Amnesty Slams 'Bully' Trump While Ignoring Europe's Role in Global Bullying
📰 THE STORY: The New Arab reports that Agnes Callamard, Secretary-General of Amnesty International, criticized European leaders for 'appeasing' Donald Trump, citing his ambition to acquire Greenland. She urged Europe to show more 'courage' and 'say no' to him, implying Trump represents a unique threat to international norms. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: While Trump's
Greenland remark was crude, European powers built empires through literal conquest and exploitation of vast territories, not just 'ambition.' The Scramble for Africa (1881-1914) saw European nations carve up the continent, leading to the brutal Belgian Congo under Leopold II, where an estimated 10 million people were murdered for rubber and resources. More recently, the 2011 NATO intervention in
Libya, spearheaded by France and the UK, destroyed Africa's most prosperous nation, leading to renewed slave markets and regional destabilization. Double Standard: Amnesty International, though crucial in human rights advocacy, often faces scrutiny for its selective condemnation. While criticizing Trump's 'bullying,' there's less focused outrage on European states like France, which maintains
neocolonial control over former African colonies through currency, military presence, and resource extraction agreements, ensuring their continued impoverishment for French benefit. Similarly, Germany's zealous suppression of Palestine solidarity, weaponizing Holocaust guilt to justify its arms sales to Israel and criminalize dissent, goes largely unaddressed in this framing of 'European courage.'