Legal Commentary

Glass Houses

By Big Tent Democrat

Glenn Greenwald notes the irony of Fred Hiatt's WaPo lecturing anyone on the damage done to US diplomatic and human rights credibility. Hiatt writes:

According to State's latest report on Egypt, issued Feb. 25, "the government's respect for human rights remained poor" during 2008 "and serious abuses continued in many areas." It cited torture by security forces and a decline in freedom of the press, association and religion. . . "We issue these reports on every country," [Secretary of State Clinton] said. "We hope that it will be taken in the spirit in which it is offered, that we all have room for improvement."

. . . Ms. Clinton's words will be treasured by al-Qaeda recruiters and anti-American propagandists throughout the Middle East. She appears oblivious to how offensive such statements are to the millions of Egyptians who loathe Mr. Mubarak's oppressive government and blame the United States for propping it up.

It is a fair critique, but Fred Hiatt and the WaPo Ed Board can not deliver it after supporting the Bush foreign policies and violation of civil liberties so slavishly for 8 years. Save it for someone with some credibility on these issues Mr. Hiatt.

Speaking for me only

Full post as published by TalkLeft on March 10, 2009 (boomark / email).