Blogroll Me! How This Old Brit Sees It ...: America's Phony War on Terror : Ex Irish President Mary Robinson states the obvious

17 February 2009

America's Phony War on Terror : Ex Irish President Mary Robinson states the obvious



While we readily admit that today we're taking a sarcastic sort of swipe at the pretty dumb practice of stating the sodding obvious, we ourselves wish to make it perfectly obvious that we are in no way "having a go" at Ireland's excellent ex President, Mary Robinson.

Since the sad truth is that there are still millions of westerners convinced that bums like George Bush and Tony Blair, to mention just a pair, always told us all the truth.

Just take a look at this.

GENEVA (Reuters)

Washington's "war on terror" after the September 11 attacks has eroded human rights worldwide, creating lingering cynicism that the United Nations must now combat, international law experts said on Monday.

Mary Robinson, who was the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights when al Qaeda militants flew hijacked planes into the World Trade Center and Pentagon in 2001, said the United States caused harm with some of the ways it responded.

"Seven years after 9/11 it is time to take stock and repeal abusive laws and policies," the former Irish president said, warning that harsh U.S. detentions and interrogations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba gave a dangerous signal to other countries that could easily follow suit.

While new U.S. President Barack Obama has announced he will close Guantanamo to break from the practices of his predecessor George W. Bush, Robinson said sweeping changes needed to take place to ensure Washington abandons its "war paradigm."

"There has been severe damage and it needs to be addressed," she told a news conference in Geneva. "We are not more secure. We are more divided, and people are more cynical about the operation of laws."

Arthur Chaskalson, former chief justice of South Africa, said that the United States should launch an inquiry into its counter-terrorism practices, including acts of torture by individual security and intelligence agents.

Although counter-terrorism issues have faded from the front pages since the change of government in Washington, Chaskalson said such practices have shifted around the world and could keep restricting liberties if they are not confronted head-on.

"We all have less rights today than we had five or 10 years ago, and if nothing happens, we will have even less,"
So here's to you, Mrs Robinson, we have to say that we like your style. Like it a lot, in fact. Truth be told, maybe we even love it.

Now read the rest of this Reuters'report.


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3 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think the creator knew what he was doing when he cut these nutters off from the rest of the civilised world by sticking them in the middle of two big oceans.

Imagine what it would be like to have next dooor neighbours like them.

8:18 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Head & shoulders above most international pro-pols others as she is, I still have to wonder what took her so long.

4:48 pm  
Blogger Nevin said...

Do you honestly think her words will make any difference what so ever? The ruling class will continue to terrorize and manipulate the public as they see fit.

Sorry for being so cynical right after my holiday... ! Back to reality .... :)

3:20 pm  

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