Henry Hyde Stands Up to Torturers

Who said Congress wasn’t going after countries that torture? From Under The Same Sun blog: “Illinois Republican Henry Hyde is introducing yet another bill aimed at crippling what remains of the already severely-battered international institution that is still called ‘United’ ‘Nations,’ often against evidence.” More below:
More from Under The Same Sun blog today:

In all fairness, there are some elements of the bill that would be a step forward, such as the provision that would bar human rights violators from serving on U.N. human rights bodies:

The “United Nations Reform Act of 2005” targets a panoply of issues that have troubled critics of the United Nations, particularly Republicans, for years. Among other things, it would seek to cut funding for programs seen as useless and bar human rights violators from serving on U.N. human rights bodies.


Umm, yes. That would be great, actually, Mr. Hyde. Nations that systematically practice torture, impose collective punishment, wage aggressive wars, illegitimately occupy other countries and otherwise blatantly violate a collective, global understanding of minimal standards of protection accrued to personal and psychic integrity of human beings that has become known as “human rights” during a very bloody 20th century should not sit on U.N. human rights bodies, but should have to pay proportionate dues to international organizations — because acting in a criminal fashion does not eliminate one’s responsibilities, but, on the contrary, adds to them.