In yet another example of breathtaking hypocrisy, the US State Department condemns Jordan for using the Bush Administration's preferred anti-terrorism tactics:
The State Department's annual human rights report...said the lack of accountability within the mukhabarat and the police resulted "in a climate of impunity" and underscored "significant restrictions on freedom of speech, press, assembly and association." It said the agents "sometimes abuse detainees physically and verbally" and "allegedly also use torture."
(Source: New York Times Heavy Hand of the Secret Police Impeding Reform in Arab World, Nov. 14, 2005 [emphasis added.])
I'm sure glad the US doesn't operate a
secret prison system where suspects are
tortured.
I'm also glad our government operates under a system where
Congress and the courts hold the executive branch accountable for any misdeeds. It sure is nice to know
the FBI can't just go snooping around in my private affairs without first asking a court to issue a warrant. Now if Jordan would only change the name of their secret police to "Homeland Security," enact a "Patriot Act," and replace torture with "cruel, inhuman or degrading" treatment of suspects...