The "war on terror" led by the US is behind a surge of human rights abuses around the world, according to a report by Amnesty International.
The organisation said America's assault against global terrorism had "made the world a more dangerous place".
It said reactions to the 11 September 2001 attacks on the US still dominated the way human rights were dealt with.
US officials said they took Amnesty's report "seriously", but said America was a "leader" in human rights.
Amnesty also criticised other countries for their treatment of terror suspects.
Amnesty's Secretary General Irene Khan said the US pursuit of security had actually made the world a more dangerous place.
"Sacrificing human rights in the name of security at home, turning a blind eye to abuses abroad and using pre-emptive military force where and when it chooses, have neither increased security nor ensured liberty," she said.
The report cites the hundreds of detainees from around 40 countries who are being held by the US without charge in Iraq, Cuba and Afghanistan.
It has refused to grant prisoner-of-war status to more than 600 detainees at the US base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, choosing to describe them as "illegal combatants".
The world should have expected the shocking photographs of Iraqi prisoners being tortured at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, Ms Khan said.
"This is the logical consequence of the relentless pursuit of the war on terror since 11 September. It is the result of the US seeking to put itself outside the ambit of judicial scrutiny.
"The US has lost its high moral ground and its ability to lead on peace and elsewhere," she said.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan dismissed the report, saying: "The war on terror has led to the liberation of some 50 million people in [Afghanistan and Iraq], and the United States is a leader when it comes to protecting human rights, and we will continue to be."
But US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said: "We do take Amnesty's report seriously. We look at what they say... We have close ties. We talk to them all the time, share information."
"That being said, we don't necessarily agree with their views. We have recognized the abuses that took place at Abu Ghraib... Justice is being served and will be served in that matter."
'Excessive force'
Amnesty said coalition forces failed to live up to their obligations as the occupying power during the war on Iraq and that civilians had died as a direct consequence of the excessive force used by soldiers.
The war in Iraq, the report said, has diverted global attention from other human rights abuses around the world.
It also mentions:
Prisoners of conscience in many Middle East states
"Disappearances" carried out by Russian state agents in war-ravaged Chechnya
Unlawful killings in Nepal and Colombia
Abuses by armed groups in Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo
Torture and ill-treatment in territories under Israeli and Palestinian control
The year 2003 had also dealt a blow to the UN's vision of universal human rights, with the global body "virtually paralysed in its efforts to hold states to account", the report said.
I must say I agree with Amnesty here the “War on Terror” has led to the US, UK and other partners trampling all over human rights themselves and ignoring the appalling records of assorted despots who signed up. These last few years have seen the cause of human right sadly going backwards.
Yes yes, amnesty international, the same people who always slam
the US for human rights abuses....a credible source, blah blah
"If scientists and inventors who develop disease cures and useful technologies don't get lifetime royalties, I'd like to know what fucking rationale you have for some guy getting lifetime royalties for writing an episode of Full House." - Mike Wong
"The present air situation in the Pacific is entirely the result of fighting a fifth rate air power." - U.S. Navy Memo - 24 July 1944
Amnesty reports Human Rights abuses regardless of who commits them, many of the abuses committed by the US have been much discussed on this board do you deny them? The report covers 155 countries including the US should Amnesty ignore the US because it hurts your feelings to have the way in which your government fails to match its rhetoric pointed out to you.
On the subject of credibility just who is a more reliable source than Amnesty on the issue of Human Rights?
MKSheppard wrote:Yes yes, amnesty international, the same people who always slam
the US for human rights abuses....a credible source, blah blah
Perhaps one could actually counter their claims instead of rolling their eyes and making it out like it's another mean anti-US grudge laden organisation.
Frankly, 50 years ago Europe was a smoking crater, the Soviets were running roughshod up and down Eastern Europe, America was fighting a far broader based and more dangerous war on Communism, using far more underhanded methods (See Guatemala...,) and South Africa was still an apartheid-ridden shithole.
The modern world has it fucking MADE. Our biggest fear is terrorists knocking down some skyscapers, back then we were on the cusp of international nuclear war. Our idea of huge human rights infringements is a couple hundred prisoners getting molested, back then, the Soviets were massacreing millions of their own people and shipping off entire villages to work camps.
The modern world has it fucking MADE.
Things might not be as good now as they were, say, two years ago, but we've made HUGE progress in the last 50 years.
Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it's just the opposite.
John Kenneth Galbraith (1908 - )
What so your saying as long as things are generally better than 1945 or better than the height of the dirty war in South America we should be satisfied and stop working for anything more?
Frankly, 50 years ago Europe was a smoking crater, the Soviets were running roughshod up and down Eastern Europe, America was fighting a far broader based and more dangerous war on Communism, using far more underhanded methods (See Guatemala...,) and South Africa was still an apartheid-ridden shithole.
