Freeance in action

Liberal Oasis takes note of the Bush Administration's hypocrisy in the form of who Condi Rice hangs out with -- while waving the saber against Iran.

Yesterday, Condi Rice stood next to Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo -- a man who has made Parade’s “Annual List of the World’s 10 Worst Dictators” four years running -- and called him “a good friend.”

Then, with Obiang at her side, she proceed to threaten Iran, calling on the U.N. Security Council to take “strong steps” against it.

This hypocrisy would be funny, if it weren’t so damaging to our national security.

Rice just two months ago reiterated our foreign policy objectives as “stem the tide of terrorism and to help advance freedom and democratic rights.”

In turn, she said our Iran policy is to “actively confront the aggressive policies of the Iranian regime. At the same time, we will work to support the aspirations of the Iranian people for freedom and democracy in their country.”

Let's look once again at how Iran is the focus of "freedom and democracy" while she is standing next to a dictator!!!


(REUTERS/Jason Reed)
Obiang took power in this tiny West African nation by overthrowing his uncle more than 25 years ago. According to a United Nations inspector, torture “is the normal means of investigation” in Equatorial Guinea. There is no freedom of speech, and there are no bookstores or newsstands. The one private radio station is owned by Obiang’s son. Since major oil reserves were discovered in Equatorial Guinea in 1995, Obiang has deposited more than $700 million into special accounts in U.S. banks. Meanwhile, most of his people live on less than $1 a day.