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February
27, 2003
These are tense times for the post-Cold
War world. A powerful country is evolving into a brutish rogue state.
Its leaders fail to respect basic human rights, routinely flout
international law, and, well, I don't think those "leaders"
were honestly elected. Thousands of civilians have been rounded
up and locked away, without trials and often without even being
charged.
This
nation has built up enormous stockpiles of chemical and biological
weapons. Despite previously signing agreements promising to curb
their nuclear weapons programs, they are now threatening to develop
new nuclear technology, in open defiance of international law.
They
have supported terrorist regimes and murderous dictators with weapons
of mass destruction, often with the full knowledge and blessing
that these weapons would be used on civilians. This country has
also threatened to attack its neighbors, often under the banner
of "self defense." Many experts believe this invasion
is only the first step towards an endless, regional conflict. This
unprovoked aggression, if left unchecked, may very well lead to
chaos and global instability.
Yes,
I'm sure you'll agree, this unchecked aggression must be stopped.
Something must be done about the Bush Administration, before it's
too late.
What's
that? The sound you just heard is untold numbers of ditto heads
and loyal viewers of the Fox News Channel doing double-takes and
dropping jaws. According to Bill 'O Reilly, I could be an Enemy
of the State just for mentioning this. But it's all true. Only in
America would a claim like this even be contested; in Europe and
the rest of the world, it is a widely accepted fact that the United
States, under "President" Bush, has endlessly dismissed
international agreements, bullying countries around, and arrogantly
ignoring world opinion.
And soon,
Bush will launch an unprovoked war, and that war will kill thousands
of innocent civilians. Both are crimes against international law.
This war is built on fear mongering, lies, and outright bullying.
Nobody should be surprised, since this Administration has been discarding
internationalism at every step. Again, all common-sense knowledge
around the world, except here in America. It's much easier for our
media to trump out "experts," who are often members of
the very think tanks that write policy for the White House.
So what,
exactly, is the United States' record on international law, under
"President" Bush?
- Pulled
out from the Kyoto Protocol, the landmark global warming treaty
signed by 178 counties, including the US.
Declined to support the Small Arms Treaty.
Opposed the 1997 Land Mine Treaty, signed by 146 countries. There
are reports that the Pentagon may use landmines in Gulf War II.
Some 26,000 deaths occur each year from mines.
Opposed the verification protocol for the Biological Weapons Convention.
Opposed the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural
Rights, because of a clause declaring a "right to health."
The United States is the only industrialized nation to not have
universal health care.
Opposed the International Criminal Court, at the insistence of
the Pentagon. The treaty had been previously signed by the US.
Pulled
out of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, signed in 1972, so the
Bush Administration could develop its missile defense system.
Only days after the US declared its intention to abrogate the
ABM, a speech by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld outlined
an intensification of plans to develop weapons systems in outer
space.
Opposed the Convention of the Rights of the Child, which was signed
by President Clinton but not ratified by the Senate. The CRC contains
a provision opposing state execution of minors, something the
US does under capital punishment.
Called into question American participation in NATO deployment
in the Balkans.
Rejected an international accord to enforce the 1972 treaty banning
germ warfare.
Opposed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Opposed the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination
Against Women.
Virtually ignored the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development.
Sought the dismissal of a class-action lawsuit filed in the US
against Japan by Asian women forced to work as sex slaves in World
War II.
Next
Page: And this isn't even the half
of it.
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