By John E. Carey
Peace and Freedom
May 29, 2007

This morning at 0801, the President of the United States, George W. Bush, staked his claim as the “Human Rights President.”

After many diplomatic overtures to the United Nations, China and Sudan, the President of the United States said that it was acting more harshly and unilaterally against Sudan for ongoing Human Rights abuses in Darfur.

China is Sudan’s number one foreign investor and protector.

The President called the wrongdoing in Darfur “genocide.”

This is a giant slap in the face to President Hu Jintao of China, who has attempted to downplay China’s involvement and complicity in the genocide in Darfur.

China’s actions in the Sudan now look inexcusable.

This afternoon, President Bush went a step further by welcoming to the White House four of communist Vietnam’s most hated critics. The President of the United States welcomed into the White House Cong Thanh Do, founding member, Peoples Democratic Party of Vietnam; Diem Do, Chair, Vietnam Reform Party; and Nguyen Le Minh, Chair, Vietnam Human Rights Network; Quan Nguyen, Chair, International Committee For Freedom To Support The Non-Violent Movement For Human Rights In Vietnam.

This is the same President Bush who in 2005 welcomed into the Oval Office Vietnam’s Phan Van Khai, the leader of one of the most repressive and intolerant regimes in the communist world.

Khai is gone now and replaced by younger and some might think more tolerant men.On July 4, 2006, Honglien and I published an article in The Washington Times which stated: “The top political leadership of Vietnam just changed. A new team of economic reformers emerged; but their ability to move Vietnam toward a more open and democratic future remains uncertain. The question, as we celebrate Independence Day in America, is this: can democratic governments like the U.S. influence Vietnam toward more freedom and democracy?

Last week in Vietnam, Nguyen Tan Dung was chosen by the communist ruling body as Vietnam’s youngest post-war prime minister, arguably the most significant leadership position in the government. Nguyen Minh Triet, the Communist Party head in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC, formerly Saigon), was chosen as Vietnam’s new president, a more ceremonial position. Nguyen Phu Trong was named as new chairman of the national assembly.

The leaders named nine new cabinet members, who were confirmed by the national assembly, including two deputy premiers and the foreign, defense and finance ministers.”

Our hopefulness didn’t bear fruit.

Vietnam, especially in the last several months, has instituted a deadly round of repression.

So President Bush has accepted the Vietnamese minority into the White House. He has welcomed home the Freedom Fighters. He has extended his hand to those that represent Human Rights in Vietnam.

This is cause for celebration and joy.