The modern world has it fucking MADE. Our biggest fear is terrorists knocking down some skyscapers, back then we were on the cusp of international nuclear war. Our idea of huge human rights infringements is a couple hundred prisoners getting molested, back then, the Soviets were massacreing millions of their own people and shipping off entire villages to work camps.
The modern world has it fucking MADE.
Things might not be as good now as they were, say, two years ago, but we've made HUGE progress in the last 50 years.
By what do you base this on given most of these atrocities occur in third world countries where they haven't "got it made"?
Plekhanov wrote:Amnesty reports Human Rights abuses regardless of who commits them
They claim the death penalty is cruel and unusual and other bullshit. That's more than enough for me to deep six any files coming from them.
"If scientists and inventors who develop disease cures and useful technologies don't get lifetime royalties, I'd like to know what fucking rationale you have for some guy getting lifetime royalties for writing an episode of Full House." - Mike Wong
"The present air situation in the Pacific is entirely the result of fighting a fifth rate air power." - U.S. Navy Memo - 24 July 1944
What so your saying as long as things are generally better than 1945 or better than the height of the dirty war in South America we should be satisfied and stop working for anything more?
Thirdfain ought to beat the tar out of you for making such a damned fool strawman. He said no such thing and you should be ashamed for implying he did.
Plekhanov wrote:Amnesty reports Human Rights abuses regardless of who commits them
They claim the death penalty is cruel and unusual and other bullshit. That's more than enough for me to deep six any files coming from them.
Not everyone wants it, that's why certain states in the US and other countries banned it and favoured locking such people up indefinitely.
But you cannot just strike off all of what they bring up based on a personal conflict of interest. The US poses as a power to alleviate human suffering (unless I missed something about Iraq) and so it's in its best interests to read such reports and counter the problems brought up.
Lest you miss the point, it's not a personal vendetta. The fact that Amnesty considers the death penalty a human rights abuse calls into question what else they feel is abuse. This is important particularly when Amnesty talks about a country with lots of human rights violations without specifically stating what those violations are.
Howedar wrote:Lest you miss the point, it's not a personal vendetta. The fact that Amnesty considers the death penalty a human rights abuse calls into question what else they feel is abuse. This is important particularly when Amnesty talks about a country with lots of human rights violations without specifically stating what those violations are.
Their reports are only good as toilet paper to wipe your ass with. I think
Fidel lights his cigars with them
"If scientists and inventors who develop disease cures and useful technologies don't get lifetime royalties, I'd like to know what fucking rationale you have for some guy getting lifetime royalties for writing an episode of Full House." - Mike Wong
"The present air situation in the Pacific is entirely the result of fighting a fifth rate air power." - U.S. Navy Memo - 24 July 1944
What so your saying as long as things are generally better than 1945 or better than the height of the dirty war in South America we should be satisfied and stop working for anything more?
No, that's nothing like what I'm saying. I'm saying that the saying that civil rights are the worst they've "been in 50 years" is a complete falsehood. Certainly, I think that the war in Iraq carries with it some damage to civil rights- but stating that
coalition forces failed to live up to their obligations as the occupying power during the war on Iraq and that civilians had died as a direct consequence of the excessive force used by soldiers.
does NOT add up to turning back the clock fifty fucking years! This is not even close to the days of My Lai, Guatemala, and Apartheid.
Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it's just the opposite.
John Kenneth Galbraith (1908 - )
I'm certain civil war would fall under anyone's definition of abuse as would some of the crap that goes on in the Middle-east. Another target would be Guantanamo which is always going to be a hot point for this area now.
Again, to shun such reports because of those minor differences is besides the point. The majority of it is abuse whether you like it or not and if such things are increasing, that's cause for concern or at least I'd like to think those of us that're human would think so.
Ignore the accusations against the UK and US and look at what else is up. There's not as much peace as you'd think even if this is in a time after a war like WWII.
Howedar wrote:Thirdfain ought to beat the tar out of you for making such a damned fool strawman. He said no such thing and you should be ashamed for implying he did.
What Strawman? He described the Amnesty report (or at least my post highlighting it) as:
Thirdfain wrote:Massive Bucket of Bullshit!
and justified his comment by talking about Stalin, Guatemala, and Apartheid South Africa suggesting that as long as things weren’t that bad any human rights concerns were “bullshit”.
Perhaps I should have elaborated. The statement that human rights is at a 50-year low point is what I was referring to as Bullshit.
and justified his comment by talking about Stalin, Guatemala, and Apartheid South Africa suggesting that as long as things weren’t that bad any human rights concerns were “bullshit”.
