Passing the global test
Does John Kerry think that the USA should get France's permission to invade who the hell they like?
Well, no.
This article makes clear what Kerry had in mind. The "global test" is nothing more than testing whether your actions are explicable (and by extension rational).
No more, no less. Jefferson, Wilson, Roosevelt all knew that there is a "court of world opinion", that the world looks on and judges, and that it is important for a state to be able to justify itself to its peers. The USA, of course, did not. It ignored its peers, bullied those it could into joining it, and saddled up and illegally invaded another country.
The people whom the leaders must first convince, as Jefferson made clear, are the people they serve. (No, not Exxon and Halliburton, I mean the American people.)
How was this done?
Goering famously said:
"Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to greater danger. It works the same in any country."
PM Allawi tells us that most of Iraq is "perfectly safe". But no region of Iraq is not seeing insurgent action. Altogether there 2,500 attacks last month.
In six of the "perfectly safe" regions, there were four or more attacks per 100,000 people. It took three to create the feeling of not being safe that Bush believes should keep him in power.
posted by Dr Zen @ 10:13 am
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