Russia slams US human rights report

[cal04]

Russia has rejected criticism on human rights from the United States, attacking the US State Department's annual human rights report as a "politically biased" document that ignored the rest of the world's concerns on alleged US violations of human rights.

"Unfortunately, the contents of the annual human rights report by the US State Department again gives grounds for saying that double standards are characteristic of the American approach to this important subject," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.

The Russian foreign ministry statement noted that despite reserving harsh criticism for countries around the world, the US report failed to address issues that have raised "serious concern among international human rights organisations" about US violations of human rights. "These include the inhuman treatment of detainees in American prisons in Iraq, collisions over presidential elections, continuing discrimination against racial-ethnic minorities," Russia said.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200503/s1314993.htm

[mattclearing]

1. Did Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib make this year's report?

Somehow I doubt it.

[cyberpj]

5. Nope.

U.S. Cites Array of Rights Abuses by the Iraqi Government in 2004

The allegations of abuses by an Iraqi government installed by the United States and still heavily influenced by it provided an unusual element to the larger report. The report did not address incidents in Iraq in which Americans were involved, like the abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib, which came to light in 2004.

(snip)
But here's the huge-balls quote of the article!:

A senior State Department official said the criticism of Iraq was in keeping with the administration's approach. "What it shows is that we don't look the other way," the official said. "There are countries we support and that are friends, and when they have practices that don't meet international standards, we don't hesitate to call a spade a spade."

entire article here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/01/politics/01rights.html?hp&ex=1109739600&en=6ebac305b8f7d933&ei=5094&partner=hommsn.com/id/5726153

[HEyHEY]

2. Let's ask these people

[marmar]

3. I think the Russians realize...

that the White House is made of glass yet its inhabitants keep tossing stones.

[cyberpj]

4. The report did not address American abuses at Abu Ghraib - see here:

U.S. Cites Array of Rights Abuses by the Iraqi Government in 2004

The allegations of abuses by an Iraqi government installed by the United States and still heavily influenced by it provided an unusual element to the larger report. The report did not address incidents in Iraq in which Americans were involved, like the abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib, which came to light in 2004.

(snip)
But here's the huge-balls quote of the article!:

A senior State Department official said the criticism of Iraq was in keeping with the administration's approach. "What it shows is that we don't look the other way," the official said. "There are countries we support and that are friends, and when they have practices that don't meet international standards, we don't hesitate to call a spade a spade."

entire article here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/01/politics/01rights.html?hp&ex=1109739600&en=6ebac305b8f7d933&ei=5094&partner=hom

[Supersedeas]

11. like the Valerie Plame matter, these issues are 'handled' internally

if at all.

[Moderator]

6. kick to combine threads

[NNN0LHI]

7. Russia Says U.S. Rights Report Was Biased

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=7787164

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia said Wednesday a U.S report that contended Russia's human rights record had worsened was biased and distorted reality.

The Foreign ministry said the State Department annual world human rights report was out of step with the warm atmosphere at last week's summit between U.S President Bush and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. snip

"The whole report looks politically-biased," and "distorts beyond recognition" the real state of affairs in Russian society, said the ministry.

The statement asked why the report made no mention of the U.S. military's ill-treatment of Iraqi detainees or of electoral irregularities and race discrimination in the United States.

more

[merwin]

8. *gasp* A politically-biased report coming out of this White House? Never!!

[Fenris]

9. My Russian politics prof made the comment Tuesday

That in terms of a democratic Russia, this is as good as it's going to get.

[Swamp Rat]

10. Hell, our prison system, right here in the US of A, is a Dante's Inferno!

And Virgil is stuck in solitary confinement in Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, gnawing on his Miranda Rights. :grr:

[bobthedrummer]

12. A lot of Corrections has been privatized by the Republicans and it isn't

good, indeed-you get the police and military undesirables as well as criminals in charge of prisons. CCCA, Dyn-Corp, Blackwater...