Balkinization: Feithian Humor

Feithian Humor

Marty Lederman

Whilst skimming through Doug Feith's new apologia in the bookstore today, I ambled across these howlers, all of which are found in the small handful of pages Feith devotes to questions of detention and interrogation. Which is the most audacious?

"I saw the Geneva Conventions as a high-water mark of civilization." (p.39) [Pages 162-165 then present Feith himself as the stalwart defender of the Geneva Conventions during the early 2002 debates within the Administration.]

"Rumsfeld liked to cite the United States Constitution and often lectured his subordinates on scrupulous obedience to the law." (p.161)

[Referring to Abu Ghraib]: "Despite Rumsfeld's astute forebodings about becoming the world's jailer, he was not able to head the problems off." (p.165)

"The Administration, without controversy, had from the outset recognized [the Geneva Conventions] were applicable in Iraq."

Posted 7:02 PM by Marty Lederman [link]

Comments:

I suspect Feith still expects that we're going to find that imaginary WMD any day now.

# posted by

Bartbuster : 9:17 PM

I saw the "60 Minutes" interview with him -- in which, on all the tough questions about illegalities and out-and-out incompetent malhandling of the war, he pointed the finger of blame at Rumsfeld.

It must be true, of course: individuals such as Feith are so perfect that they can't make error -- when, that is, interviewed in isolation, without risk of refutation.

# posted by

JNagarya : 10:42 PM

Feith is a reminder of Seinfeld's George Costanza advising Jerry on lies: "It's not a lie if you believe it." So Feith can refer to the video of the "60 Minutes" interview as his proof that he hasn't lied. As Lisa's bro might ask: "Where's your proof to the contrary?"

# posted by

Shag from Brookline : 7:36 AM

Those with strong stomachs can also find an interview with Feith on the C-SPAN Book TV site.

# posted by

Anonymous : 12:10 PM

Wow. He plagiarised Eric Arthur Blair.

"We have always been at war with Eastasia...."

Did you find it on the "new fiction" shelfs, Marty, or in the humour section?

Cheers,

# posted by

Arne Langsetmo : 12:23 PM