Friedman’s Bonds with Ahmadinejad and the Arab Absolute Oligarchs…………
““As Turkey and Brazil aspire to play on the global stage, they’re going to face the same criticisms they once doled out. Lula and Erdogan’s visit to Iran came just days after Iran executed five political prisoners who were tortured into confessions. They warmly embraced Ahmadinejad as their brother, but didn’t mention a word about human rights. There seems to be a mistaken assumption that the Palestinians are the only people that seek justice in the Middle East, and if you just invoke their cause you can coddle the likes of Ahmadinejad……………”
Thomas Friedman has selective memory when criticizing Lula and Erdogan: he complains "but didn’t mention aword about human rights". Okay, when was the last time a US president, any US president, pressed the Saudi absolute polygamist princes on human rights? The mullahs no doubt use torture to get confessions, an abhorrent thing done all over the Middle East, but haven’t Bush and Cheney put the US in no position to criticize others on “torture”? Then, about democracy: let’s speak China (and Russia), shall we?
Besides, in four years Ahmadinejad will be gone for sure (term limits), but I bet Mubarak will still be in power, one of the Mubaraks and all the absolute potentates.
Mr. Friedman himself also likes to drop names. Especially names of the absolute royalty with whom he has dined and bonded: did he ever whisper a word for freedom of religion and democracy in the hairy royal ears?
Cheers
mhg
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