U.S. Blasts Human Rights Panel Selection

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON -- The State Department denounced on Tuesday the selection of Cuba and Zimbabwe for a panel that will decide on the agenda for a meeting of the U.N. Human Rights Commission next month.

"The United States believes that countries that routinely and systematically violate the rights of their citizens should not be selected to review the human rights performance of other countries," State Department press office Tom Casey said.

Besides Cuba and Zimbabwe, the other members of the so-called "Working Group on Situations" are Hungary, the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia.
...
Casey's statement offered no criticism of the selection of Saudi Arabia, an authoritarian monarchy. Officials note, however, that a reform movement is under way in the country, highlighted by village elections set for this week.

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-us-un-rights-commission,0,5973525.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

[soleft]

1. Right, should be countries that violate rights of other country citizens

[Gman]

2. This leaves the US out

"The United States believes that countries that routinely and systematically violate the rights of their citizens should not be selected to review the human rights performance of other countries," State Department press office Tom Casey said.

What? did they expect to be put back on the Commission?

[natrat]

3. how absurd and deluded these"people" are

really they are just animals

[DELUSIONAL]

4. My animals have better morals than the creeps in the White house

Actually there are very low forms of animal life -- the single cell amoebae for example which inhabit the White house.

[Cocoa]

5. "no criticism of Saudi Arabia"

that says it all about how seriously anyone anywhere should, or will, take this statement by the U.S.

[Oilwellian]

7. Not to mention...

Since Bush's reelection, Abrams has moved to center stage-both in the administration's Middle East policy and in the "freedom and democracy" policy that Bush highlighted during his State of the Union Address. Hours before that speech, the White House announced that Abrams would serve as his deputy assistant and as the Deputy National Security Adviser for global democracy strategy under NSC Adviser Stephen Hadley, who had been Rice's deputy at the National Security Council. In his announcement of Abrams' new position, Hadley said that Abrams is one of the administration's strongest and most consistent advocates of American strength and the expansion of freedom worldwide.

In his new position, Abrams will oversee the administration's promotion of democracy and human rights, while also continuing to provide oversight to the NSC's directorate of Near East and North African affairs. According to the White House, "Working with Secretary Rice and Mr. Hadley, he will maintain his involvement in Israeli/Palestinian affairs."
http://rightweb.irc-online.org/ind/abrams/abrams.php

Remember this asshole from the Iran/Contra days? Human rights? Pffftt!

[burythehatchet]

10. kill one person, get the chair

kill thousands, get a pardon and a promotion. Fucking bastards

[bin.dare]

6. some background ...

http://www.periodico26.cu/english_new/cuba/unhr020205.htm

The Human Rights Commission's Working Group on Situations (made up of five experts from each regional committee) now includes representatives of The Netherlands, Zimbabwe, Hungary, Saudi Arabia and Cuba.

The group constitutes the next to last step in the so called confidential process that considers cases of human rights violations lodged by non-governmental organizations and individuals from different countries. From February 7-11, the commission will review this year's denunciations.

The group is also charged with submitting its recommendations on all cases under its jurisdiction to the full UN Human Rights Commission.

According to the merits of each case, the group may take actions such as ruling it out, put off consideration, keep the case under study, or submit the complaints to the public mechanism that addresses human rights violations.

The cases to be considered by the commission this year include the well documented atrocities committed by the US government in Iraq, particularly the brutal procedures used against prisoners at the Abu Ghraib jail and at the prison camp set up at the illegal US naval base located in the eastern Cuban province of Guantanamo.

The group will also analyze cases of racism, xenophobia and other hateful actions against immigrants, minorities and indigenous people.

[geek tragedy]

9. It's still a really bad joke.

This panel has absolutely no legitimacy. None. A majority of its members are unelected governments with absolutely horrific human rights records.

[Supersedeas]

there are also elected govt with less that stellar human rights records

which might explain the State Department's hissy fit.

[geek tragedy]

8. Some things are true even if Bush says them.

This UN panel is a joke to anyone who takes human rights seriously.

