Where Are the Democrats on the Uzbek Massacres?
Where Are the Democrats on the Uzbek Massacres?
On Sunday, Senators John McCain (R-AZ), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and John Sununu (R-NH) issued what the New York Times called the “strongest statement by American officials since Uzbekistan carried out a bloody crackdown this month against a revolt and demonstration in the city of Andijon.”
How can this be? Where are the Democrats on this vital issue? Why aren’t they also publicly pressing the Uzbek dictator (and White House ally) Islam Karimov for an investigation into the massacres? Why aren’t they calling out the Bush administration for its milquetoast response to this new Tiananmen?
It’s not as if Karimov has changed his ways. His police are already “rounding up activists in a new crackdown,” AP reports today. And demanding a review of U.S.-Uzbek relations is a serious national security issue. As mentioned in an earlier post, even The Economist thinks Karimov’s “help in the war against terror is outweighed by the encouragement he has given to radicals of every stripe in Central Asia and beyond, and by the damage that association with him does to the West’s reputation.”
The fact is, it’s not always conservative spin or vapid consultants that deserve the blame when Democrats appear unprincipled on matters of national security and foreign affairs. In cases like this, it’s the sad but unmistakable truth.
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YEah, I’ve looked for statements by Reid, Boxer, Pelosi, etc., and can’t seem to find much.
May 31st, 2005 at 11:12 amWe basically need a whole new crop–well, at least 90%–of new Democrats. You’re looking for principled outrage from people who voted for invading Iraq because they were afraid to be seen as anti-patriotic?
Courage is sorely lacking among most Democrats. Maybe because they have no experience in being the minority party, maybe because they just don’t have much courage.
May 31st, 2005 at 12:34 pmi agree that the dems are m.i.a… however, i am secretely delighted that three r’s have taken it upon themselves to push the bush about at least one country (among others) whom we claim as an “ally” that engages in repression and torture… i take it as another sign of fissures in the formerly seamless wall…
May 31st, 2005 at 3:31 pmWhat good does it do for any Democrat to come out publicly against Karimov? You can rant and rail against their “lack of courage” but as long as the Republicans control this country’s foreign policy AT ALL LEVELS, it’s incumbent that the Republicans be held to account for allowing that policy to support such heinous activities. If the Democrats make a fuss, it’ll just get ignored by the media anyway as being another “liberal” critique of the Bushies–and we all know how well *that* plays out.
June 1st, 2005 at 10:38 amI’m not thrilled that the Dems aren’t being more outspoken on the matter, but the media as a whole has been pretty meek on the issue as well. Since the Newsweek debacle, it’s highly unlikely that the media in general is going to do much that might put them in the crosshairs of the Bushies. Without some Republicans leading the charge, there’s absolutely no reason for the Democrats to make a peep.
Where are the Democrats on ANYTHING? Why is Conyers the only one in all of Congress, both the House and Senate, doing his JOB?
We’ve got one guy, Conyers, representing us. That’ s it.
It’s disgusting, it’s shameful, and I hope we vote the whole nasty disgusting mess of them out as soon as possible.
There’s one thing worse than evil people, and thatt is people who LET evil take over.
The Democrats are the biggest bunch of pansy-assed losers I’ve ever seen in my life.
June 1st, 2005 at 2:12 pmAt the risk of being labeled many things, I have pretty much given up on the Democratic party. The “DLCization” is just about complete, and as a consequence, we have a de facto one-party state. Thanks, Bill. They couldn’t have done it without you.
June 1st, 2005 at 3:30 pmDavid is correct. This “DLCing” of the Dems is responsible. If they condemn the attacks in Uzbekistan, they fear they will be labeled “weak”, and they will look like they are criticising our troops. And they are in this shit as well. If Kerry were president, we’d still be giving aid to Uzbekistan.
June 1st, 2005 at 5:06 pmPhil,
I’d add Boxer and Feingold to the list, but it gets pretty thin after that. The Democrats know that this entire pot is about to boil over (thanks almost exclusively to the internet and the new liberal radio shows)…I can hear it in the voices of the radio callers and the bloggers. This house of cards is ready to fall.
June 1st, 2005 at 7:30 pmWhere are they on Sudan?
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November 1st, 2005 at 7:35 am