When a head of state asked me to listen and decide, I did and I couldnt
agree more. It is time to recognize and realize the simple truth that "a
rogue is a rogue is a rogue." Some might disagree with my conclusion but
the United States is the rogue power today.
Yet, I do hope in the future the U.S. is a world peace power speaking to
the United Nations General Assembly to live up to convictions in the UN
charter based on its human rights record and moral authority not its
economic sanctions or military might.
The foreign and domestic policies pose grave dangers to people of the
world. They are illegal, immoral and illegitimate. They unleash a spirit
of revenge and fear. All are to watch what they say. However, we the
peoples must refuse to allow the Bush administration to speak for us in
return for the empty promise of safety. We must construct means to address
wartime threats to civil liberties and rights as well as uphold
international human rights.
One author believes America should stop meddling in affairs of other
nations and private affairs of its own citizens. Gore Vidals latest work
illustrates the nature of violence America has released on the world with
over 250 military strikes since 1947 48 and that doesnt count the CIA
operations such as Chile that also commemorates September 11, the date of
the coup and subsequent dictatorship where thousands perished.
"I dont think the American people deserved what happened," Vidal said.
"Nor do we deserve the sort of governments we have had over the last 40
years. Our governments have brought this upon us by their actions all over
the world."
Will the war on Iraq continue this tradition? What nation will be next in
the war on terrorism? Is there an end or a new doctrine of devastation and
fear on the world?
What coordinated campaigns can be conducted to change world to prevent
future acts of terrorism and more important eradicate root causes of
poverty and despair.
The U.S. record mirrors Iraq in compliance with international instruments
of law focusing on peace and human rights.
Crusading Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon joined chorus criticizing campaign
against terrorism citing U.S. action as "illicit." Garzon is the top-anti
terrorism judge almost punishing Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet and was
critical saying U.S. uses "illicit methods to pursue crimes like
terrorism."
The United States is the number one exporter of weapons in the world.While
the U.S. provides weapons, its not living up to the global standard in
social services. Most Americans think we give billions in foreign aid, yet
we are the lowest in foreign aid among developed countries. The United
States ranks at the bottom of foreign aid assistance with only .10% of its
foreign aid percentage of gross domestic products being shared.
In 1984, the US quit UNESCO. In 1986, the International Court of Justice
(The Hague) ruled that the U.S. was in violation of international law for
"unlawful use of force" in Nicaragua, through its actions. The US refused
to recognize the Courts jurisdiction. The UN resolution calling for
compliance with the Courts decision was approved 94 2. The U.S. and its
walking buddy Israel voted no. Both are bad practices, yet our actions on
the International Criminal Court are criminal.
The U.S. unsigned an international treaty which has never been done in the
history of international law. The U.S. passed a national law authorizing
the use of military force to invade the Hague, the capital of our NATO
ally, the Netherlands. That is the U.S. response to the creation of the
new International Criminal Court also headquartered in the Hague. It is a
step in the wrong direction, the American public was hoping for a
ratification of the Rome Treaty instead. The American Servicemembers
Protection Act is dubbed the "Hague invasion" legislation because military
force is authorized to liberate any American or citizen of a U.S. allied
nation being hold by the court.
Instead, the U.S. actions of unilateralism with military instead of moral
strength fuel the flames of resentment and opinion of U.S. foreign policy.
Rifts are appearing in our alliances over actions that should raise U.S.
citizen concern such as combatants taken half way around the world to camp
x-ray on military base in Cuba in disregard of international humanitarian
law. Now, we call for the Geneva Conventions when our prisoners are in
harms way. We must uphold international law consistently not when its
convenient.
The U.S. could have taken many steps toward our safety after September 11,
2001. One would be to wean our nation from Middle East oil and also to
begin a new chapter in the countrys future focusing on alternative
energies as a national priority instead of narrow patriotism and
continuing as before even taking actions that antagonize the Arab world
even more.
The U.S. also doesnt pursue alternative energy forms such as renewable
energy, instead a foreign policy based on fossil fuels. Besides the
blocking move at the global earth summit in 2002 rejecting all
initiatives, there is also little government support for citizen and some
corporation initiatives for solar and wind energy models. Instead of
seeking solutions with alternative energies and recognize
interconnectedness of our daily living practices with foreign policy, our
leadership told us to shop and be patriotic. The world needed to soul
search and wage peace.
We have monopoly on military might yet not on pain. The U.S. has to
recognize pain facing people and put all of our resources to help humanity
instead of being five percent of the blue marble population using an
entire quarter of worlds resources.
Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger spoke out against Iraq attack.
He wrote in latest foreign policy book, "Americas ultimate challenge is to
transfer its power into a moral consensus, promoting its value not by
imposition but by their willing acceptance."
The current war in the Middle East is the wrong direction for even the
Kissingers of the world. Listen to the people, we want peace in the world
and will we wage peace on the grassroots and global level until basic
needs are met for all people and a culture of peace and human rights will
be a common strand in our global civil society.