The Fogged Out Foggy Bottom

The US State Department is often referred to as “the foggy bottom” because the Washington DC neighborhood in which it is located was first referred to as foggy bottom.  It seems in the 19th century when this area was being developed it was noted for fog and mist in the air, in other words an area where it was difficult to distinguish anything with clarity.

The State Department took another step into the fog yesterday when it released its 2008  report on human rights.  While the report was primarily drafted during 2008, Secretary Clinton signed off on it and made it a statement of the Obama Presidency.  The report outlined human rights abuses around the world but zeroed in on China.  The pot stood there calling the kettle black.

I question why there is ever a need for the US to point critically at other countries (let Time or Newsweek do that) but at times like this it is totally out of place.  Consider this

• China is a land of about 1.5 billion people with a huge percent uneducated and very poor.  The country has been modernizing at a rapid rate and peaceful evolution of a society like this is not easy.  While the situations cited in the State Department assessment are most probably true, the question is so what?  They are all internal issue for China and do not represent crimes against humanity.
• The United States, on the other hand, still occupies Iraq (after initiating an invasion and occupation that has cost Iraq several 100 thousand of dead.  The US still holds over 200 detainees, most for as many as 7 years, without charges in Gauntanamo Detention Facility.  The homeless population in the US is one of the highest in the world and there are more citizens imprisioned in the US than any other country in the world.

The question is simply, “with so much dirt on our own hands, where do we find the room to call someone else out?”  The question is not whether China can do better towards Tibet or regulating the news media or the internet.  Obviously they can. Anyone who takes the time and studies China will see a trend which is progressive (admittedly slow) that favors stability while bringing ALL its citizens into modernity.  This is a huge task and will take much time.

Looking at this from a pragmatic viewpoint, the world is in a recession and history is replete in examples of countries flying apart or becoming aggressive towards neighbors during times of great economic unrest.  The role of responsible Governments at times like this is to (1) put their own house in order, and (2) if so motivated, speak in private with other countries whose behavior is offensive in some respect.   I guess the State Department is just fogged out.  

Advertisement

Explore posts in the same categories: Barack Obama, Democratic Party, Hillary Clinton, Iraq War, Politics, Republican Party

Tags: China, foggy bottom, human rights, state department

You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site.