The Bush Administration Was For Amnesty International Before It Was Against It
Tonight, Vice President Cheney will appear on CNN"s Larry King Live and reportedly condemn a recent Amnesty International report that faults the U.S. for its treatment of detainees in the war on terror. Cheney has said:
"For Amnesty International to suggest that somehow the United States is a violator of human rights, I frankly just don"t take them seriously."
Other Administration officials have similarly been quick to lash out against the Amnesty report. White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan said the allegations were "ridiculous and unsupported by the facts." Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Richard Myers called the Amnesty International report "absolutely irresponsible."
But in the past, when it was convenient to the Administration, they did not hesitate to cite Amnesty to make its case. And nowhere did the Administration need more help than in selling the Iraq war. Secretary Rumsfeld repeatedly turned to Amnesty to highlight the repressive nature of Saddam"s regime. On March 27, 2003, Rumsfeld said:
"We know that it"s a repressive regime"Anyone who has read Amnesty International or any of the human rights organizations about how the regime of Saddam Hussein treats his people""
The next day, Rumsfeld even cited his "careful reading" of Amnesty:
""[i]t seems to me a careful reading of Amnesty International or the record of Saddam Hussein, having used chemical weapons on his own people as well as his neighbors, and the viciousness of that regime, which is well known and documented by human rights organizations, ought not to be surprised."
And on April 1, 2003, Rumsfeld said once again:
"[i]f you read the various human rights groups and Amnesty International"s description of what they know has gone on, it"s not a happy picture."
So the rule here appears to be: Amnesty is a legitimate source for human rights violations of other countries, but is an unreliable and irresponsible source for reporting on the U.S.
I don't see the issue here. Iraq under Hussein was indeed a brutal, murderous regime. The United States, although possessing far superior military strength, has never been. Bush is right on the money with his latest assessment of AI.
I might also point out that we've detained over 68,000 people in Gitmo and elsewhere since 9/11, yet we've received a mere 100 or so human rights violation claims in that time. But yeah, we're despicable torturers, aren't we?
AI and the ACLU in their overzealous attempt at discrediting Bush (whether he needs it or not) is showing a totally careless disregard for US soldier's lives as well as other potentially innocent arabs.
remember the little Koran flushing story got 14 or 18 people killed ?
yet we've received a mere 100 or so human rights violation claims in that time. But yeah, we're despicable torturers, aren't we?
And recently some evidence has surfaced that states that anyone detained at GITMO is supposed to claim that they're being mistreated in order to bring discredit to the soldiers there.
Yea, I know. It's not like we're holding people in prison without like charging or trying them or anything.
I guess we should have just shot them shortly after capturing them. These people are being detained in order to keep them from returning to combat against our troops and to attempt to get information from them. We don't torture them or make them do hard labor, we provide food, medicine and shelter and access to the international red cross and red crescent organizations and these organizations have a continued and ongoing presence on Gitmo to insure that we are doing them no harm. These people are not U.S. citizens and do not have nor should they have, the rights and priveleges of U.S. citizenship which they find so despicable under other circumstances.
And it really pisses me off that Americans like david m eat it right up in their haste to badmouth Bush. Complete and utter idiocy.
did you notice the [8D] in the topic title?
it was supposed to be a partially "tongue-in-cheek" statement.
truth is, i do think there are worse offenders out there...at the same time, i think we, given our status in the world, should be cautious not to abuse our power.
And it really pisses me off that Americans like david m eat it right up in their haste to badmouth Bush. Complete and utter idiocy.
did you notice the [8D] in the topic title?
it was supposed to be a partially "tongue-in-cheek" statement.
truth is, i do think there are worse offenders out there...at the same time, i think we, given our status in the world, should be cautious not to abuse our power.
it's the responsible thing to do.
We are being cautious. That's what is making the process so difficult and expensive.
flip floppers???
