WASHINGTON, March 1, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) - Turning a blind eye to abuses of prisoners in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo at the hands of its own forces, the United States annual report on human rights rebuked its Mideast allies for their poor records in the field.
The criticism was contained in the State Department’s report on human rights progress in 2004, the first issued since US President George W. Bush was reelected for a second term in office, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Iran and Syria took the heaviest lashing in the region, with the report – released Monday, February 28 – saying Tehran’s rights performance had worsened, citing “continuing violations such as summary executions, disappearances and torture”.
The report, however, made no mention whatsoever to the shocking abuses of Iraqi prisoners by US occupation forces, blaming most of Iraq’s problems on the “insurgents.”
It said “serious problems” remained but added Baghdad’s efforts were “handicapped by a serious insurgency in which a terrorist campaign of violence impacted every aspect of life.”
The report further said the US-backed government in Iraq had generally respected human rights.
Experts and human rights observers have repeatedly played down the annual human rights reports by the Bush administration, saying these reports are selective and used for political reasons.
**The abuse of Iraqi prisoners exploded onto the world stage on April 29 after the CBS news network published several graphic photos of Iraqi detainees tortured and sexually abused by American soldiers at the Baghdad-based prison.
Since then the scandal has been deepening, exposing more elements and factors about interrogation techniques approved by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who has been under domestic and international pressure to step down.
In June, Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a report entitled “The Road To Abu Ghraib” linking the abuse of detainees in Iraq , Afghanistan and Guantanamo to the policies adopted by US President George W. Bush in his so-called war on terror.**
Hmmmm the US human rights report has a lot to say about the rest of planet earth but does’nt mention the perverted behaviour of the GI Joes in Iraq how convenient but then again who is surprised with the number 1 rougue nation United Snakes which breaks international laws and which inflicts terror the world over!