Trickle down (and out) torture: the children

The NYT has put up an article about the children at Abu Ghraib, a story that Sy Hersch has mentioned several times in the past, but which now has been officially substantiated due to ACLU actions to have Army records released to the public.

I have mixed feelings about the SCLM taking so long to get around to this story. On the one hand, it's ridiculous, as the Times and other news organizations could have been investigating and reporting on this story, linking it to other outrageous, immoral, and illegal actions that have trickled down from Abu Gonzales' memos on the quaintness of the Geneva Convention.

On the other hand, having stories about Abu Ghraib, Gitmo, and other sites of abuse trickle out over months and months may actually help outrage different portions of the American public at different times (eg, "My God, Marge, now it's kids! What else has been going on that we didn't know about?"), thereby possibly contributing to an erosion of support for our Dear Leader.