Sunday, March 09, 2008

A Hero For Our Times

ALadyWho'sWillReallyIsMadeOfIron
ArbourVille



You know all that blather about neoStraussians and their use of the noble lie to unite and guide the body politic by hiding all those awful truths from us that force them to do terrible things in our name?

Well, I've often wondered how these people really feel about those among us who say to hell with all that and tell the truth, regardless.

You know, people like former UN weapons inspector Hans Blix, whom uberStraussian John Bolton decided must be investigated by the CIA because he did NOT find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

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The current UN High Commisioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, who is Canadian, also likes to tell it like it is.

Thus, as you might expect, anti-truth expert extraordinare Mr. Bolton does not like Ms. Arbour's work either:

America's former UN ambassador, John Bolton, said (Arbour's) criticisms were "inappropriate and illegitimate" based on "nothing more as evidence than what she reads in the newspapers."


And while she won't say so, it is my opinion that, because of the subterfuge of people like Mr. Bolton and his ilk, Ms. Arbour is being hounded from office.

But that does not mean that she is going out quietly:

Geneva - UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour, who confirmed yesterday she would leave her post at the end of June, said that countries cannot trample fundamental freedoms when fighting terrorism.

In remarks clearly directed at the United States and its allies, the former United Nations war-crimes prosecutor said that the use of torture and secret renditions must be fully disclosed.

All detainees are entitled to due process and access to the courts, according to Ms. Arbour, who has drawn fire from Washington for her blunt criticism of its counterterrorism methods since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States.

"Let me emphasize once again the need for respecting human rights, as well as for greater transparency and accountability, when countering terrorism," Ms. Arbour told the UN Human Rights Council, presenting a final annual report of her four-year term.

"This requires maximum possible disclosure regarding practices of particular concern, including the use of torture and international transfers of detainees, as well as accountability for illegal actions," she said.


Now, more than ever, we must trumpet the words of truth tellers like Ms. Arbour.

Because there is nothing noble in lies.

Especially those that destroy people's lives and the rule of law

OK?

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