Amnesty: U.S. war on terror 'eroding human rights worldwide'

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Houston Chronicle/Associated Press

May 23, 2007, 5:12AM
Amnesty: U.S. war on terror 'eroding human rights worldwide'


By RAPHAEL G. SATTER
Associated Press

LONDON — The United States is treating the globe like one giant battlefield for its war on terror, eroding rights worldwide, a leading human rights group said today.

Amnesty International's Secretary-General Irene Khan said the United States and its allies' behavior was setting a destructive example for other nations, and that countries across the world were using the war on terror as an excuse to violate human rights and stifle dissent.

"One of the biggest blows to human rights has been the attempt of Western democratic states to roll back some fundamental principles of human rights — like the prohibition of torture," Khan told The Associated Press, speaking before the launch of her organization's annual report on the global state of human rights.

The report condemned the United States' response to international terrorism, saying it had done little to reduce the threat, while deepening mistrust between Muslims and non-Muslims and undermining the rule of law. The Bush administration's policy of extraordinary rendition — the alleged practice of secretly flying terror suspects to countries where they could be tortured — came in for particularly scathing condemnation.



Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/4828484.html

[Judi Lynn]

1. Reuters: Politics of fear fuelling divisions -- Amnesty

Politics of fear fuelling divisions -- Amnesty
23 May 2007 10:00:09 GMT
Source: Reuters

By Paul Majendie

LONDON, May 23 (Reuters) - The politics of fear are fuelling human rights abuses and creating a dangerously divided world, Amnesty International said in a sombre assessment of man's inhumanity around the globe.

"Our world is as polarised as it was at the height of the Cold War and in many ways far more dangerous," Irene Khan, secretary-general of the human rights pressure group said in its latest annual report published on Wednesday.

She said fear has been a positive motivator for change over global warming with politicians being forced belatedly into action by the pressure of public opinion.

But she said fear was being used to erode the rights of people -- all in the name of greater security.

Pointing an accusing finger around the globe from Washington to Harare, Amnesty blamed governments for undermining human rights and feeding racism with short-sighted, fear-mongering and divisive policies.

More:
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L22523642.htm

[SpiralHawk]

2. "Mission Accomplished." - Commander AWOL & republicon corporate cronies

"Soon ve vill haff an entire planet of amoral republicon halfwits. Bwaa ha ha ha. Smirk, smirk, smirk."

- Commander AWOL, Skull & Boner Brigade of Republicon Chickenhawks

[babydollhead]

3. will any other country save us from ourselves?

[rodeodance]

4. The US used to be respected. Can/will the Dems help to once

again gain respect?--I really do not know at this point.

[silverojo]

10. To answer your question

Hell, no. :mad:

[The_Warmth]

5. Would someone help clarify?

The report also criticized China's role in shielding Sudan from U.N. action, saying that the Chinese government and companies showed little regard for their "human rights footprint" on the African continent.

Although I've been aware of all the horrors in Africa occurring, I have not yet gone beyond conversing the subject. I feel that to even realistically help the region from here we must first accomplish several major changes at home, hence it being a back burner issue in my eyes. But, I am not aware of China's role in the region which was referred to in the article. If someone would be kind enough to lend me their words I'd be grateful.

[Eugene]

6. China is turning to Africa as a source of raw materials

and a market for Chinese exports.

Sudan supplies oil to China. China has blocked U.N. sanctions
against Sudan for human rights abuses in Darfur. China has
also eagerly pursued business in places like Zimbabwe despite
poor human rights records.

[nitestar41]

7. Amnesty International Blasts US

Source: AP

Amnesty blasts U.S. on terrorism war

By RAPHAEL G. SATTER, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 1 minute ago

LONDON - The United States is treating the globe like a giant battlefield in its war on terrorism, eroding rights worldwide, a leading human rights group said Wednesday.

Amnesty International's Secretary-General Irene Khan said the United States and its allies' behavior was setting a destructive example for other nations, and that other countries were using the war on terror as an excuse to violate human rights and stifle dissent.

<snip>

"It's pretty clear that Amnesty International thought that we'd make a convenient ideological punching bag," he said.

Khan said America's unique position on the world stage justified the criticism.

"If we focus on the U.S. it's because we believe that the U.S. is a country whose enormous influence and power has to be used constructively," she said. "When countries like the U.S. are seen to undermine or ignore human rights, it sends a very powerful message to others."


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070523/ap_on_re_eu/britain_human_rights

---

I just love the way that one of the leading Human Right groups has decided to call us out and all I hear is a whiny response of they thought we'd be a good punch.

The US is eroding human rights both afar and at home. It's about time someone called us out.

It Needs To Stop Now!

[azurnoir]

8. Oh but AI is biased

Anyone who remembers this DU thread-
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=124x175318

Apparently it is a problem if it's Israel, but not if it's the US. I am not saying I agree with AI is biased statement, however some of the same people who will lambaste AI for supposed bias will refuse to see the hypocrisy in agreeing when it is the US. AI very likely does use a different standard for some countries, what no one on that thread seems to take into account is that some countries simply have more resources to deal with human rights abuses then others and that a couple the US and Israel for instance couch their abuses in some sort of moral superiority to those they are abusing.

[EFerrari]

9. Good. K&R

[burrowowl]

11. K&R