatantly dishonest, and designed only to paper over the rotten truth of the matter. We cannot afford that kind of "leadership" in a free and humane country. One example of his condemnation of Durbin and glorification of Gitmo can be found here. This is my reprimand to Cheney - he owes us an apology. Enough of that.

Newt Gingrich owes Durbin, the Senate, and the rest of us an apology. Read why, but John Cole, as usual, says it better.

John Cole (I tag him now as much as I once tagged Oliver Willis) also brings up the John Conyers debacle. Disgusting, all the way around. First, there is not enough evidence, even with the Downing Street Memo, to convict Bush before a fair jury. Talk of impeachment is no more justified now than it was in Bill Clinton's case - though the alleged crimes are far more heinous. It does no one any good to attack this way. When the Republicans did it, Howard Dean rightfully called them out for trying to undermine fair and proper election results. That's the case now. Perhaps an impeachable case could be made against Bush - surely he has dishonored the Office. But the Downing Street Memo would not serve as evidence enough to convict anyone in a court of law. It shouldn't be used as a standard for an impeachment crusade. That is just an effort to undermine a fair election, and it will, like the attempt on Clinton, be a loser at the polls in 2006. Plus, it makes Conyers (normally a bold and well-spoken gentleman) look like a spoiled child - and the rest of the Democratic party by association.

And, those bastards that Cole was really talking about who handed out anti-Israel (and probably anti-semetic) literature owe us all an apology, too. As usual, Howard Dean has the gonads to call out the wrong-doers, no matter what price he may pay in loyalty from extremists in his party. If only Karl Rove could have that kind of integrity.

Finally, before we end our apology talk, it's worth putting on record that Senator Bill Frist (R-TN, sadly) chose to lie rather than apologize. Sad.