U.S. May End Up Scrutinized at UN Human Rights Meet

[cal04]

The United States, usually a finger-pointer on human rights, could end up in the dock itself over reports of torture and abuse in its war on terror when the United Nations begins a worldwide scrutiny this week. Activists, such as the New York-based Human Rights Watch, are urging members of the Commission on Human Rights to condemn Washington for mistreatment of prisoners detained abroad.

If any such move emerges during the commission's annual session, which starts on Monday, the United States will be in a similar position to Cuba, Iran and Sudan, countries which Washington and others are likely to seek to pillory.

"If the commission is going to be taken seriously, it needs to be looking at the United States as well as Cuba, China and other serious human rights situations," said Loubna Freih, Geneva representative of Human Rights Watch. So far, only Washington's political enemy Cuba has said it will attempt to bring the abuse issue before the commission.

The United States has been strongly criticized over revelations of abuse of prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan and allegations of mistreatment of detainees at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. But for many activists and diplomats, it is debatable whether the commission, whose 53 members include many states whose rights' records are questionable, can still be taken seriously.

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2005-03-13T120515Z_01_N13383972_RTRIDST_0_INTERNATIONAL-RIGHTS-COMMISSION-DC.XML

[leftchick]

1. I sure hope it happens...

but I won't hold my breath.

[NNN0LHI]

2. We are in some good company, eh? Cuba, Iran and Sudan

Sonuvabitch.

Don

[DoYouEverWonder]

3. What a sad day for America

The Bush Misadministration has been allowed to destroy everything we once stood for.

[Mika]

5. "Extraordinary renditioning" started under Clinton/Reno

Bush just took it to higher/extreme levels.

[NNN0LHI]

7. I would like to read the history of extraordinary renditioning and Clinton

I Googled extraordinary renditioning+Clinton and didn't get any hits confirming your statement. Where did you hear or read it at. Thanks in advance.

Don

[leftchick]

12. I heard it the other night from the ex-CIA guy

who wrote Iperial Hubris. I can't recall his name but he did indeed say it started under the BC administration. He was clear to point out that the whole operation went to the far side after 9/11. He totally blamed idiotface** for it.

[Mika]

14. Saw Ms Reno (on Bill Maher's show) agree w/a guest who said this was so

A Canadian guest (I don't remember who) was discussing a case of a Canadian citizen who was arrested/abducted at the US border and shipped off to Saudi for some arm twisting - during the Clinton admin.

It was the BushCrimeNazis who took it to extremes, Ms Reno agreed.

:hi:

[bpilgrim]

4. hey, there is NO amreican 'EXCEPTIONALISM' it's ALL in your HEADS!

that or blatant communist and radical leftist PROPAGANDA!

so STOP saying that :argh:

;->

peace

[meganmonkey]

6. I really hope we do get called out on this

but all we'll do is make excuses ('it was just a few troublemakers and they are being investigated and prosecuted').

But, on some level, this has to be getting into people's heads, and more and more people are going to demand accountability for this shit (please don't trash my mild optimism and faith in the American people, I need it ;) )

[AndyTiedye]

8. Can I borrow some?

(please don't trash my mild optimism and faith in the American people, I need it ;) )

Can I borrow some? I seem to have run out.

[meganmonkey]

9. Of course!

I don't have much, but what's mine is yours!

Here ya go :hug:

[struggle4progress]

10. UN Human Rights Commission Comes Under Scrutiny

<snip> Executive Director of Human Rights Watch Kenneth Roth says governments and rights groups will be looking to see whether the Commission, in its current form, is able to promote human rights, or whether radical reforms are needed. He says the membership of the body needs to be reviewed.

"Roughly half of the membership of the Commission is present, not to promote human rights, but to undermine the Commission," he said. "That is a travesty. It is a travesty that there is a duty for the United Nations to address, if it is to redeem its credibility as a meaningful promoter of human rights." <snip>

http://www.politinfo.com/articles/article_2005_03_13_0342.html

[billbuckhead]

11. What about the million black people we have in the criminal justice system

Statistically it justifies being identified as a world class injustice.

[struggle4progress]

13. An injustice amplified by the fact we elected a cokehead President.

If the man had an moral integrity, he'd be pounding the pavement to get nonviolence druggies out of jail.