Nations with human trafficking problems grows

[Gunit_Sangh]

Oh .. Oh ... looks like we're gonna have to stop buying oil from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and UAE. It would be immoral to support regimes that don't crack down on slavery -- right? </end sarcasm>


Posted 6/3/2005 12:25 PM Updated 6/3/2005 1:04 PM

WASHINGTON (AP) — Four U.S. allies in the Middle East are among countries added to a State Department list of nations that are not doing enough to stop international human trafficking, a practice the department described as modern-day slavery.

The State Department on Friday said 14 countries could be subject to sanctions because they are not cracking down on trafficking. Eight countries were new to the list: Bolivia, Cambodia, Jamaica, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Togo and the United Arab Emirates.

"Trafficking in human beings is nothing less than a modern form of slavery," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said as she released the report.

Saudi Arabia is a key U.S. ally whose de facto leader, Crown Prince Abdullah, visited President Bush at his Texas ranch in April. Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates also are allies, and the United States maintains an important military base in Qatar.

Rest of story
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-06-03-rice-report_x.htm

[Career Prole]

1. U.S.: 14 Nations Not Stopping Trafficking ( slave trade )

WASHINGTON - The United States accused 14 nations Friday of failing to do enough to stop the modern-day slave trade in prostitutes, child sex workers and forced laborers. The countries include Saudi Arabia, Washington's closest Arab ally in the war on terrorism.

Three other U.S. allies in the Middle East — Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar — were newly listed this year as nations that are failing to adequately address trafficking problems. The State Department said the 14 countries could be subject to sanctions if they do not crack down...
http://tinyurl.com/74ael


:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: <-- Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the U.A.E., and Qatar ROFLing at the "sanctions" threat.

[TahitiNut]

2. (WARNING!: My Most Tasteless, Non-PC "Joke" Ever!)

Hmmm... I wonder what they'd pay for Condi and Bolton? Maybe Dubya would sell the twins?

(I just couldn't help it!)

[Career Prole]

4. If the Saudis could get shrub's "agenda" passed

the twins would be exploring a whole new lifestyle...

[Robbien]

3. Don't overlook Bush's other friend Columbia. They are on the list too.

Note that Venezuela got put on the list this year even though last year they were not on the list and was then noted as improving. Chavez is saying this is political because Venezuela has improved over last year's report and is better in some of the categories, but the state department decided to move them down into the poor category.

[Career Prole]

5. Oh no...say it ain't so!

The Regime being vengeful for political reasons?
Who'd o' thunk it of 'em?

What grates is that they'd use something like this as a vehicle for their pettiness.

The poorer, non-"coalition" countries can count on sanctions even if they try to improve.

The Saudis need only say "Yeah, pal...we're workin' on it", and they'll be stricken from the $hitlist posthaste.

[Robbien]

7. Yes, it is surprising the Sauds are on the list

wonder what BushCo is trying to get from the Sauds that they had to use this tool to pressure them.

The only difference between this year and last year for Venezuela is that last year the recall vote was still in the works. When BushCo thought Venezuela was going to be another colony of the US there was no need to sanction her.

[FloridaPat]

6. Didn't I just read Israel had a big problem with this recently?

And we sure are getting generous with sanctions lately. Are we really going to sanction Saudi Arabia???

[Career Prole]

8. Sanction the Prince? Gawd no!

He'll say "We're working on that unfortunate problem" (like they said about al Qaeda), he'll wink...shrub'll wink back...and it's back to bizness as usual.

[annabanana]

9. Watched the press conference on c-span...

The guy was a regular lifer, civil servant, not a politico... I doubt that BushCo knew what he was going to report, or thought no one would notice.

The guy was funny. I got the impression that he was used to talking to empty rooms, he was so giddy about the attention. He got so many questions that he became quite flustered. (not worried - flustered, kind of giggly-flustered)

[DeepModem Mom]

10. NYT: U.S. Faults Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE Over Forced Labor

U.S. Faults 4 Allies Over Forced Labor
By JOEL BRINKLEY
Published: June 4, 2005


WASHINGTON, June 3 - The United States criticized four of its closest allies in the Middle East on Friday, saying Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are doing little if anything to stop forced labor and other forms of "modern slavery" within their borders.

The four countries are among 14 "Tier III" nations that the State Department said had a serious problem with trafficking in persons and made little or no effort to control it, despite prodding from the United States. Citation as a Tier III country can trigger economic penalties.

"Trafficking in human beings is nothing less than a modern form of slavery," said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, speaking at a news conference introducing the government's fifth annual Trafficking in Persons Report.

None of the four Middle Eastern countries were on the government's list of problem nations last year - though Saudi Arabia was listed in 2001 and 2002. The government decided this year to focus its attention on forced labor, the primary problem in the four Middle Eastern states.

In Saudi Arabia, said John R. Miller, the State Department's senior adviser on trafficking, "We have domestic workers being brought in from many countries into domestic servitude, child beggars, a lot of beatings, reports of beatings and rape - very difficult to get shelter, no convictions."...


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/04/politics/04traffic.html

[PDXWoman]

11. Where is USA?

Why isn't USA on the list? Do we really want to stop illegal immigration?

[Roland99]

12. So, where are the economic sanctions?

Subject to the President's discretions?


:eyes:

[bemildred]

13. Yeah, only China is allowed to do that. nt

[Deja Q]

14. Kindasleeza Rice should see American corporate offshoring, etc, as being

slavery all the same as well. Or the next best thing.