Oops
The BBC reports that someone spoke out of turn: Guantanamo suicides ‘not PR move’
The US state department has distanced itself from comments by a top official that the three suicides by prisoners at Guantanamo Bay were “a good PR move”.
Colleen Graffy told the BBC the deaths were part of a strategy and “a tactic to further the jihadi cause”, but taking their own lives was unnecessary.
“I would not say that it was a PR stunt,” said spokesman Sean McCormack.
Ms Graffy is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy, she is part of Karen Hughes’s “charm initiative” to improve the image of the US abroad. She has rather strong views on Guantanamo, and expressed them before accepting her current position.
The BBC article notes that one of the three men who committed suicide was due for release, but hadn’t been told. Being due for release does tend to weaken the claim of his being part of a “jihadi plot.”
June 12, 2006 3 Comments
Waiting for Alberto
While it may only be a minimal hurricane, waiting for it is nerve racking, so how about some kind thoughts for Aikane Leo, Robert, and Van, who are closer than I want to be to the path.
The eye of the storm is not the only place that bad things happen, the outer-most band of the storm generates tornadoes, that are every bit as destructive. While I sat here watching Ivan come ashore 30 miles to the west of me, the tornadoes from the outer band killed 8 people in and around Panama City 60 miles to the east.
Hopefully the damage will be minimal and the rains will help to control the wildfires.
June 12, 2006 7 Comments