Yes, that's right, you've picked up on my point exactly! Who needs human rights anyways? Stalin had the right idea.
Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it's just the opposite.
John Kenneth Galbraith (1908 - )
Look you stupid little bitch, the report says that the human rights climate is the worst in 50 years. Bringing up people who were active 50 years ago debunks that claim quite well.
Howedar wrote:Thirdfain ought to beat the tar out of you for making such a damned fool strawman. He said no such thing and you should be ashamed for implying he did.
What Strawman? He described the Amnesty report (or at least my post highlighting it) as:
Thirdfain wrote:Massive Bucket of Bullshit!
and justified his comment by talking about Stalin, Guatemala, and Apartheid South Africa suggesting that as long as things weren’t that bad any human rights concerns were “bullshit”.
Not that human rights concerns are bullshit, rather that the notion that the clock has been set back 50 years. Thats the strawman.
They say, "the tree of liberty must be watered with the blood of tyrants and patriots." I suppose it never occurred to them that they are the tyrants, not the patriots. Those weapons are not being used to fight some kind of tyranny; they are bringing them to an event where people are getting together to talk. -Mike Wong
But as far as board culture in general, I do think that young male overaggression is a contributing factor to the general atmosphere of hostility. It's not SOS and the Mess throwing hand grenades all over the forum- Red
Okay, okay. This is getting confusing. Start again, only this time without the bitching and flaming.
I'm sure no one here is saying everything is just peachy today because the majority of board members live in middle-class Western homes and the likes of Stalin and Hitler aren't walking this Earth.
What the fuck does this have to do with "human rights abuses?"
Suicides in [British] prisons were on the rise, totalling 94 by the end of the year.
"If scientists and inventors who develop disease cures and useful technologies don't get lifetime royalties, I'd like to know what fucking rationale you have for some guy getting lifetime royalties for writing an episode of Full House." - Mike Wong
"The present air situation in the Pacific is entirely the result of fighting a fifth rate air power." - U.S. Navy Memo - 24 July 1944
What so your saying as long as things are generally better than 1945 or better than the height of the dirty war in South America we should be satisfied and stop working for anything more?
No, that's nothing like what I'm saying. I'm saying that the saying that civil rights are the worst they've "been in 50 years" is a complete falsehood. Certainly, I think that the war in Iraq carries with it some damage to civil rights- but stating that
coalition forces failed to live up to their obligations as the occupying power during the war on Iraq and that civilians had died as a direct consequence of the excessive force used by soldiers.
does NOT add up to turning back the clock fifty fucking years! This is not even close to the days of My Lai, Guatemala, and Apartheid.
We seem to be misunderstanding each other here I thought that the Amnesty spokesperson was suggesting that the political climate by which I understood to mean the rhetoric from political leaders on human rights issues was at its worst point in 50 years. You interpreted it as saying that there were more human rights abuses than at any point in 50 years.
I apologise for overreacting to your post it was an honest misunderstanding of what you said, I didn’t mean to misrepresent what you said by erecting a strawman.
Okay, okay. This is getting confusing. Start again, only this time without the bitching and flaming.
I'm sure no one here is saying everything is just peachy today because the majority of board members live in middle-class Western homes and the likes of Stalin and Hitler aren't walking this Earth.
Right, fair enough.
The report's conclusion that human rights abuses are the worst in 50 years is bullshit, as can be concluded by the vast number of hugely awful human rights abuses carried out in the past. Things may not be rosy now, but saying that they are worse than the hight of the Cold War is simply wrong.
Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it's just the opposite.
John Kenneth Galbraith (1908 - )
According to government statistics, two women each week on average were killed by a partner or former partner. Draft legislation was introduced to tackle this most hidden, yet pervasive of human rights abuses. AI urged that this legislation on domestic violence be supplemented by a broad, comprehensive and fully resourced national strategy to eliminate all forms of violence against women.
Yeah, full of BULLLLLLLLSHIT!
"If scientists and inventors who develop disease cures and useful technologies don't get lifetime royalties, I'd like to know what fucking rationale you have for some guy getting lifetime royalties for writing an episode of Full House." - Mike Wong
"The present air situation in the Pacific is entirely the result of fighting a fifth rate air power." - U.S. Navy Memo - 24 July 1944
According to government statistics, two women each week on average were killed by a partner or former partner. Draft legislation was introduced to tackle this most hidden, yet pervasive of human rights abuses. AI urged that this legislation on domestic violence be supplemented by a broad, comprehensive and fully resourced national strategy to eliminate all forms of violence against women.
Yeah, full of BULLLLLLLLSHIT!
How, pray tell, is domestic violence against women bullshit? It's quite a big problem, in the UK at least from what I've heard especially as a lot of cops trained to deal with this thing are being made rarer and rarer.