[burythehatchet]

11. Nothing Bush says is true. Nothing. Zip. Zilch. Nada. Bupkis.

[geek tragedy]

12. That's not being an intelligent critic. It's being as reactionary as the

Freeptoids.

Essentially, Bush has great power over what you believe. He can make you think the Earth is flat by saying it's round.

[burythehatchet]

15. yawn...

[daleo]

13. The point is that Bush has compromised the U.S. in these matters

No country is perfect, or ever was, but the Bush administration has given other unsavory governments plenty of ammunition to counter any U.S. accusations - i.e. they are hypocrites.

[geek tragedy]

14. I agree with that.

But what's happened with the UN Commission on Human Rights is still an atrocity.

I do wish the US had a more credible voice on these matters.

[daleo]

16. That would have been the big benefit of a Kerry victory.

IMO. At a minimum, it would have been a chance for a (relatively) clean start, which the world sorely needs after Bush. Maybe some day.

[gottaB]

22. The Bush administration excells at telling partial truths

Could you imagine taking an oath, "I swear to tell the truth, but only part of the truth, and as many bald-faced lies as you let me get away with"? I swear, they must have all gathered around Bush's Bible and done just that. Placing a hand on Isaiah 40:32 (written in disappearing ink of course), And they shall lie like rugs, Amen.

The UN more and more resembles a farce-- because the characters are weak, and the players are making a mockery of it. It seems that we are reaching the point of no return, and have nothing ahead of us but catastrophe.

Why do we stick around? If we summon the author, it should be to feed him to the hyenas. Damn him and his disappearing ink.

[Spazito]

17. The bush cabal lost any credibility to have anything to say

on the issue of human rights after the atrocities committed in Iraq, Gitmo, Abu Graib and re-enforced by the appointment of the pro-torture AG Gonzales, imo.

[dkofos]

18. And Saudi Arabia is a beakon of freedom and equality

[Briar]

19. How dare

a country which believes "human rights are a flexible concept" (according to former CIA operative "Anon" talking to the BBC's File on 4 tonight - he was explaining the justification for "rendition") presume to tell the rest of the world anything about human rights?

[ConcernedCanuk]

20. First of all, the BFEE don give a rats ass for Human Rights

.
.
.

Secondly - the "disputed" countries know WAY too much about the US's own "Atrocities".

Lastly, even a "invalid" panel as some call it, especially when it comes to "taking a shot at the US" will be well listened to by the World when it comes to "the well documented atrocities committed by the U.S. government in Iraq, particularly the brutal procedures used against prisoners at the Abu Ghraib jail and at the prison camp set up at the illegal U.S. naval base located in the eastern Cuban province of Guantanamo" - which is on the agenda.

You can bet urs and everyone else's ass that Cuba specially will pursue THAT issue diligently, and seeing as Gitmo is right on their doorstep, betcha they got proof the World ain't seen yet . .

And heck, the US always whines when anyone else in the world has anything to do with Cuba anyhoo.

One more thing.

The World is just getting plain old bored with all the whining coming out of the WH.

Bring their troops home from ALL the places they are not wanted, Park the War-Machine, and take care of their own citizens for feck's sake!

[moobu2]

21. The US has lost the moral authority

to cast judgments on others concerning human rights, Because of G.W. Shrub.

That's what happens when you condone torture and detention camps and invade what is basically an unarmed country based on falsities.

[applegrove]

23. Is the USA on that panel?

Is the USA on that panel? Cause they should be blasting themselves off of it!

[FlyByNight]

24. Those weren't Cubans or...

Zimbabweans (sorry if I didn't get that right) at Abu Ghraib torturing those Iraqis.

And no criticism of Saudi Arabia? Reform movement underway? Please. It's been standard US government policy to support despotic regimes all over the world, just as long as those countries provide cheap labor and exploitable resources for US-based corporations.

The propaganda's so thick the old USSR "news" agencies would be proud.

:puke: