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What They’re Saying: The International Community on the U.S. |
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The Chinese Government released a scathing report today, pushing back on U.S. criticisms of the country’s human rights record which were revealed in the State Department’s annual survey of human rights. The BBC has the story.
The Chinese report cites rising violent crime in the US as posing a serious threat to the lives, liberty and personal security of its people.The foreign ministry said the US should stop posing as a rights watchdog and concentrate on its own problems.
“Stop exercising double standards on human rights issues and wrongly meddling in the internal affairs of other countries,” said ministry spokesman Qin Gang.
Sudan also rejected the criticism from the State Department
Sudan accused the United States of hypocrisy over the rights report, citing Guantanamo Bay, the Abu Ghraib prison scandal in Iraq and the suppression of “racial and religious minorities and the Muslims” in the United States as examples of U.S. abuses.
And so did Russia.
The ministry said the report reflected the “double standards” of a country it claimed uses human rights as a “foreign policy tool” while balking at scrutiny of its own actions.“How else can one explain that the United States  which has essentially legalized torture, applies capital punishment to minors, denies responsibility for war crimes and massive human rights violations in Iraq and Afghanistan, refuses to join a series of treaties in the sphere of human rights  distortedly comments on the situation in other countries?” it said.
A real defender of human rights, Amnesty International, earlier this year described Guantanamo Bay as “a symbol of injustice and abuse. Secret detentions, torture, rendition and indefinite detention without charge flout basic human rights principles and jeopardize rather than promote security”.But not a whisper of this is allowed into the US State Department reports. In those reports, the United States’ own human rights abuses are always exempt from criticism. They are not acknowledged to exist - the United States is the one country in the world which has no chapter in the report.
Fiji:
“USA should tell Fiji how it intends to deal with gross human rights violations committed by itself in Iraq, while it destroys that country.“And please, let Fiji people know whether any weapons of mass destruction have been found,” Shameem said.
“As for Guantanamo Bay - when is that house of horrors going to be closed down and every inmate get due process?
“No one wants the USA to be the guardian of human rights for the rest of the world - it’s like asking Dracula to guard the blood bank,” she said.
The foreign minister of France, Bernard Kouchner, offered an equally bleak assessment. His comments were focused on the image of the United States internationally.
Asked whether the United States could repair the damage it has suffered to its reputation during the Bush presidency and especially since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, Kouchner replied, “It will never be as it was before.”“I think the magic is over,” he continued, in what amounted to a sober assessment from one of the strongest supporters in France of the United States.
This article in the Guardian, a British newspaper, compares the United States in 2008 to Czechoslovakia in 1975.
Czechoslovakia, 1975: Free healthcare available to all citizens.US, 2008: 47 million Americans (16% of the population) have no health insurance. Another 16 million are “underinsured”.
Czechoslovakia, 1975: Torture, though not officially sanctioned, has become a covert tool of state policy.
US, 2008: Torture officially sanctioned.
Amazingly, all of these articles came out in the last 24 hours. Fortunately, our long national nightmare is almost over.
Nice sample of world opinion. While I think there is no comparison between the human rights violations going on in China or Sudan with the actions of the U.S. and conditions within the U.S., the excerpts illustrate that over the past 7 years the U.S. has lost its moral authority when it comes to international affairs. There was a time when criticism by the United States actually had some weight, but now the violators just need to point to Iraq, or to certain domestic benchmarks and say, in a way: Physician Heal Thyself!
Exactly. While many of the criticisms made by the U.S. are true, it sure doesn’t help our standing in the world to come across as so hypocritical.
The hypocritical option is really the issue. Few countries hold them selves up as moral mentors like the US. Yet we fall so short of that ideal..,.
“Few countries hold them selves up as moral mentors like the US. “
Yes, this is right on target.
I don’t know why citizens of USA and USA as a state have such attitude to the other countries. Why do you think that you have right to tell any one how to live or organize their country? And why do you care? You don’t live there.
If people want change they’ll make it. If they don’t then they’ll not. That is their problem not yours. If don’t like someone ignore him, but don’t attack him. You don’t have right to do that just because someone is different and is doing you no harm.
I really think its funny for any of you to make any comments at all. Just look at the news, like china can say anything about the U.S. I can say with confidence that most of you would be executed with no due process for your comments, if you were in one of these countries. Think about it, your words would have you killed. Yet you bitch about Iraq, you bitch about G-bay. The people that are in G-bay are not “great funloving” people. If you cant see the big picture, then color with your crayons, and stay in the kiddie pool.
It’s funny that Americans still think they live in a democracy!
It’s a fascist state.
The Bush gang lied and committed several impeachable offenses, yet they are still in power.
That means there is no real democracy… where is the balance of powers? Wait…, the supreme court judges
were appoint by the same corrupt government… the entire media is run by 5 companies…
The list goes on.
For starters Sudan can not say anything. Neither can China. The Chinese backed Sudan government has been slaughtering the many people in the south for guess what, oil. Yes China does the same shit. O and France, Rwanda anyone? How many people died there as a result of French ambition for Nuclear energy? The United States is damned if we do, and damned if we don’t. If we do not intervene the world will talk about how much powers like the US should be involved. Personally i do not think we should be involved anywhere. Pull out troops from everywhere then you can see how brutal the Russians and Chinese will be when they bring their foot down on the world. You want to talk about a human rights disaster how much of Chinas water is drinkable due to their blatant disregard for the environment? China is a fucking joke and all they are here to do is shell out money to the US and make our cheap goods. Everyone loves to complain about the US and death to america but i can guarantee you that if America falls the rest of the world will go with it.
The “damned if we do, damned if we dont” is complete nonsense. The people who the US is criticizing, will always bitch, but the current administration has given them real substance to cry about. Additionally, its destroyed all credibility the US has in neutral countries, as well as with allies.
When some of your biggest supporters are telling the US it has lost its credibility, its probably a good idea to listen, rather than just ignoring them.
Tom, you are right…. ‘America falls, the rest of the world will go with it.’. The world needs a strong America, but only because it stood as a beacon of principles for the rest of the world. Now, that it has lost its moral authority, it needs a period of penance to regain that position; which i believe it will. The costs are great; financial, moral, loss of influence, etc. and those will not be regained without effort.
“The world needs a strong America”.
Well, I live in Europe and I can say that we need USA as any other foreign country. And we sure don’t need any ’strong’ foreign power, for any reason.
See this is why we should have let Hitler do whatever he wanted, because SD thinks he doesnt need the U.S. Oh when are you guys gonna pay us back for that bailout? When will you pay us back for rebuilding it after the war? I would at least like a thanks, we fuck up and look the other way a little too much. Or, you can send me the ckeck… hmmm thats alot of math but it comes to around.. with inflation 14.3 trillion dollars. Thats just what we spent on equipment. So double that to 28.6 for the lives lost and you can make that out to me.
Read a history, WW2 in European theater was mostly won by ex. Soviet Union. World is not spinning around US
Oh, so that was you that bailed them out?
Actually, I live in country that liberated itself. And after war (WW2) we had neither US or Soviets present.
SD, my comment was not directed at you but at our friend venturestarx. Unfortunately because of formatting my comment didn’t show up as a reply to his statement. I think you and I are on the same page, so sorry for the confusion.
To clarify, I think Americans shouldn’t claim credit for liberating European countries unless they served in the war.
Alex, no problem, confusion occurs.
It’s not a question of the world needing America to get its moral authority back. America isn’t even necessary for the world to function; Americans just think it is.
America has been meddling in the affairs of other countries for centuries. They have toppled democratic governments, formed dictatorships for their own self interest, committed countless terrorist acts, and generally made life miserable for anyone who refused to toe the line.
And now, the “magic” is gone. They were always so good at covering their tracks and silencing their critics. But these past few years have seen the last scraps of credibility removed, and NOBODY can deny anymore that the emperor has no clothes.
America will fade into obscurity, just like England did before it. The world is in for a big change as the next empire steps up to the plate. I can’t say I expect a better run this time around, because I know human nature too well.
America has only “stood as a beacon of principles for the rest of the world” in the eyes of brainwashed Americans. Go to nearly any other country on the planet, and ask people if they do now, or have ever, tried to live according to the U.S.’ principles. I assure you the answer is no. I’m not America bashing here; I am simply saying that people are nationalistic everywhere on the planet. Whether they are in China, France, Canada, Switzerland, Cambodia or Venezuela, people do not try live according to America’s principles.
I agree with Tom and Jason above. While the US certainly has some things it needs to work on w/ regards to human rights (like Gitmo), some of these comments by other nations are pretty much ridiculous. China for example cannot say a fucking word. They treat their people and environment with absolutely no respect, all in order to ape America’s success and dominance in the world economy. Three Gorges Damn anyone? How about censorship of the internet? The list goes on. To be honest, I despise China, and think it is a joke that the world let them have the olympics there.
Sudan and Russia, well, they are just as bad.
We may do some crazy stuff to people who mess with us; stuff that is morally reprehensible. But w/ regards to our own people, I feel the government treats us better than any country I have ever been to.
