HRW Should Fire Garlasco

It’s time for Human Rights Watch, to retain credibility and respectability, to fire Mark Garlasco.

Like any large organization, and one dedicated to a strong human rights defense, Human Rights Watch produces many analyses that some may welcome and others not, often depending on whose ox is gored. I, for one, depend on HRW’s thorough work in many areas of concern.

But, when one of its prominent employees – Mark Garlasco -- is clearly and repeatedly excessive in his comments, and on thin grounds, that employee has become more than a temporary embarrassment, instead a dangerous hindrance to HRW being taken seriously on other matters. Really oppressed individuals and groups around the world, then, will suffer more for such irresponsibility.

Garlasco’s description as a bomb-damage expert is questionable. See here.

Garlasco rushed to judgment of the Marines at Haditha, saying it “appears to be outright murder,” although admitting he had "no idea of the facts."

Now, his admission that his world-publicized accusation is false against Israel artillery fire killing eight Palestinians at a Gaza beach. (Note: This being the same beach that Palestinians use to launch rockets against Israeli civilians.)

Human Rights Watch’s reports on Israel-Palestinian matters are tilted against Israel.

That’s bad enough, although reasonable people can differ on some of the details. But, the continued employment of Garlasco is beyond the pale and inexcusable.