As many readers know, Russia decided to play a bit of a gag by releasing a scathing “human rights report” aimed at criticizing the United States over Guatanamo and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, while leaving aside anything having to do with Russia, China, or any other authoritarian regimes that are known as the usual suspects.  The point is clear – of course there are some staggering violations committed by the US, but it’s not like Amnesty International or Human Rights Watch has ever left them off the hook.  The argument always comes down to the claim of double standards, and Moscow’s wish that somehow a crime against humanity committed in one place disqualifies a similar crime elsewhere.

Taking on the mocking report with some level of sincere response, the Freedom House blog delves into these arguments: