"The Suppression of Human Rights"
Excerpts from the book, 'Tinderbox'.
"Terrorism rarely rises out of democratic societies. When it does, terrorist groups are usually suppressed fairly easily , since few people agree with the terrorists' assertion that armed resistance is the best way to force needed political changes... By contrast, it is no coincidence that political movements dedicated to advancing their cause through violence tend to arise within countries where governments hold power through violence. The United States plays a major role in propping up repressive governments which, in turn, has led to a terrorist backlash. Most Middle Easterners do not see American democracy at work, but they do see "Made in USA" on tear gas canisters and bomb casings used against civilians."...
"Even though democracy and individual liberty is not common in the Arab-Islamic world, the emphasis in the West on cultural or religious explanations tends to minimize other factors that are arguably more salient. These include the legacy of colonialism, high levels of militarization, and uneven economic development, much of which can be linked in no small part to the policies of Western governments, including United States."....
"Human rights violations by foreign governments and their lack of
democratic institutions generally get the most attention in the United
States.... in order to mobilize domestic and international opinion
against a regime the US government opposes.....
A large majority of
countries in that region (Middle East) lack democratic institutions and
engage in a consistent pattern of gross and systematic human rights
violations. In addition, three major recipients of US aid -
Morocco, Israel and Turkey - have conquered all or parts of neighboring
countries by force, engaged in ethnic cleansing, and continue to
subjugate the population of these occupied territories in defiance of
the Geneva Convention and the United Nations."...
Do we see the US attacking them? No.
"... Saudi Arabia, a fundamentalist and misogynist theocracy...
engages in widespread human rights abuses, is labeled so frequently in
the United States as a 'moderate' Arab regime."
And also the country of origin of the majority of the 9/11 hijackers. Do we see the US attacking them? No.
"Unlike Saudi Arabia, most Middle Eastern states do have elections. They are usually formalities... In addition, monarchical succession was not automatic to the eldest son or any single member of the royal family; the successor was chosen by a consensus of tribal elders based on his qualifications. It was the British who dominated the Gulf region during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, that helped ossify the sheikly system to a largely inherited position. With the addition of strong American backing... several of these Arab monarchies have evolved from their relatively open traditional tribal governing structures to ones more closely resembling modern bureaucratic authoritarianism. As a result, human rights abuses have increased in a number of these countries.... Popular resentment cannot help but expand beyond the regime in question to its chief foreign patron as well."
"Rampant double standards also fuel resentment of the United States. American officials have condemned Iraqi repression of its Kurdish minority... Meanwhile, just to the north, the United States has armed the Turkish armed forces in their repression of its Kurdish minority.... The right of self-determination for Kuwaiti Arabs while under Iraqi occupation was vigorously defended, but not the right of Palestinian Arabs under Israeli occupation..."
Just a few excerpts from the beginning of chapter one of Stephen Zunes' book, to point out to people who would never pick up a book to read for themselves. So many Westerners are totally ignorant of the real situation or of the double standards and hypocrisy.
