When US Officials Discover Human Rights Violations... if it's the 'Right' Side
Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan expressed 'disgusting' at claims of the Trump administration's ICE operations involving shootings. It’s certainly a timely outrage, prompting official statements and media amplification. Yet, similar, or arguably far worse, human rights violations perpetrated by U.S. allies – often funded by U.S. taxpayer dollars – rarely elicit the same visceral reaction or
sustained media spotlight. For instance, while domestic immigration enforcement rightfully faces scrutiny, the systematic destruction of infrastructure and civilian lives by allies—who receive billions in US military aid without 'disgust' from many of the same officials—often remains a muted conversation. One might wonder if human rights violations are only truly 'disgusting' when they happen at
home, or if they lack the appropriate political utility when occurring abroad. The selective outrage is, itself, rather disgusting.