Leftist Views on Uzbekistan

The Left definitely does not see the rioting in Uzbekistan as evidence that the fire of freedom is spreading around the world.

Instead, their focus is on anti-Americanism: the US rendering of prisoners to Uzbekistan, and Uzbekistan's role in the US invasion of Afghanistan. Here's a typical post:

Uzbekistan, which became an independent state in 1991, has retained much of its Soviet legacy. It has no independent political parties, no free and fair elections, and no independent news media. Torture and police brutality are widespread. Most vulnerable are political dissidents and religious Muslims who worship outside state controls.

Human Rights Watch
U.S. Cautioned on New Ally
October 4, 2001

It was my pleasure to bring to President [Karimov] the greetings of President Bush and also to extend to him our thanks for all the support we have received from Uzbekistan in pursuing this campaign against terrorism in Afghanistan and elsewhere throughout the world as well. They have been an important member of this coalition against terrorism, and I’m sure they will continue to be so in the future.

Colin Powell
Joint Press Conference with Karimov
December 8, 2001

The Uzbek situation is a challenge to the Bush Doctrine of fighting terrorism by supporting democracy. The State Department is taking a middle ground so far (here, scroll down about one quarter of the way), starting critical:

QUESTION: Uzbekistan and the EU seem to have blamed the Government of Uzbekistan for the violence. Would that be the view of the U.S. Government, too?

MR. BOUCHER: We have been looking at this situation. We have been following it closely. I would note that while we have been very consistently critical of the human rights situation in Uzbekistan, we are very concerned about the outbreak of violence in Adijan, in particularly the escape of prisoners, including possibly members of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, an organization we consider a terrorist organization.

I think at this point we're looking to all the parties involved to exercise restraint, avoid any unnecessary loss of life. But we are continuing to follow the situation closely.

But later, diplomacy steps in:

QUESTION: Regardless of what the European Union said about this, the reports are that Uzbek troops opened fire on a square in this town. Do you think that's a good idea? Do you think that is excessive violence?

MR. BOUCHER: We don't think anybody should be using violence. We think everybody should be using -- whatever -- that everybody should be using restraint and doing whatever they can to avoid violence in this kind of situation, but I'm not going to comment on the latest report.

The US has been critical of human rights conditions in Uzbekistan, even cutting aid when promised human rights improvements failed to materialize. It's time to keep the pressure on and show the world -- and its remaining despots -- that we stand for freedom.