Inside the Ring: AI vs US Govt
// June 3rd, 2005 // World Issues
I arrived to the office with just enough time to rub the sleep from my eyes and flick open Googlenews before my first meeting of the day. Startling my slumbering morning consciousness the phrase “Shamnesty International” flickered across the page. A battle that’s been raging between Amnesty and the US administration was heating up.
In their 2004 Human Rights report, Amnesty International referred to Guantanamo Bay prison as “the gulag of our times”, as part of the identification of a series of human rights violations conducted by the US. The US administration jumped on this exaggeration to discredit the reports statements on the US entirely.
Bush stated, “I’m aware of the Amnesty International report and it’s absurd, it’s an absurd allegation” adding deftly that, “The United States is a country that promotes freedom around the world”.
AI hit back stating US interrogation and detention policies and practices during the “war on terror”, have deliberately and systematically breached the absolute prohibition of torture and Ill-treatment”. AI finished with a clean shot calling the US to allow “International Committee of the Red Cross full access to all detainees including those held in secret locations”.
But for a real blow-by-blow account of the battle so far, lets get ringside on googlenews.
The US comes in with a Right-Right combination….
Bush calls Amnesty criticism of US ‘absurd’
Reuters AlertNet, UK -
Rumsfeld rejects Amnesty’s ‘gulag’ label
CNN -
AI defends the blows and throws a counter…
Amnesty defends ‘Gulag’, urges Guantanamo access
Stuff.co.nz, New Zealand -
Amnesty International throws down the gauntlet: Let the world see …
Daily Times, Pakistan -
The US throws jabs and haymakers in furious attack..
Shamnesty International
Tech Central Station, OH -
Hyperbole and Human Rights
Washington Post, DC -
Ignoring the flurry of punches AI focuses on it’s target…
The real message in the Amnesty report
Miami Herald, FL -
Don’t Dismiss the Torture Report
Los Angeles Times, CA -
So, the term “gulag” is a bit harsh to describe the conditions at the Guantanamo Bay prison camp (June 1). “It’s absurd,” President Bush says. . OK then, let’s be politically correct. Why not call it an “internment/torture facility.” Will that help? Will that help you live in denial a bit longer? Wake up, people!
Les M. Glasser
In this battle it seems that the only referee is the media and googlenews is a schizoid ref at best. On this topic alone it ranged from Reuters to CNN to Daily Times, Pakistan to the famed Tech Central Station, OH. All “news”, all seemingly equal- whether from a global information company, an established media channel, a local web newspaper, or a blog. The imaginary line between “reporting” and “editorial” has been blurred beyond repair.
