Bush as champion of human rights?

There's been a bit of debate lately amongst people I know regarding Bush's alleged statement that he had done more for civil rights than any other president. Most people I know would argue that this is utter nonsense. At least one individual, however, is defending this statement on the grounds that Bush's "war on terror" has had an ancillary effect on wars around the globe.

I'm not sure that I'd count stopping civil wars as a "human rights" issue. Human rights include issues such as:

Article 9. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

Article 10. Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

which clearly is at great odds with what our government is doing and trying to do. Or, similarly,

Article 19.

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers,"

which, as Tim's recent experience suggests, is a right that we don't freely enjoy even within our own borders. At this point, it's hard to make the case of Bush advancing human rights.

"Quality of life" is one thing, "human rights" another entirely separate from the former.