US embassy cable - 05DHAKA350

UNCLAS DHAKA 000350 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR I/FW, B/G, IIP/G/NEA-SA, B/VOA/N (BANGLA SERVICE) STATE 
FOR SA/PAB, SA/PPD (LSCENSNY, SSTRYKER), SA/RA, INR/R/MR, 
AND PASS TO USAID FOR ANE/ASIA/SA/B (WJOHNSON) 
 
CINCPAC FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR, J51 (MAJ TURNER), J45 
(MAJ NICHOLLS) 
 
USARPAC FOR APOP-IM (LTC HEDRICK) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR, OIIP, OPRC, KPAO, PREL, ETRD, PTER, ASEC, BG, OCII 
SUBJECT: Media Reaction: Bush Inauguration;Dhaka 
 
Summary: The "Daily Star" an English daily comments that the 
United States needs to remove the double standard from it 
policies of promoting democracy. 
 
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BUSH INAUGURATION 
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"Spreading 'Freedom and Democracy' ... Are You Serious Mr. 
President?" 
Independent English language newspaper "The Daily Star" op- 
ed article by Brig. Gen. (retired) Shahedul Anam Khan, 
Editor of Defense and Strategic Affairs for the paper 
comments (1/27/05): 
 
... the grave implications on the spread of freedom and 
democracy around the world cannot escape the notice of even 
the casual observer. In fact the U.S. president's speech was 
pegged entirely on the morals of 'democracy' of which 
'freedom' and 'liberty' are the two critical adjuncts. It is 
not surprising that he chose to do so; with the rationale 
for the Iraq war transmuting constantly, it was inevitable. 
How else would one justify a folly except on twisted logic 
and deceptive arguments. 
While the majority of the Americans feel that spreading 
democracy is essential to U.S.' security, even they are 
skeptical about ending tyranny in the world. Some of the 
greatest tyrants were sponsored by the U.S. administration 
in the last century. Some of the most oppressive dictatorial 
regimes in Central and South America, in Asia and the Middle 
East, were abetted by the U.S. administration only because 
they helped serve America's national interest. 
While no one can take issue with the underlying hopes of the 
U.S. president, one cannot see it being fulfilled if the 
policy of double standards is not eschewed, if the meaning 
of freedom and liberty is applied selectively, and if 
national aspirations to freedom is seen as the exclusive 
rights of only those that are in accord with U.S. views, and 
that security is seen not only as the ability to protect 
oneself from aggression but also to acquire means to deter 
it. 
Thomas