**Disclaimer: Newbie Poster. Pls Forgive any Etiquette FauxPas
Condeleeze Rice spoke at the "Forum for the Future" in Bahrain, with the stated intent of promoting Democracy in the Middle East... (since that is our current justification for going to war). Though she is an entertaining photo-op ( I have never seen picture of her with a convincing smile, in fact in most photos I am convinced she needs a heavy laxative or relaxant), her words are often fallacious. Especially when she is on the topic of the definition of freedom, and how the US today can facilitate it's spread. Amazing analogy to choose, a virus. A disease which this Administration is intent on infecting areas of economic interest with.
So, let me decipher her most recent missive:
http://www.state.gov/...
"And we continue to support the peoples of Syria in their aspirations for liberty, democracy, and justice. We would like to see an end to the arbitrary detentions of democratic and human rights activists there
(So, if arbitrary detention is not a goal in democracy, and US is the standard bearer of democracy, then why is this administration endeavoring to extend the length of time they can detain "terrorist", even a US citizen. Do not be confused by the name terrorist, protestors of the current "war" in Iraq, were classified as terrorists during the last election cycle. Currently, the extended stays are only given to those that look like they might have some connection to Al Quaeda, but once precedence is set, they have justification for detaining anyone "against" them.)--
including Kamal Labwani and all the prisoners of conscience from the Damascus Spring."
...
"Democracy only achieves lasting success when the rule of law is sanctified,
( this is so timely, with our current national discussion of the use of torture. In the President's speech "We do not torture", he stressed that they were following the law. Cheney, in his discussion with Republican Senators stressed the need to exempt the CIA from any ban on torture, so that they may achieve their goals of protecting US Citizens. So, if the CIA is exempt from "the law", and they torture a "combatant", then they are obeying the law...The Rule of Law is not sanctified here. It is convenient.)
when the media is free
( In the US, the government does not own the media, they just buy them off. With money, access, whatever is necessary... The media is not free, it costs about $350,000 per pundit),
when government is transparent
( Yeah, right! What a laugh. With Executive privilege being used as the hammer daily, this administration has invoked the highest level of secrecy in our history)
and accountable to its people
(Accountability has only come with the serendipitous appointing of Mr. Fitzgerald. Accountability in the US government today is only as deep as they (WH, Congress, Senate) are willing to let it go. Though, if there is a ray of hope in this, it is that the house of cards seems to have hit the maximum capacity and is falling. What would we do without Abramof),
when independent courts ensure justice in society
(All I need to say is Alito, independent means independent of ideological fads also),
when civilians control the military
(She got this one!! Rumsfeld controls the purse strings, therefore the military, but who controls Rumsfeld? (refer to Accountability)),
and when all citizens have equal opportunities to succeed."
(In the era of an increasingly Draconian Budget, the chasmic divide between management and worker pay scales, and the budgetary demise of the State University systems, feudalism is fast encroaching. Gender equal pay is comparatively worse than it was in the era of ERA. This is not an equal society).
I miss the foam bricks to toss at the TV.
Stepping off my soapbox.