Amnesty International report 2004
Amnesty condemns U.S. terror war
Is this what we aspire to be known for? The most powerful nation in the world? It would appear that we have a ways to go in order to live up to our own values.
Washington's global anti-terror policies are "bankrupt of vision" as human rights become sacrificed in the blind pursuit of security, a leading human rights group charged on Wednesday....
"The global security agenda promoted by the U.S. administration is bankrupt of vision and bereft of principle," Amnesty head Irene Khan said, launching its annual report.
"Violating rights at home, turning a blind eye to abuses abroad and using pre-emptive military force where and when it chooses has damaged justice and freedom, and made the world a more dangerous place."
Specifically, Amnesty lashed Washington for unlawful killings of Iraqi civilians; questionable arrest and mistreatment of prisoners in Iraq, Guantanamo Bay and Afghanistan; and opposition to a new global criminal court.
"The world is crying out for principled leadership," Khan added....
Don't be holding your breath, y'all. "Principled leadership" and "the Bush Administration have proven to be oxymorons. We have allowed the war on terror to be interpreted as carte blanche by our government to use whatever means it deems necessary. Is this the kind of country we want to be?
I don't give a rat's behind what Amnesty Int'l thinks. I do care what you as a fellow citizen think, but NGO's that clearly have a fundraising agenda bore me.
You mentioned several posts ago that you like to have a debate with people who may disagree with you. So far, I don't see you responding to any comments that don't jibe with your views. Do you even read the comments?
If I do have your attention, let's discuss the UN Commission on Human Rights that just reelected Sudan. Sudan is the country where approximately 30,000 people have been killed in a process of ethnic cleansing.
Or we could talk about UN peacekeepers who are demanding sexual favors from young girls in the Congo in exchange for food.
Why are you so quick to jump on the 'America is evil' bandwagon when there are so many other worthy contenders?
We can debate the reasons that we went to war with Iraq, but can you really say that our troops have not made tremendous efforts to avoid the atrocities that normally accompany a war?
I know that what the soldiers did at Abu Ghraib was a disgusting act and they ought to be punished. But 'they' is a finite group out of a vastly larger and honorable group of Americans!
We are about to celebrate another Memorial Day where countless soldiers gave their lives to give you and I the freedom to believe and say what we want. Try to spend a few minutes and decide what you would be willing to fight for. If the answer is nothing, then this country is already lost.
Mike
Mike, I do read the comments- very closely, as a matter of fact. I don't often respond because I feel as if I've already stated my piece in the corresponding post.
I would agree that, almost without exception, our troops have conducted themselves with a high degree of valor and professionalism. Abu Ghraib can only be described as an aberration, albeit one that will tarnish everything that we have accomplished in Iraq.
At no time have I stated or implied that "America is evil". I still believe that this country is the best in the world. My anger is not with the US, rather it is with our leadership, for whom lies and deceptions are merely part and parcel of doing business.
If you're not mad as hell, you haven't been paying attention.
I set this aside yesterday for blogging but didn't get to it.
Whom did Amnesty International NOT condemn. I kept looking for the atrocities committed by the 5th ice cube in my tray of 12, but it got off scott free.
Along with many nations far less civilized than ours, I might add.
hln
>Sudan is the country where approximately
>30,000 people have been killed in a process
>of ethnic cleansing.
>Or we could talk about UN peacekeepers who
>are demanding sexual favors from young
>girls in the Congo in exchange for food.
>Why are you so quick to jump on
>the 'America is evil' bandwagon when there
>are so many other worthy contenders?
Aside from the fact that Jack has never, as he said, stated or implied that "America is evil," you have a good point. Wouldn't Thomas Jefferson be proud to see that we've made it to the year 2004 A.D. without being as bad as warlords in Sudan or sexual predators in the Congo? I get a warm fuzzy feeling just thinking about that.
You forgot to mention that "at least we're not as bad as Saddam" as well. You might want to re-check your list of RNC talking points.