Whatever, Dude: U.S. Tags Cuba, Iran As Harsh Rights Abusers

by JASmius



Honestly, why bother with either one?  The Obama Regime is turning Castroid Cuba into a virtual protectorate, and they're arming the mullahs with at the very least all the fixin's they need for a devastating nuclear weapons arsenal.  Is this meant to be some sort of "Look, we're still objective!" gesture?:

The United States on Thursday tagged Iran and Cuba as serial human rights abusers even as the Obama administration accelerates attempts to improve relations with both countries.

Days before the resumption of nuclear talks with Tehran and weeks before the expected reopening of embassies in Washington and Havana, the State Department castigated Iran and Cuba, along with many other nations, as violators of basic freedoms in 2014 in its annual human rights reports.

Last week, the administration also criticized Iran for its "undiminished" support for terrorism in 2014. Cuba was also identified as a "state sponsor of terrorism" in 2014, although it was removed from that list this year.

"Engagement is not the same thing as endorsement," said Tom Malinowski, the assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor, whose office prepared the reports. [emphasis added]

You'll have to forgive me, Tom, but I don't really see the substantive difference.  Any kind of engagement rewards the human rights-abusing regime with recognition, legitimacy, and economic assistance, all of which strengthens that regime.  And in the case if the Iranians, O is rewarding them with a helluva lot more than that, all in his insane, Chamberlainian legacy-quest.  How is that not an endorsement of those regime and every vile thing they stand for?

If you want to change the behavior of despotic governments, you must coerce them, up to and including militarily.  And, of course, in practice, the only way to deal with such regime is to "change" them, as was done to and with Saddam Hussein.  But the least we can do is not reward their bad behavior by "engaging" them.

It re-begs the question: Of what value or meaning is scolding Tehran and Havana for their thuggish misconduct with one hand while showering photo-ops and trade and weapons on them with the other?  To which hand are they likely to pay vastly more attention?

Giving both police states clean human rights slates would be more honest, frankly.  If we're going to betray their countless victims, we might as well be up front and consistent about it.