Article: Emperor Palpatine aka Darth Cheney Lectures Putin about Freedom

We now have evidence of one of the big weaknesses of this administration, memory retention. Yes, I know, there exists a lot of other, perhaps more important shortcomings, but this one is a serious one too. According to the Associated Press, Cheney today "accused President Vladimir Putin " of restricting the rights of citizens and said that 'no legitimate interest is served' by turning energy resources into implements of blackmail." Cheney went on to say that "in Russia today, opponents of reform are seeking to reverse the gains of the last decade"Russia has a choice to make when it comes to reform, and said that in many areas, 'from religion and the news media to advocacy groups and political parties, the government has unfairly and improperly restricted the rights of the people" no one can justify actions that undermine the territorial integrity of a neighbor, or interfere with democratic movements."
Only fifty-three or so days ago, I wrote an article about how China responded to a similar missive with an embarrassing list of our own issues on Human Rights (see http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_steven_l_060309_thanks_to_bush_and_c.htm ). Here is an excerpt from that article detailing relevant portions of the Chinese response:

"For a long time, the life and security of the people of the United States has not been under efficient protection ... Blacks are given heavier criminal penalties, arrested more frequently and are more likely to be targeted for hate crimes"as in previous years, the State Department pointed the finger at human rights situations in more than 190 countries and regions, including China, but kept silent on the serious violations of human rights in the United States... [It is] an act that fully exposes its hypocrisy and double standard on human rights issues

Since the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, Muslims have been targeted for arrests and detention under 'the banner of 'anti-terrorism,'...

China's report also criticized American foreign policy and detailed prison abuse by American troops in Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, accusing them of using "various kinds of torture" while trying to "extract information." It also touched on gun ownership in the US, secret wiretaps, and the homeless and poverty rate.

Finishing off the humiliation, the Chinese said, "We urge the U.S. government to look squarely at its own human rights problems, reflect what it has done in the human rights field and take concrete measures to improve its own human rights status."
-------------------------------------------------------
I can only imagine that Russia and Putin will respond similarly. Having just seen the Chinese response and knowing what the likely result will be, why is Cheney setting America up for this humiliation? Better yet, why has this administration acted with such contempt for human rights domestically and internationally in the first place? What kind of advice is Cheney getting and from whom? Who thought it was a good idea to give this speech; it is just about either the worst stupidity I have ever seen, or the diplomatic equivalent of masochism. It is even more unbelievable to think that this administration has been at it for six years and still makes such silly mistakes. The entire incompetent bunch should do the country a favor and resign.