Personal Reasons Retirement Watch, Personal Thoughts

Apropos Lithwick's item yesterday, I have been thinking about this, the PRRW. Obviously, I am no longer as convinced as I was at the height of the Abu Ghraib story that Donald Rumsfeld will be forced to resign.

That said, Lithwick's piece reminds me how strongly I feel that he should. The administration has somehow managed to elude any prolonged scrutiny of high-up accountability for the breakdown at Abu Ghraib, and it is desperately needed. The media is quick to express its skepticism that Ebbers or Lay didn't know about the actions of their subordinates, and both men were indicted. Why?

Because they should have known. Certainly, it is fairly clear in both cases that they did, in fact, know about the abuses that were happening at their companies. I don't think they would or should get off the hook, though, even if they didn't know -- when you are responsible for the operation of an organization, you have a responsibility to know what's going on.

What's the answer? Donald Rumsfeld should take responsibility and step down at DOD immediately. If he doesn't, his boss should be held accountable.

UPDATE: Check out this story about a Canadian who the U.S. turned over to Syria for investigation.