US Condemned over rights abuses

by Simon 26 Replies latest social current

• 

  SixofNine

  You know the men and women foolish enough to film themselves committing atrocoties.

  I won't argue that that wasn't "foolish" of them on a personal level. But I will make the point that those smiling, laughing soldiers didn't see their detainees as equals, or even as humans. And while I'm sure they didn't have philosophical discussions before taking pictures, it's pretty clear that they didn't imagine that anyone would see those images and view the Iraqis as people either. The Iraqis are the bad guys, and the Americans, no matter how much of a worthless scumbag they turn out to be, are the good guys. And somehow, the US Army being led by GW Bush, has allowed a disturbingly large number of soldiers to hold that viewpoint.
• 

  BeautifulGarbage

  At the risk of being put in "the box" or deactivated..

  Simon,

  You must have been salivating at the sight of this article and giddy at the chance to post it.
• 

  roybatty

  "Western ideas and Islam are not compatable"

  I'm not even arguing which is superior, just that they aren't compatable. Just the very basic belief in seperation of church and state - a basic belief here in the States but not with Islam. They believe in theocracy, we don't. How can we not expect to be in conflict with a system that is so opposite our own. Now that I think about it, how can we expect a Muslim nation like Iraq to embrace democracy any time in the near future.
• 

  roybatty

  At the risk of being put in "the box" or deactivated..

  Simon,

  You must have been salivating at the sight of this article and giddy at the chance to post it.

  It's Simon's "house" and I totally respect and admire the work he's put into this site (lord knows I keep meaning to donate something) but yeah, I kinda agree. On the other hand, I'd rather discuss a topic with someone who has a differnt opinion then my own. Much more interesting.
• 

  Simon

  ThiChi

  Do we now add Amnesty International to the Red Cross and others who have 'dared' criticise the US and so muct be rubished and discredited? Where will you stop defending the indifensible?

  I'll try and find the interview if I can 'cause it made some very good points. One of which was that the abuses at Abu Graib were nothing really out of the ordinary and went on all round the world in those situations. Also, that this wasn't just a few rogue soldiers but they had been fed a lot of false propaganda about what the Iraqi's would be doing before they arrived. Only after pulling innocent and unarmed civilians out of cars time and time again did he realise that what he had been told was totally bogus.

  Someone, somewhere has been manipulating the US military to compell them to commit these crimes and they should be found and shot IMO.
• 

  ThiChi

  Simon:

  Knowing how you hate biased reporting, I felt you would appreciate the facts of how AI reports.

  ""I heard a soldiers experience on the Radio yesterday (a real "one soldiers view of Iraq") and he described how they shot at and killed civilians... ""

  Simon, unlike my story, you give no Names or details. Without this information, I am very suspect of the alleged "soldiers" story......Can you provide more information?
• 

  ThiChi

  Simon: Here is yet another non-US Nation that know's AI's game:

  Amnesty International reports biased: India

  By Indo-Asian News Service
  

  Date of birth dd mm yy

  New Delhi, Dec 9 (IANS) As the world observed Human Rights Day Tuesday, the Indian parliament was told that reports of the London-based rights watch group Amnesty International were not "free from bias".

  "The methods used by such organisations to gather information have often been questioned, particularly as they are not free from bias," said Minister of State for Home Affairs I.D. Swami.

  He was responding to a question on Amnesty's charge of minorities' persecution in India.

  "It is not the policy of the government to react to such reports by international NGOs on internal matters of India," Swami said.

  He added the independent National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India had also not issued any rejoinder to Amnesty reports.

  The minister said observers from Amnesty undertook visits to India from time to time to study human rights issues.

  However, they and those from other international rights groups were allowed to visit jails and detention camps only with prior permission.

  Responding to another question, Swami said the government considered human rights education as one of the more effective methods for creating awareness about the subject.

  The government had prepared a national action plan for human rights education, under which the human resource development ministry had taken action on "re-orientation of syllabus so as to introduce elements of human rights in school education".

  While central universities like Jamia Millia Islamia conducted post-graduate and doctorate course in human rights and duties education, the University Grants Commission (UGC) had its own programmes.

  The UGC provided financial assistance under the scheme for organising seminars and workshops to universities and colleges and conducting various courses, the minister said.
• 

  Simon

  ThiChi. It's kind of hard to make notes when a radio intervew is on and you are driving to work !!

  The guy gave his name and unit and was **genuine**. It was on Radio 4. I care not whether you accept it or not or demand proof or not. You will just have to accept what I have paraphrased as it was reported.

  Nice to see you leaping at reports from India in an attempt to discredit the very well respected organisation that has pointed some valid criticism your way. Kinda sad though.
• 

  ThiChi

  Simon:

  I did not write the reviews. It is not just a "US" or an "Inda" problem.

  Even the Palestinians condemn AI as biased, that must hold some water with you (AI could be a Jewish plot? Who knows?).

  Regarding your "solider"interview, no offence was meant. As Regan said: Trust but Verify....

  I look at it as an unsubstantiated claim. You can?t even say for sure if the person you heard was "real." Too bad we can?t look up his name on Snoops......
• 

  Simon

  You must have been salivating at the sight of this article and giddy at the chance to post it

  No, I'd much rather not have the chance to post articles like this. I'd much rather the US lived up to it's own self-publicity and ideals that it claims to represent. I'd much rather people were **NOT** denied basic human rights.

  I'm sure you would rather have these things too wouldn't you ??