Critics of the US should look at some real human rights villains

SAY what you like about the US, but its approach to internal dissent is in a different league to that of countries like Saudi Arabia and Cuba.

It seems a rather obvious thing to say, but we live in a world where the obvious is constantly ignored. We are eloquent critics of the many flaws in American foreign policy and we come out in our tens of thousands against an 'illegal' war. Yet we ignore glaring abuses perpetrated by other countries and by our silence allow these to continue.

Consider the fact that from January 2003 to January 2004, Libya held the chair on the UN's Human Rights Commission. Libya is hardly known for upholding the human rights of its own citizens, never mind those of the international community. The domestic opponents of that government are either dead or they live in exile under constant threat of assassination.