EU urged to lead on human rights as U.S. loses moral authority

It should come as no surprise.

The United States used to be regarded worldwide as a champion of human rights. But no more.

Despite Bush's gratuitous lip service to human rights and the rule of law, we no longer hold the moral high ground. The Bush administration's activities of the past 5+ years in the so-called "war on terror" have done so much damage to this country's reputation. We hold detainees indefinitely without charge or trial. We torture people. We invade countries that pose no immediate threat to us. We tap the phones and read the mail of our own citizens without bothering to obtain the required court warrants.

So Human Rights Watch is now urging the European Union to pick up the slack on human rights.

Upon releasing its Annual Report (which, appropriately enough, was released on January 11, which was the 5th anniversary of the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay), Human Rights Watch stated that

"The Bush administration has proven largely incapable of providing leadership on human rights."

and

"Since the US can't provide credible leadership on human rights, European countries must pick up the slack."

[Read the report.]