The U.S. is obligated by a United Nations convention to prosecute Bush administration lawyers who allegedly drafted policies that approved the use of harsh interrogation tactics against terrorism suspects, the U.N.'s top anti-torture envoy said Friday. -Manfred Nowak, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
Mr. Nowak is an appointee of the United Nations Human Rights Council, composed of some of the worlds most esteemed defenders of Human Rights. Below is a list of esteemed members of the committee (approximately 33%) whose human rights records are rated as poor (or as otherwise noted) in the 2008 Report on Human Rights Practices by the US State Department:
Angola
Cameroon
Djibouti
Egypt
Gabon
Nigeria
Zambia
Bangladesh (Serious Concern)
China
Pakistan
Saudi Arabia (Significant Problems)
Azerbaijan
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Slovenia (Serious Concern)
Cuba
The UNHRC has become nothing more than a political hatchet, specifically condemning Israel 15 times while ignoring blatant abuses elsewhere. This "focus" has been condemned by the EU, US, Canada, and even the UN Secretary General.
Multiple Human Rights organizations have condemned the council as being controlled by Middle East and African nations supported by Russia, China, Cuba, and North Korea, all who protect each other from criticism.
When the International Humanist and Ethicist Union brought up the Sharia practice of stoning adulterers and the practice of forced marriages of teen age girls, the council announced it was not prepared to discuss religious matters in depth. Meanwhile the 57 members of the Organisation of the Islamic Council are lobbying the UN to make anti-blasphemy resolution 62/154 binding on members.
The US had rightly withdrawn from participation in this joke, however as of March 31st the Obama administration has announced that it will reverse the previous position and join the UNHRC.
So, to Mr. Nowak I say, whatever the eventual decision of the United States regarding "harsh interrogation tactics" and whether to prosecute or not, or in the case of prosecution, whatever the outcome... given that it is the business of we the people of this free and independent republic, and given that being a special rapporteur on torture to the UNHRC is the equivalent of being Dr. Joseph Mengele's medical ethicist... you can shove your calls for prosecution up your flaccid euro ass, and if you don't like it... do something about it... oh wait! I forgot! The UN is incapable of doing anything!
I don't normally go about quoting scripture, but this is the first thing that popped into my mind upon hearing of Mr. Nowak's calls, and it just seems so apropos:
How canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me cast out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.
I know they mean well, but sometimes these people really piss me off.
3 comments:
Like my granddaddy always said, look out for a pissed off man quoting scripture!
It's all about moral equivalency; drag down the US reputation so others can point our way while they continue abhorrent practices like collapsing walls on homosexuals.
The International House of Scandal and Corruption (UN) is morally bankrupt.
Yeah, this UNHRC is one of the best examples of why people's faith in power is so misplaced, often.
In an ideal world, those with liberal commitments would wield power sparingly and with a strong commitment to liberty, broadly.
It is because we do not live in an ideal world that we should and do value liberty. Because, as those at the UNHRC demonstrate, those with power are just as untrustworthy as those without, often. Except insofar as they make their commitments to liberty and decency clear, by their actions as much as their words.
The UNHRC demonstrates this folly in the extreme. It's so clear to those not trying to defend UN arrangements.
But for those who want the UN to act as some kind of final legal and moral arbiter of international relations, being honest about the obvious corruption in this committee is a threat to that agenda.
Some liberals will argue that including these autocrats in this mix will engage and moderate their illiberal commitments.
But, frankly, until liberals and conservatives in Western democracies both get their own liberal commitments straight - which they are far from doing, at this point - it is unclear who is engaging and moderating and who is manipulating for their own selfish ends.
Apparently, it is en vogue for everyone to manipulate for their own selfish ends. All the kids are doing it, these days. Power is a plaything, now, for those who have things they want done.
Including wanting to whitewash, obfuscate, and equivocate their human rights records.
But, really, Finntann, when you think about it, who are we to judge when we're not really sure whether we care about liberty or not, either. That's what these nations say to themselves, at least.
And maybe they have a point.
And if they don't, we need to make that a hell of a lot clearer.
By the way, I don't care how cynical people get about Jesus' legacy. He had it right about all that commitment to love and compassion. He just got killed. And the whole world is a nasty and bloody mess as long as everyone looks at that legacy and says, "Can't let that be me."
Be nice if people recognized that big heart for what it was:
Real courage.
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.