Animal House 2: Abu Ghraib University

According to Rush Limbaugh, the incidents at Abu Ghraib prison were no worse than Otter and the Delta guys wrecking Flounder's car. Via Wonkette:

RUSH: Exactly. Exactly my point! This is no different than what happens at the skull and bones initiation and we're going to ruin people's lives over it and we're going to hamper our military effort, and then we are going to really hammer them because they had a good time. You know, these people are being fired at every day. I'm talking about people having a good time, these people, you ever heard of emotional release? You of heard of need to blow some steam off?

Now contrast that with retired General Wayne Downing on last night's Hardball.

DOWNING: Chris, I'm absolutely appalled. And it's totally unacceptable. I think it signifies a break down in the chain of command from the top to the bottom. And I think the thing that really worries me is this gives a great psychological boost to Osama bin Laden in this global war on terrorism.

MATTHEWS: Yes, we'll probably be hearing from him...

DOWNING: We're off the moral high ground with this incident.

Interesting. Our treatment of prisoners at Abu Ghraib gives bin Laden a "great boost." And in making excuses for that treatment, Limbaugh is playing right into bin Laden's hands. By conservative logic, doesn't that make Rush a traitor? Isn't it treason? Isn't Tim Graham, who eats his lunch at the cool kids table, a traitor for defending Rush?

And one more thing. Shouldn't both be tried on an additional treason charge because, by downplaying the importance of this story, they have increased the danger for our troops in harm's way?

DOWNING: Chris, the other thing you haven't talked about is the impact on our prisoners. How are our prisoners, both civilian and military, going to be treated with this kind of thing.

MATTHEWS: Quid pro quo.

DOWNING: I don't like that. I don't like at that at all.