Defending the Indefensible: Farrakhan on Muammar Gaddafi

During the Nation of Islam's Savior's Day, Minister Louis Farrakhan defended his friend, Muammar Gaddafi. He asserted that no leader receives 100 percent of the people's support. Incredibly, Farrakhan proceeded to compare the ruthless dictator's plight to the persecution of Jesus.

Instead of condemning Gaddafi's deadly attacks on nonviolent protesters, Farrakhan asserted that if Gaddafi is tried before the International Criminal Court then former President George W. Bush and former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld should be tried for war crimes as well. Farrakhan went on to argue that America would do the same thing if there was an uprising here.

Although I have respect for Farrakhan, I strongly disagree with him on this. Justice should be universal. It should apply to friends and foes alike. If the U.S. shot down nonviolent demonstrators, Farrakhan would raise righteous hell. Yet, he excuses Gaddafi.

The same standard applies to American foreign policy. On one hand, the U.S. to coddles repressive so-called "friendly" dictators in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordon, etc. The U.S. also condones Israel's repeated violations of human rights and international law. Conversely, America calls for immediate actions against its enemies, i.e. Iran, Libya, etc. Such hypocrisy is unjust.