US senators ask for UN action in Uzbekistan

[struggle4progress]

By Demetri Sevastopulo in Washington
Published: June 9 2005 00:27 | Last updated: June 9 2005 00:27

A bipartisan group of senators on Wednesday asked the Bush administration to consider whether the US could take action via the United Nations if Uzbekistan does not allow an independent investigation into last month's massacre at Andijan.

In a letter to the Bush administration, four Republican senators - John McCain, Lindsey Graham, John Sununu and Mike DeWine - and two Democrats - Patrick Leahy and Joseph Biden - said the US should reconsider its relationship with Uzbekistan in light of the May 13 massacre, in which hundreds of civilians were reportedly killed by Uzbek forces. <snip>

The US, which has boosted military cooperation with Uzbekistan since the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, is currently considering transforming a temporary military base into a permanent installment. Some State Department officials, however, believe the US should distance itself from the regime of President Islam Karimov to avoid the appearance that the US is supporting some undemocratic countries while urging for the spread of democracy in others.

In the letter to Donald Rumsfeld, defence secretary, and Condoleezza Rice, secretary of state, the senators ask whether the administration knows which Uzbek forces participated in the crackdown and whether any received US military training. US-based human rights investigators are looking into allegations that US-trained Uzbek forces may have participated in the massacre. The Pentagon last week said they had no evidence to substantiate those claims. <snip>


http://news.ft.com/cms/s/78490d36-d874-11d9-8fa7-00000e2511c8.html

[merwin]

1. Don't we hate the UN now?

[struggle4progress]

2. Given, for example, the success of the World Health Organization's ..

.. Smallpox Eradication Programme, which effectively eliminated the scourge of smallpox by 1980, following a long multinational effort which ended the fear and suffering smallpox epidemics have caused since ancient times, it seems clear to me that anyone who despises the United Nations is a complete idiot.

I consider your comment sarcastic -- but it's really no joke, and as far as I'm concerned: THE UN HATERS CAN GO STRAIGHT TO HELL.

[getmeouttahere]

3. Geez, it's maddening....

we're all buddy-buddy with Uzbekistan, so we can get the oil through, despite their human rights abuses, but it's ok for the UN to do our dirty work, even though we are about to place an ambassador there that considers them irrelevant.

Everyday I think BushCo couldn't possibly get more hypocritical, and everyday damned day I'm wrong!!!