U.S. abuse undermines treaties

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/printedition/bal-te.journal05may05,0,7431204.column?coll=bal-pe-asection

Prisoners: Images of Iraqis tortured and humiliated at the hands of Americans deflate the United States' standing as a leader of world reform.

WASHINGTON - As images of American soldiers abusing Iraqi prisoners spread to television sets around the globe, human rights organizations are increasingly concerned that a century of building steady support for international treaties banning torture could be irreparably damaged.

Since the end of World War II, the United States has pushed for a worldwide consensus on a number of treaties mandating the humane treatment of prisoners. In doing so, it has essentially held itself up as an international model of behavior.

Now, not only is the United States open to accusations of hypocrisy, but such groups as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch fear that some countries will see the behavior depicted in the photos as a "green light" to ignore advances made in years of hard-fought reform.

"Torture cuts across all regions and countries," says Alistair Hodgett, spokesman for Amnesty International. "But ever since these allegations emerged, they have sent a dangerous ripple effect and a signal to places like Cairo {Egypt} and Riyadh {Saudi Arabia} that the United States isn't concerned. And the gloves will come off."

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[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Yep there goes 60 years of

holding the higher ground

[zonmoy]

2. I am constantly surprised

that the rest of the world hasn't gotten together and condemned us as the ultimate rogue nation

[azmesa207]

5. I am constantly surprised

The have and are now again.

[zonmoy]

15. Interesting that their condemnations are never heard.

[Just Me]

9. Me, too. I am surprised at the tolerance of the world community.

My guess is that no one wants the world war that the neo-coverup-cons want.

Of course, I certainly hope that the Bush regime doesn't believe the world community will take much more of this.

[FreakinDJ]

3. Bush is one GIANT step backwards for humanity

on every level at every issue of the political spectrum

[krkaufman]

8. Good line. Totally agree. n/t

I'd like to see that put to a commercial, with someone imitating Armstrong's voice.

[zbird]

4. Bushco strikes again.

First it's secret, indeterminate confinement.
Second, it's pre-emptive war.
Third, it's torture.

I guess good ol' W has hit the trifecta again.

How much further is this misadministration going to set back our country (and the world)?

[Just Me]

6. This worst-leadership-ever has ruined our country.

God help us if they are in charge another four years.

[Gothmog]

7. This started with violations of Geneva Convention

This whole mess arose in large part because the US decided that international treaties such as the Geneva Convention did not matter. The US is in clear violation of the Geneva Convention as to the Taliban detainees being held in Cuba. These detainees are entitled to POW status unless and until a competent tribunal determines that such detainees are not entitled to POW status. The US violations of the Geneva Convention has been condemned by the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, the International Red Cross, the EU and numerous legal groups.

[teryang]

16. You are exactly right!

And the American press has been ignoring the violations of international law the entire time. The question is why?

The mainstream press is part and parcel of these political crimes.

[central scrutinizer]

10. what treaties?

Bushco has already backed out of every treaty.

[ConcernedCanuk]

11. Treaties? - heck the USA was breaking treaties before it even WAS the USA

.
.
.

From the American Indians, to the "unsigning" of the International Criminal Court and the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty,

the USA only abides by treaties until it doesn't want to anymore.

The "word" of the USA Administration is worth less than nothing in my opinion.

(sigh)

[Just Me]

12. The administration's extreme corruption is pretty scary.

They don't just push the envelope. They have been willing to gamble on the whole world going to war with us.

I hate them. I can't help it. They are just so freakin' evil.

[Cocoa]

13. Goddamn our Supreme Court!

their corrupt decision to put Bush in power of the U.S. has changed world
history for the worse.

[Technowitch]

14. 'Undermines' my sorry ass--

This isn't just indermining international treaties, it is in gross violation of more than a few of them, including the Geneva Conventions governing the imprisonment of POWs and the non-combatant citizens of occupied countries.