Excuse my lack of coherence in this post, but this is the kind of thing that converts my brain tissue to water vapour and drives it out of my ears under high pressure. Some months ago, Amnesty exceeded the clear tems of its own statute by printing thousands of posters opposing the Iraq war, posters that bore (in inch-high capitals) the organization’s lies about the consequences of that war: “50 000 CASUALTIES”, “2 MILLION REFUGEES”. Hmm, acting illegally and lying to justify it, where have we heard accusations like that before?
While I might quibble about the philosophical worth of human rights “discourse”, the language of human rights can provide useful rules-of-thumb when tackling cruel regimes around the planet. Amnesty used to do a good job in highlighting and opposing abuses of such rights. Again, in contravention of its own stated principles, it has now become a political group with its own ideological agenda and—irony of ironies—it produces propaganda and misinformation of the kind that marks out the governments whose activities it criticizes.
I certainly disagree with many of the security policies adopted in the US and the UK since a War on Terror was declared, but the foreign policy strategy of these countries is none of Amnesty’s business, by Amnesty’s own definition of what its business is. Who is Irene Khan to say whether the World is a safer place or not as a result of Coalition military action? Who is she to say that those actions have not promoted liberty? Would she like to have taken her chances with the human rights prevailing in Afghanistan or Iraq before or after our military intervention in those countries? Would she like to explain her ultra vires pontificating to the people who have funded her activities?
Right now I feel the urge to stomp down the road to the Amnesty Bookshop and throw something through one of the windows, but I have to put my pyjamas on and go to bed.
The only travesty here is that some people actually still take AI seriously and at face value. Anyone unsure that communismism propaganda organs morphed and melded into left-wing ‘liberal’ organizations with the fall of the USSR, needs look no further.
You flatter the enemy within.
Communism at least could be said to have derived from a system of thought. It was worth doing the intellectual work necessary to undermine it because, while wrong, it’s wrongness was not completely obvious.
This isn’t about a system of thought, and it’s only indirectly about Right and Left; it’s about bigotry. As I emailed to Claire yesterday evening, Anti-Americanism—for that is what motivates AI and its cousins—is the pout on the face of the indulged child whose younger brother has done rather better in the school sports day. It is (literally) thoughtless, populist sulking.
There are plenty of isolationist Right-wingers, Timbeaux, and plenty of internationalist Left-wingers. I’ve always been one of the latter. Let’s not forget, until he was sitting in front of the big red button (until the sky was black over Manhattan?), George W Bush was one of the former.
Radio 4 had another priceless gem this morning: AI claiming that the last year had seen the worst assault on human rights in the last fifty years. That means editing the Khmer Rouge out of their memories for a start. This is the sort of thing that explains why I’m not a member of AI any more.
I wasn’t referring to iso/inter foreign policy, this is pure ideological politics and a bit deeper than bigotry. Bigotry is merely a tool, an (often subconcious) emotion to play off of. Read this from Ion Pacepa (be sure to read his credentials at the bottom), and tell me AI doesn’t resemble the WPC: http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/comment-pacepa031803.asp
Whether or not Ms. Khan has even admitted it to herself, she and AI are of a totalitarian bent. There’s no lack of irony in the world.
excuse me all if this message is out of context, but i hope you will appreciate it is for a worthy cause! Many thanks in advance
Jessica Siavoshy, a Teaching Assistant and her Iranian husband a master degree student of London University are campaigning to stay in the U.K. Although they have been married for over two years the Home Office refuse to grant permission for Hossein to stay or work in the U.K. They plan to send him back to Iran where he could face imprisonment or worse for being present at a pro-democratic demonstration.
Hossein came to the U.K in October 2000. He fled Iran awaiting sentencing after having spent some months in prison where he was interrogated and tortured. Upon arrival in the U.K Hossein claimed political asylum on the basis of the severe torture he had endured. Hossein complied with the appropriate protocol and returned his initial form to the Home Office within the specified time limit. The Home Office denied that the form had been returned on time and subsequently issued Hossein with a removal notice. When Hossein’s then solicitor produced the postal recorded delivery slip, the Home Office admitted that their actions had been ‘fatally flawed’ but did not remove the form from Hossein’s case folder.
During Hossein’s application, whilst living in West London, Hossein met Jessica, they were married in June 2003.
Even though the Home Office admit that they cannot ‘deny the marriage is genuine’, their application was refused in February 2004 with no right of appeal. It was simply because of Hossein’s failed asylum application and because the Home Office claim that Jessica can easily move to Iran.
To do this Jessica would have to give up her job, way of life, religion and her British Citizenship, as Iran does not recognise dual nationality. The Iranian Embassy have blatantly refused to issue Jessica with a tourist visa, insisting that by Iranian law she must be issued with an Iranian passport, a requirement of which is the conversion to Islam. Jessica is Christian.
Hossein has a settled life within the U.K, and has nothing to go back to in Iran. It is uncertain what would happen to Hossein given his political views, especially since the recent hardliner election victories in Iran. It is certainly far too dangerous for Hossein and Jessica in Iran. Even the Foreign Office website ‘strongly advises against travel to parts of the country’. Removing Hossein from the U.K would result in their forced indefinite separation. As you can imagine this uncertainty is extremely stressful and has adversely affected every aspect of their lives. Jessica and Hossein are both being treated for severe depression.
Through this campaign we aim to put pressure on the Home Office and inform people of the way immigration control is handled in this country by dividing families and couples with no regard for the human rights or private lives of those involved.
Jessica and Hossein are now waiting for their second Judicial Review application to be processed. Please support to ensure they get the response they deserve.
Hossein has been issued with countless removal forms and is due to be deported any day, we ask you to act urgently!
visit the website and make a difference now!