The Guardian (October 8)
“Sport and politics often mix. But authoritarian regimes are clearly laundering their reputations through control of global games.” On one hand, “the ruthless advance of commercial interests” may seem “like progress,” but “realpolitik can’t be overlooked. Respecting different cultures does not mean abuse is condoned. The lure of the arena ought not excuse a lack of moral responsibility.”
Tags: Abuse, Authoritarian regimes, Commercial interests, Control, Cultures, Global games, Laundering, Politics, Progress, Realpolitik, Reputations, Respect, Ruthless, Sport
The Economist (January 18)
“America is weaponising its currency and financial system” like never before, but the “use of sanctions could endanger the dollar in the long term!” Other countries, both allies and enemies, increasingly view the Trump administration’s aggressive use of the dollar-based financial system “as an abuse of power.” Ultimately, this “may eventually lead to the demise of America’s financial hegemony, as other countries seek to dethrone its mighty currency.”
Tags: Abuse, Allies, Currency, Dollar, Enemies, Financial system, Hegemony, Sanctions, Trump, U.S., Weaponising
Washington Post (November 20)
“Even Republicans’ preferred witnesses are implicating Trump.” At Tuesday’s hearings by the House Intelligence Committee, “it was striking that the stories” told by the witnesses selected by the President’s party, “simply added to the evidence that President Trump abused his office and twisted long-standing U.S. policy in Ukraine to serve his personal political interests.”
Tags: Abuse, Evidence, Hearings, House Intelligence Committee, Implicating, Republicans, Trump, U.S., Ukraine, Witnesses
LA Times (November 6)
“Conservatives shouldn’t trust Trump with their votes, or the Constitution.” If elected, he would “be able to abuse his power with impunity — and, based on his own statements and his track record, he would feel little restraint in doing so.
Tags: Abuse, Conservatives, Constitution, Impunity, Power, Restraint, Track record, Trump, Votes
Washington Post (December 29)
In China, rule by law is an “empty promise.” In the years since President Xi Jinping “came to power, hundreds of rights defenders and intellectuals have been thrown into prison for political reasons. Properties have been expropriated or demolished, free speech has been restricted, religion has been suppressed, women have been forced to have abortions, and torture has multiplied. In Xinjiang and Tibet, the authorities have carried out one shocking human rights catastrophe after another. The abuses have never stopped.” The current Government campaign of “‘governing the country according to law’ is just another attempt by the party to address its crisis of legitimacy. Such slogans may help the party fool people within China and the international community.”
Tags: Abuse, China, Crisis, Empty promise, Free speech, Government, Human rights, Legitimacy, Prison, Religion, Rule by law, Tibet, Torture, Xi, Xinjiang
Wall Street Journal (March 17)
“Unlike most U.N. documents,” the report on human rights abuse in North Korea “demands action.” Much credit is due retired Australian judge Michael Kirby, who chaired the commission that wrote the report. By chronicling widespread abuse with “evidentiary rigor,” they created a report with “striking emotional power.”
Tags: Abuse, Australia, Human rights, Michael Kirby, North Korea, Report, U.N.
