The US State Department has accused Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states of not doing enough to combat human trafficking.
Such impertinence! Why should the US think it has the God-given right to criticise all and sundry just because they perceive, usually inaccurately, some behaviour that does not conform to their way of life?
Is the US really capable of adopting a holier-than-thou stance, especially bearing in mind the manner in which the military treat prisoners in Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo - and let us not forget those prisoners held in Afghanistan, who fared no better and "disappeared from site" and are still unaccountable?
If the US wants to compare its record of humanity against that of Gulf states, then it will find that as what is now considered to be by far the most powerful nation in the world, it falls very far short of exemplary behaviour.
The US administration carries far too much baggage to be considered beyond criticism, and it is for this reason the Bush administration has lost so much credibility around the world. It is also why so many are counting on a complete change, come November, which will show a different incumbent in the White House next January.
In its typical fashion of not fully investigating facts before making a statement, and combining what little fact they have with biased opinion, the State Department has effectively shot itself in the foot. It has overlooked much of the good work that has been done in the GCC states in recent years to stop human trafficking and abuse of labour.
It has also ignored the many laws that Gulf nations have introduced to better the lot of the mainly expatriate labour force who come to the GCC nations - of their own accord - to improve the lives.
The US is best advised to put its own glass house in order before throwing brickbats at others.
