TRAGEDY

THE RIDICULOUS: A TRAGEDY IN ONE ACT

REPORTER: Scott, Amnesty International report today, saying the U.S. is a top offender of human rights. Does the White House dispute that assessment?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think the allegations are ridiculous and unsupported by the facts. The United States is leading the way when it comes to protecting human rights and promoting human dignity. WH

CHORUS: Despite the US administration’s repeated use of the language of justice and freedom there was a huge gap between rhetoric and reality.

THE HISTORICAL SOURCES OF RIDICULOUS: A TRAGEDY

SCOTT McLELLAN: WHITE HOUSE PRESS BRIEFING

Q    On various reports of abuse, whether it's at Guantanamo Bay or Afghanistan, you've often said that those are isolated incidents.  Are there any U.S. policies, though, in place currently that have lead to those isolated incidences that should be reevaluated?

MR. McCLELLAN:  We are a society based on laws and values -- it's not just laws, but also values that we hold dearly.  And certainly, what you bring up has been a stain on the image of the United States abroad.  But if you look at how we address these matters, it shows our commitment to human rights and human dignity.  We hold people accountable when there is abuse.  We take steps to prevent it from happening again, and we do so in a very public way for the world to see that we lead by example, and that we do have values that we hold very dearly and believe in.

Q    So the current policies aren't contributing to the problem?

MR. McCLELLAN:  No.  No.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: Yet governments are failing to confront their lack of success in addressing terrorism, persisting with failed but politically-convenient strategies. Four years after 9/11, the promise to make the world a safer place remains hollow," said Ms Khan.

The US administration’s attempts to dilute the absolute ban on torture through new policies and quasi-management speak such as "environmental manipulation", "stress positions" and "sensory manipulation", was one of the most damaging assaults on global values.

Despite the US administration’s repeated use of the language of justice and freedom there was a huge gap between rhetoric and reality. This was starkly illustrated by the failure to conduct a full and independent investigation into the appalling torture and ill-treatment of detainees by US soldiers in Iraq’s Abu Ghraib prison and the failure to hold senior individuals to account.

"The USA, as the unrivalled political, military and economic hyper-power, sets the tone for governmental behaviour worldwide. When the most powerful country in the world thumbs its nose at the rule of law and human rights, it grants a licence to others to commit abuse with impunity," said Irene Khan.

I COULD LAUGH ON THIS UNTIL I CRIED.  What is the comedy or tragedy of your life today?

Comments

[Karen]

Is that really what McClellan said!? Geez, this guy needs to go down with the rest of them. After the abuse he gave Newsweek, which turned out to be TRUE?!! PuhLeeze! Someone muzzle that beast!

[mutant cat]

Of course they're going to say that. If you repeat bullshit enough maybe one day, just one person might actually believe.

[Agitprop]

Scottie Boy was simply repeating that over and over again in order to "catapult the propaganda".