Chris Broussard

When John Ashcroft announced the appointment of the team to restore Iraq's criminal justice system last year, he said, "Now all Iraqis can taste liberty in their native land, and we will help make that freedom permanent by assisting them to establish an equitable criminal justice system based on the rule of law and standards of basic human rights." With images of the Iraqi prison abuse still in our minds, maybe now would be a good time to listen to human-rights observers who have been telling us for years that inhumane behavior toward prisoners is routine in America. Experts tell us that prison rape by guards and other inmates and so-called gladiator fights are widespread behind American bars. In fact, the same Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International reports that condemned Saddam Hussein also condemned the American prison system. In the past week we've heard the same litany from our leaders: "We're better than this," or "This is not...

I think all of us at one time or another have watched an event with complete incredulity, jaws dropped, wondering why those around us don't see that event in the same way we do. Admittedly, I have had that experience more during this presidency then at any other time in my life. But the situation in Iraq these past few months - especially this last week - have left me disoriented and ashamed. But I seem to be in the minority. Locally, I've heard some outrage, but I've heard just as much, if not more, affirmation of the abuse. Comments have ranged from, "War is hell," to "If you want to make an omelet, you've got to break a few eggs." Nationally, it's been a little better, with some notable exceptions. At the Senate hearings probing the scandal on Tuesday, May 11, Oklahoma Republican Sen. James Inhofe expressed outrage at the outrage: "These prisoners, you know they're not there for traffic violations," Inhofe said. ...

Another election year is upon us, and already the Republicans are pulling out the trump card that has worked for them time and time again throughout the last few election cycles. Fundamental Christianity. I worked for a man last year who was also a friend from my church. During a conversation about politics and God between this friend and another worker (a conversation I was desperately trying to stay out of), the other worker turned to me and asked me what I thought. When I gave my answer, he asked if I was a Democrat, and my friend said, "Of course he's not a Democrat, he's a Christian.' With books on the best-seller lists like "The Faith of George W. Bush," and "A Man Of Faith: The Spiritual Journey of George W. Bush," we are yet again presented the notion that the Republican Party is "God's Party," and that George W. Bush is a man of God on a mission for God. During a presidential debate in the 2000 election, Mr. Bush was ...

With the number of well-educated minds in Washington, D.C., the level of confusion there is very unsettling. For instance, I'm no economist, but I knew that cutting revenue while increasing expenses was going to lead to a huge deficit. I've seen this concept at work in my own household. I'm not a military strategist. I've never even been in the service. But I knew that sending American soldiers to "liberate" a country without that country's permission was going to lead to an increase in flag-draped coffins. My foreign relations experience is limited to - well, OK, I have no foreign relations experience, either. Yet I knew that if we went to war with a small nation's Keystone cops military in the Middle East, against the wishes of the United Nations, we would suffer increased tarnishing of our reputation. I'm not a historian, but it was painfully clear to me that Iraq had nothing to do with Sept. 11, contrary to the beliefs of most Ameri...

This is a piece I wrote while covering a high school football game for the Columbia Daily Herald in Columbia, Tennessee. It was published on October 19, 2003. ----------------------------- The St. Andrew's-Sewanee Lions were clearly no match for Zion Christian Academy as the Eagles dominated the field and won their homecoming matchup, 31-15, Friday. The Eagles improved to 5-2, while extending their winning streak to five games. Zion also became eligible for a bowl game thanks to the victory. "It's pretty exciting," Zion Christian head coach Paul Brenner said. "The kids keep getting better every week." Senior Steven Shoup was the star of the game, gaining an impressive 195 yards on 26 carries, scoring two touchdowns, a field goal, a two-point conversion and three extra-point kicks. "He really played well," Brenner said. "He's like a rocket, he runs hard and it takes a lot of to stop him." The Lions (1-7) started the game with possessio...

This is a story I wrote while covering a high school football game for the Columbia Daily Herald in Columbia, Tennessee. It was published on October 12, 2003. --------------------- CHAPEL HILL - Chapel Hill's Forrest Rockets got a seven-yard touchdown run from Matt Byrd with 1:27 left to edge Columbia Academy, 21-14, Friday night for a spirited homecoming victory. With the stands overflowing despite steady rainfall, Chapel Hill improved to 3-4 overall and 3-3 in Region 6-1A. Columbia Academy falls to 1-6 and 0-6 in the league. The two teams were closely matched, with both teams struggling in the past few weeks. The Rockets came to the field with a four-game losing streak, while the Bulldogs had lost their last five contests. Several fumbles by each team marked the first quarter, as the rain made gameplay difficult. The Rockets lost three of their four fumbles in the contest, while the Bulldogs lost their lone fumble. The first touchdown came with 3:30 left in the first quarter, whe...