Jason Kuznicki at Positive Liberty is up in arms about a report that the United States has detained (or “kidnapped” as he would have it) the wives of suspected insurgents to

Sandefur also has a point when he says that the wives of terrorists are unlikely to be innocents themselves. So why not arrest them for whatever they themselves might be guilty of?

There is sometimes an element of hypocrisy when conservatives say we should wait for more information to come out. Such information often comes from leakers, who have lately been accused of treason by some conservatives. Besides, isn’t drawing attention to what’s already come out the best way to ensure that more information does come out?

It is to compare it to “kidnappings.”

Why?

I hope you don’t speak for the thousands of Iraqi civilians being blown up by these people on the streets, at work, and in their homes. Their freedom is a bit more fragile than yours. Would you prefer the U.S. milltary hold these people or the Iraqi police and military forces?

It’s not unreasonable to be upset by this tactic. It is to compare it to “kidnappings.” Hardly anyone would choose to be grabbed for ransom or political purposes by some other group in rather than the U.S. military.

It has been said to us over and over that we are engaged in a mission to win over the hearts and minds of the Iraqi citizens.

It should go without saying that this is the wrong way to go about it.

But Sandefur’s point is important, too. While I tend to believe these charges, we should never jump to conclusions. We should wait for more evidence to come out, and I’m sure it will come out. We should also make sure to emphasize that outrage over this issue, like outrage over the Abu Gahrib (how do you spell that again?) issue, does not necessarily go against the entire military. Our fighting men and women are following orders. Here’s hoping that this time the Higher Ups don’t get away scott free while allowing the lower ranking soldiers to take the fall.