Re: Clifford D. May’s June 29 commentary, “Rights groups turn a blind eye to terrorists' wrongs":
May claims that "the wealthiest and most powerful human rights organizations" do not regard the torture of two U.S. soldiers as "serious violations of the laws of war and fundamental human rights." To prove his point, May claims he actually looked at the organizations' Web sites. Apparently, May didn't look too hard.
On June 21, eight days before May's screed and only one day after the bodies were located, Human Rights Watch posted on its Web site: "Yesterday’s recovery of the bodies of two U.S. soldiers in Iraq, reportedly with signs of torture, highlights the serious violations of international humanitarian law (laws of war) committed by insurgent groups in Iraq."
The site continued: "Captured combatants must be treated humanely. Torture and other cruel treatment, as well as summarily executing a captured combatant, are war crimes." The organization also linked to a report on its Web site "for more information on violations of the laws of war by insurgent groups in Iraq."
May's other target, Amnesty International, similarly posted on its Web site on June 21: "We are deeply disturbed by reports that these two soldiers were brutally tortured. Amnesty International condemns the torture or summary killing of anyone who has been taken prisoner and reiterates that such acts are absolutely prohibited in international humanitarian law."
Fact-checking isn't hard. It’s just inconvenient for radical ideologues like May.
— Russell A. Burgos, Thousand Oaks
Leave a comment