Life isn’t fair get used to it. The Czech’s don’t have 300 million people on free health care, nor the latest in medical technology to major medical costs. You die. In Iran, Iraq and other places if you don’t spill your guts with intelligent answers they execute you, woman too for not wearing a face scarf - no trial, no appeal, nobody defends you - your dead. How’s that for capital punishment. Torture is done by Asian terrorists. More than 1.5 million people died/tortured by Saddam Hussein. Did anyone else stop the slaughter of innocents? No, and like many Americans we practiced NIMBY. If it doesn’t happen in my back yard I’m not interested. Terrorists behavior across the big pond wasn’t our concern. Young Americans didn’t know Hitler and Hirohito under which millions died.
Every nation has its fair share of problems both inside and outside their borders. The US is no exception.
We (the US) have nationalists and rationalists just like everyone else. Many of us don’t like the direction our government took when B took office. Many of us didn’t even vote for him (in either election mind you) but because of having a system that doesn’t popularly elect our president, he slithered into office (the 2nd term is still a mystery to me).
Despite all of this why should we, those of us who don’t blindly follow government policies, apologize to the rest of the world?
It’s easy to start pointing fingers when policy goes wrong. (remind you of “civilized” Europe when France failed to stop the slide to the Vietnam conflict, the balkans killing their neighbors over religious belief, race/religious riots in Paris, neo-Nazi activity in Germany, Chinese use of force against Buddhist Monks, Darfur massacres, Australian treatment of Aborigines, Russia moving back to hard line times and attacking its neighbors, Pakistani extremists killing Bhutto and 20 supporters at a peaceful rally, and YES American (and British) invasion of Afghanistan and illegal attack on Iraq (just not liking the leader isn’t reason to start the machine of war).
Perhaps is EVERYONE examined their thoughts and tried to get change done peacefully we’d not have these issues (of course it would be bad for business for certain industries).
I’m not a nationalist but I was born in the US and call it home. It’s time to stop pointing fingers and realize that WE the citizens of our respective countries PUT our leaders into office. Stop knocking one country only. Ghandi said “be the change you wish to see in the world.”
It’s time to start doing and stop the inaction.
Britain:
I find it very humorous that you quoted an article from The Guardian which is a staunchly anti-American publication who’s main goal is to separate Britain from the US and add them into the EU. Really we just need to ignore the British for a little while. They don’t want to be paired with us, but 80% of the country doesn’t want to be part of the EU either. It’s unfortunate that we speak the same language because I’m getting really tired of their criticism. It seems the British aren’t very fond of looking in the mirror and choose to be fixated on us. It’s too bad because we have nothing but love for them.
Oh and this web site would crash if I were to post the innumerable offenses of the British Empire on the world.
China:
1. It is a capital offense in China to fly the Tibetan flag. A country they have occupied for 50 years.
2. They torture journalists who speak out against the government.
3. Rubber bullets and tear gas?? No, tanks and real bullets killed college students who campaigned for democracy..
4. I’m sure there’s a lot more, but we don’t know everything that goes on in China because they are still a partially closed Communist society.
Mozambique:
Who cares what they have to say?? This is a country where rape is a way of life.
Fiji:
You’re in Iraq too dummy
Sudan:
Stop the genocidal rape squads roaming the Darfur then we might listen to you.. probably not, but it would be a good start.
EUroweenies:
Let’s go ahead and split Germany in half again and let the Russians have their way with you ungrateful, pathetic saps. You are a very bad investment that never paid off. We invested so much into protecting you and when we needed your help you decided to poke us in the eye instead. Now you aren’t allowed to sit at the grown-ups table until next year. Now go start another boring anti-American blog and create new ways to whine about horrible we have been to you. Most of all I wish you weaklings the best of luck with the warm and fuzzy Russians, Chinese and Islamic terrorists. There is a big scary world outside of your warm Socialist blanket and you will find out all about it soon enough. You are very rich, but weak countries and you have brutalized the world for centuries. The only reason you’re not doing it now is because we won’t let you.. Now shut up and go write an op-ed for Der Spiegel..
I’VE never seen so much concentrated power in the US.
Newspaper and television are controlled by big money. The public is lied to every day. Critical issues are ignored. ‘News’ is relegated to the sensational or the trivial. A true democracy cannot survive without a FREE Press. Government has become a tool of big money. The NEW CONQUERORS have perfected their tools. The subjugated population pays their masters to lie to them. So much cheaper to control the information sources than to maintain an army. Control with profit rather than the expense of a soldier on each corner.
The average US citizen has NO IDEA what we are doing in Iraq or Afghanistan, yet sends their sons and daughters out of misdirected patriotism, and pays taxes to fund a war completely at variance with
traditional American principles.
You glimpse the New Conquerors at work.
Funny how none of the above countries has anything to say about the BILLIONS in foreign we save their asses with on a yearly basis. I say; bring that money home; go tell France how you feel about the U.S. They care. I don’t
Oh! Come on you people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another right now