Tuesday, June 14, 2005

Those who forget the past ...

Then -
In the early 80's through the early 90's up to the first Gulf War America had an ally for whom the United States was willing to overlook his crimes against humanity for the sake of stategic diplomacy. His name is Saddam Hussein.

Now -
U.S. Opposed Calls at NATO for Probes of Uzbek Killings
Defense officials from Russia and the United States last week helped block a new demand for an international probe into the Uzbekistan government's shooting of hundreds of protesters last month, according to U.S. and diplomatic officials.
Islam Karimov
Karimov's record on human rights and press freedom has met with considerable criticism in the international community. In particular, outspoken former British Ambassador in Uzbekistan Craig Murray has pointed to reports of Karimov's regime boiling people to death, and the United Nations has found torture "institutionalized, systematic, and rampant" in Uzbekistan's justice system. Karimov is still a close friend and staunch ally of George W. Bush, who has generally been silent regarding the regime's abuses due to U.S. strategic military interests in the region


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