HERE IS A GOOD ARTICLE about the Bush administration's hypocritical and self-serving silence while the Uzbekistan government brutally puts down its own people's protests and demonstrations for freedom.

Heated criticism was growing last night over 'double standards' by Washington over human rights, democracy and 'freedom' as fresh evidence emerged of just how brutally Uzbekistan, a US ally in the 'war on terror', put down Friday's unrest in the east of the country.

Outrage among human rights groups followed claims by the White House on Friday that appeared designed to justify the violence of the regime of President Islam Karimov, claiming - as Karimov has - that 'terrorist groups' may have been involved in the uprising.

Critics said the US was prepared to support pro-democracy unrest in some states, but condemn it in others where such policies were inconvenient.

Witnesses and analysts familiar with the region said most protesters were complaining about government corruption and poverty, not espousing Islamic extremism.

The US comments were seized on by Karimov, who said yesterday that the protests were organised by Hizb ut-Tahrir, an Islamic group often accused by Tashkent of seditious extremism. Yet Washington, which has expressed concern over the group's often hardline message, has yet to designate it a terrorist group.

So once again the Bush administration is doing everything it can to persuade the rest of the world -- especially Islamic parts of the world -- that the U.S. has only their best interests at heart.

Poor Karen Hughes. Her mandate is getting tougher and tougher by the day.