Quote:
Originally posted by jaguar
International law never has had any weight, and never will - there is noone to enfore it, just a whole lot of niceities when it suits us.
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If true, then Slobodan Milosevic is not on trial in The Hague for crimes against humanity. International law does carry weight and is important to increase world peace. Those who openly disregard international law when it is convenient are doomed to suffer consequences later. Even the arch conservative Sec of Defense Rumsfeld was forced to concede the point, contrary to his own personal biases, by those who require international law - America's military men.
That was the fundamentals of another clash between Powell and most of Geroge Jr's administration. George Jr openly disregards anything he 'feels' is inconvenient. Again, this has caused distress among America's closest allies. See Tony Blair's seriously degrading position in Europe because of his support of George Jr. But then, George Jr from his very first month in office has seriously strained America's relations with virtually every ally. No wonder George Jr. finds so much in common with Ariel Sharon - another who disregards international laws and agreements with so much vigor that we all here almost ended up as nuclear Shis Kebab.
In events such as the Cuban Missile Crisis, an appreciation by both sides that the other subscribed to international conventions made possible a settlement without war. Any leader who disregards international law when it is convenient makes it impossible for anyone to trust that leader; therefore makes international disagreement more likely to create international war. International law carries tremendous weight. It is why the US and USSSR were able to avoid nuclear holocast. That respect for international law on both sides was just enough for each side to have some trust in each other - and therefore avoid war.
One man who disregarded international law when it was convenient is now on trial in The Hague - because international law is important - and becoming even moreso.