US frantic to soften harsh language in UN rights report on Iraq

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040603/pl_afp/us_iraq_un_rights&cid=1521&ncid=1480

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States is scrambling to soften allegedly harsh and inflammatory criticism of the US-led coalition in Iraq (news - web sites) that is expected to be contained in a UN human rights report to be released this week, US officials said.


The officials said US diplomats are lobbying for language in a report from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to be toned down in a bid to prevent a new firestorm of controversy over the mistreatment of Iraqi detainees by US troops at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad.


The final version of the report is to be released Friday at UN human rights headquarters in Geneva and Washington fears that, without changes, its publication could complicate efforts to secure passage of a new UN Security Council resolution on Iraq, the officials told AFP on condition of anonymity.


That resolution is critical to securing support for the interim Iraqi government taking power June 30 and for further detailing the mandate of the US-led multinational force to remain in the country after that date.


"What we're looking at in the draft is strong anti-US and inflammatory language that was written before we even got a chance to submit our own information," one official said. "What we're looking for is a more balanced approach."

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[Harrumph]

1. In other words....

they want TORTURE changed to abuse and mistreatment. I hope the UN doesn't fall for this crap.

[NNN0LHI]

2. Rape and murder will have to be reclassified as abuse too n/t

[City Lights]

3. No, rape will be changed to "had sex with" and murder will

be changed to "died of natural causes."

[Just Me]

4. "Frantic" to "soften" and manipulate the truth. SOOO typical.

"What we're looking for is a more balanced approach."

NO. What you are looking for is a lobby to CHANGE or SKEW or MANIPULATE the damned TRUTH!!!

The truth isn't "anti-US",...it is what it is,...the truth: "AND YOU CAN'T HANDLE IT!!!!".

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

5. We're NOT mean, nasty killers and rapists

so stop saying that!

:evilgrin:

[UpInArms]

6. I can hear them whining all the way across the country

"Please please please don't tell the world what we have become! We promise that we will only "abuse" and "mistreat" innocent people from here on. We can't have the unvarnished version circulating! Please.. (grovel, grovel)"

[Spazito]

7. This is so maddening! The bush cabal has no compunction...

about not only delivering a human rights report on other countries but makes sure to embellish those that are in their gun sights yet they want this report watered down, they are BEYOND disgusting.

[Habibi]

8. But--but I thought the UN was irrelevant!

[TahitiNut]

9. Uphemistic States of Anywherewewannabe

:puke:

[Don_G]

10. You Can't Polish A Turd

No matter how badly those dimwits want to.

[shanti]

14. now THAT

really gets to the bottom of it! :evilgrin: CTFU!

[leesa]

11. Well, I'm sure the UN rhetoric is all 'politically motivated' Isn't that

the new code for truth?

[cliss]

12. I was just going to say, you can't cover a turd with frosting.

You beat me to it.

This reminds me of Douglas Feith in the Pentagon, who's frantically trying to make sure none of his staff members read the Taguba report. I've read that he's sent memos to every Pentagon employee, forbidding them to read it, or even discuss it. Even though the report has been read around the world.

Those pink colored glasses.

[NYC]

13. Harsh actions produce harsh language.

Consequences.