Comments on: Iraq Begins Massive Prisoner Release

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 20:14:13 +0000

Bhoe: Fair point. Still, one can argue that "the West" doesn't truly exist pre-Reformation and pre-Enlightenment, let alone pre-Christianty.

By: Bhoe

Bhoe — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 20:10:41 +0000

I must confess, this is one aspect of Arab culture that I simply do not understand. The release of prisoners and captured enemies as a gesture baffles me.

Ever read Thucydides? This has been part of Western culture as well.

By: yetanotherjohn

yetanotherjohn — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 18:27:42 +0000

James,
True, but Al-Maiki is doing this up front when presumably he will face voters in the future. It is unclear from the news article (imagine that, an MSM article that is unclear and leaves out important contextual information) as to when the promise was made. If it was an election promise, then it gets harder to blame him.

Since the numbers are now 2,000 out of 28,700 detainees (apparently AP has issued a correction) this represents less than 10%. Just as Texas found those sorts of prisoners ready for early release when the prisons were crowded (picking those who had served the majority of their sentences and were deemed the least risk), it isn't inconceivable that they are finding those with the least risk. Like Dukakis, if any of them show up on the police blotter, I suspect that this will be cited in the next election. On the other hand, if releasing

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 17:23:59 +0000

Well, Clinton let loose a handful of white collar criminals who he owed favors. Unless these people are political prisoners, letting hundreds or even thousands loose strikes me as dangerous.

By: yetanotherjohn

yetanotherjohn — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 17:16:10 +0000

Compare and contrast the Nouri al-Maliki release of prisoners on entering office with Bill Clinton's pardons on exiting office. Which is the lesser of two evils?

By: wu ming

wu ming — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 16:34:06 +0000

This release of prisoners will only fortify the insurgency's vallant effort to kick the invader out.
A puppet government sometimes can do good to strengthen the forces that are truly working for a democracy of the people in Iraq;
eventhough they are not pulling the strings.

U.S. OUT.

IRAQI INSURGENCY IN.

(ARE YOU LISTENING MR. GONZALES !)

By: Unpartisan.com Political News and Blog Aggregator

Unpartisan.com Political News and Blog Aggregator — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 13:43:38 +0000

Iraqi PM promises to free 2,500 prisoners...

Iraq?s prime minister promised Tuesday to release 2,500 prisoners and to press ahead with a security...