Remove Rush Limbaugh from American Forces Radio

October 22, 2005

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld (excerpt)

We request that Secretary Rumsfeld remove talk radio host Rush Limbaugh from the

American Forces Radio and Television Service (formerly known as Armed Forces

Radio). Mr. Limbaugh, whose program is broadcast for one hour per day to U.S.

troops overseas, has spent the past four weeks condoning and trivializing the

abuse, torture, rape and possible murder of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. guards at

the Abu Ghraib prison—gross misconduct that you have described as “fundamentally

un-American.”

In recent weeks, Rush Limbaugh has: Compared the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by

U.S. guards at Abu Ghraib to a fraternity initiation; called the abuse

“brilliant” and “effective”; said the guards were just “having a good time” and

“blow[ing] some steam off”; likened the abuse to “a Britney Spears or Madonna

concert … [or] the MTV music awards”; compared pictures of the abuse to “good

old American pornography”; and said “the reaction to the stupid torture is an

example of the feminization of this country.”

In addition, as Media Matters for America detailed in a May 2 report, Meet the

New Rush, Same as the Old Rush, Mr. Limbaugh has recently made several

racially-charged and sexist remarks on his broadcast. For example, Mr. Limbaugh

said on April 26 that women who protest sexual harassment “actually wish” to be

sexually harassed. And on March 26, Mr. Limbaugh said, “A Chavez is a Chavez.

These people have always been a problem.” Given the extraordinary importance of

troop morale and unity during this time of conflict, we ask Secretary Rumsfeld

to review whether it is appropriate for the U.S. government to broadcast such

messages, which may sow seeds of discord in the ranks.

I believe in compulsory cannibalism. If people were forced to eat what they

killed, there would be no more wars.

Abbie Hoffman

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