It's getting to be about that time...

First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.

- Pastor Martin Neimoller

It's been a busy week for our boys at the White House.

Alberto Gonzales, W's nominee for attorney general, began hearings yesterday to "obtain a legal ruling on the extent of the president's authority to permit extreme interrogation practices in the name of national security".

Wouldn't you know it; Mr. Gonzales is against the practice of torture and even finds it "abhorrent". He said so himself! Isn't it good to know that this was all just a silly misunderstanding? Oh, how we'll all just laugh about this someday!

Also, Mr. Gonzales says he'll seek out those bad people who mistreated the prisoners at Abu Ghraib, and they'll be investigated. Ooh! What compassion!

"Do I regret the abuses at Abu Ghraib?" he asked. "Absolutely. I condemn them. Do I believe that they may have hurt us in winning the hearts and minds of Muslims around the world? Yes, and I do regret that."

Don't you know that our government didn't order such abuse? No, silly! Inadequate supervision and training of military personnel regarding the limits of acceptable interrogation tactics are to blame, not the administration. Any of us could have done such a thing, if not properly trained.

Whew! And here I was thinking that our government doesn't care.