A Great Canadian Speaks

Proud to count Louise Arbour as one of our own, not for the first time:

U.N. human rights chief Louise Arbour warned Wednesday that the U.S.-declared war on terrorism was eroding a global ban on torture. In remarks at the United Nations in the run-up to Human Rights Day on Saturday, Arbour urged Rice to further clarify the U.S. policy on torture and rendition.

"Pursuing security objectives at all costs may create a world in which we are neither safe nor free," Arbour said. "This will certainly be the case if the only choice is between the terrorists and the torturers."

U.S. Ambassador John R. Bolton immediately responded, saying Arbour should be concentrating on "real" human rights abusers such as Zimbabwe and Myanmar — not the United States.

I'm confused. US human rights abuses are well documented. Is John Bolton saying that the United States is not real? Does the UN Ambassador believe that his country is a figment?

Boy, they take the whole "faith-based community" thing seriously.