Rule of Law II

Rule of law is often cited by Bush as a hallmark of a civilized nation. So what are we, a civilized nation, doing in Guantánamo?

For myself, I found it quite telling when the administration reacted so vehemently to the criticism of this prison camp by Amnesty International.

“President Bush called the report "absurd" several times, and said it was the product of people who "hate America." Vice President Dick Cheney told CNN that he was "offended" by the use of the term and that he did not take the organization "seriously." And Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld called the comparison "reprehensible."”

This is pretty much typical of what these people do when criticized; they attack and never answer the criticism with facts that might support their position. I guess it’s all part of the “the best defense is a good offense” mentality.

Amnesty replies… "If our reports are so 'absurd,' why did the administration repeatedly cite our findings about Saddam Hussein before the Iraq war?" wrote William F. Schultz, executive director of the group's United States branch, in a letter to the editor being published Saturday in The New York Times. "Why does it welcome our criticisms of Cuba, China and North Korea? And why does it cite our research in its own annual human rights reports?"

All good questions. But will this administration step off of its high horse and answer them?