tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8461744.post112966541356409264..comments2008-12-09T02:04:13.942-05:00James Shotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11078486708047863989noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8461744.post-1129909634704953462005-10-21T11:47:00.000-04:002005-10-21T11:47:00.000-04:00Welcome back, Mr. P.<BR/><BR/>It's good to find another area where we agree.<BR/><BR/>I don't totally discount what Amnesty does, but I think they overstate the case sometimes. In a case like Zimbabwe, it's difficult to overstate the abuses.<BR/><BR/>My biggest objection to Amnesty is twofold: First, it opposes the death penalty, and behaves as if it is barbaric, on the same level as murder. That, of course, is not the reality of the death penalty in the U.S., the screw-ups notwithstanding. Second, it is very myopic. For example, in Iraq Amnesty overlooks the fact that 25 million people who not long ago lived under a brutal, oppressive dictator now have the opportunity to build a free society, and focuses only on the negative aspects of the fight for independence.James Howard Shotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11078486708047863989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8461744.post-1129897525755581072005-10-21T08:25:00.000-04:002005-10-21T08:25:00.000-04:00Very true indeed - in fact, it appears he is worse than a thug, he is yet another crackpot despot leader that needs deposing.<BR/><BR/>Ironic that you cite Amnesty, though, as they have had some choice words to say about Bush and Blair as well...JL Paganohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00545313456435412626noreply@blogger.com