Does the Bush Regime Rank as One of the Most Repressive?

Freedom House, an independent nongovernmental organization that supports the expansion of freedom in the world, has released its annual global survey of political rights and civil liberties (selected data Freedom in the World 2007). The eight countries judged to have the most repressive regimes are Cuba, Libya, Myanmar, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Press release:

Sudan, North Korea and Uzbekistan are prominent among the most repressive regimes in the world, according to a report released by Freedom House.

The study, “The Worst of the Worst: The World's Most Repressive Societies 2007,” named seventeen countries with the worst records for political rights and civil liberties, and pointed to thirteen countries which have been on the list for five years or more.

“Repressive regimes can be incredibly resilient, as this year’s list demonstrates,” said Arch Puddington, Director of Research at Freedom House. “Some of the countries on this list are global bullies; others are responsible for unspeakable humanitarian crises. In practically every case, these regimes are resistant to change and are indifferent to their citizens’ political rights, civil liberties and basic human needs.”

The report includes detailed summaries of political and human rights conditions in Belarus, Burma, China, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Laos, Libya, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Zimbabwe. Also included are three territories: Chechnya, Tibet and Western Sahara. Except for Cote d’Ivoire, which is new to the list this year, and Belarus, Equatorial Guinea and Zimbabwe, all have been rated the “worst of the worst” since 2002 or earlier.

You know, with all the hyperbolic demagoguery and hyperventilating fearmongering about "unprecedented expansion of presidential authority", "erosion of civil liberties" due to the advent of such things as the Patriot Act, NSA surveillance programs, data-mining; and also torture/waterboarding (total of 3 cases- the worst of the worst), Guantanamo, rendition, etc., you'd think that the Bush Regime would rank as one of the "worst of the worst".

But no. Reality sings a different tune from the shrill chorus of the conspiratorial nuts and BDS sufferers.

Oh, and another news flash to The World Can’t Wait crowd: The Bush Administration will be out of office in several months from now, and you’ll be irrelevant and proven nothing more than an ineffective sideshow. But you were allowed to exist during the Bush years; and had the freedom to spew your moronic hatespeak, despite (or thanks to?) the “repressive” totalitarian police-state known as the “evil” Bush Regime. It took amazing guts and courage for you to have stood up against Bushitler. Congratulations on your accomplishments!