Blair, Howard and Uribe to be awarded US Medal of Freedom

In the latest sickening move in Dubya's last days he has decided to award Tony Blair, ex-Australian PM John Howard and Colombian President and US stooge Alvaro Uribe the US medal of freedom.

Thankfully Howard and Blair are now gone and reviled in their own countries. Uribe is still in place presiding over a country where forced displacement has increased, extra-judicial executions have gone up, the numbers of political prisoners in Colombian jails has soared and more trade unionists are being murdered each year.

Bush the hypocrite - part II

Last week I was commenting on Bush's hypocrisy commenting on China's human rights abuses. Just a week later we are now faced with yet more sickening displays of double standards from Dubya.

His full speech can be found at http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/08/20080815.html. I will highlight a few of the worst parts here:

"The United States and our allies stand with the people of Georgia and their democratically elected government. Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected."

The United States were notably quiet in condemning the attempted overthrow of democratically elected Hugo Chavez in 2002. They also supported the overthrow of democratically elected Allende in the 1973 Chilean coup which installed dictator Pinochet. These are just two examples of the US's constant interference in the affairs of democratically elected governments.

"Bullying and intimidation are not acceptable ways to conduct foreign policy in the 21st century."

Surely the constant belligerent rhetoric and threats towards Iran could be seen as bullying. Certainly invading Afghanistan and Iraq without a UN mandate are not only bullying but illegal under international law.

"The Cold War is over. The days of satellite states and spheres of influence are behind us."

How about the number of countries with US bases in. Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_military_bases

At the end of the day it is the US's constant push to expand NATO to Russia's borders and the creation of missile defence system in Eastern Europe which are provoking Russia.

Russia should not be invading and occupying Georgia, but the US is by no means an innocent by-stander.

Weather: Monday - Thursday rain, today had a bit of sun.

Listening to: Foo Fighters

Bush the hypocrite

George W Bush today condemned China saying "The US believes the people of China deserve the fundamental liberty that is the natural right of all human beings" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7546376.stm). Fair enough, no one would argue with that, but Bush has no moral authority to come out with such statements.

The US is a serial flouter of human rights and international law. Only this week the US executed Jose Medellin despite condemnation from the ICJ (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7542794.stm).

We are also still faced the hell-hole which is Guantanamo Bay, where the detainees human rights are ignored with many being incarcerated for over 7 years without the right to trial.

Perhaps Mr Bush you should get your own house in order before condemning others. Particularly the selective condemnation you apply which ignores the human rights abuses of Israel, Colombia, Saudi Arabia and many others.

Or maybe you should just shut up and spend the rest of your lame duck presidency dancing away like the monkey you are:



Weather: Rainy and overcast Monday - Wednesday. Yesterday the rain was torrential: