6-29-06 Universality
The principle of universality is sort of like "What's good for the goose is good for the gander." Kids will typically call their parents out on this very principle when objecting to the "Do as I say, not as I do" brand of parental directive. In the Global War On Terror, some have argued that the United States government has ignored this principle.
Certainly, the flavor of the GWOT is complex. On the one hand, our government's angle is to attack, rather than defend. This is an acknowledged tactic in war that bears scrutiny. On the other hand, critics claim, not without a good leg to stand on, that universality applies. Some go so far as to call the US government's actions in the GWOT acts of terrorism themselves.
Today the US Supreme Court handed down a decision that has the blogs chattering...
Hamdan Summary
Explicitly, the Court has affirmed today that as regards the treatment of prisioners, the Geneva Conventions against torture DO APPLY. The catch (there's always a catch) is that the "enemy combatants" being held at Gitmo are not, as a class in this so-called GWOT, signatories to the Geneva Conventions.
The principle of universality, wherein the US government would treat others in the same manner they would expect others to treat us, is such a basic tenet of our civilization that I find it difficult to comprehend how our government has gotten us into such a horrible situation. Granted, the CIA, et al, has probably been doing this sort of thing, torturing secret "detainees", for a bit longer than the past six years. Here's an article on that subject...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,,1664207,00.html
Written over six months ago, Klein's commentary on the subject was no epiphany for me, but the point is well made that Americans need to get with the program when it comes to what we really stand for. Turning a blind eye to the criminality of our elected officials, and their cadre of henchmen, is why we're here in this mess today.
I'll end this with an appropriate quote...
"If you're well-adjusted these days, then you're just not paying attention."
-Dave Maynard on WBZ radio, circa mid-1980's
Certainly, the flavor of the GWOT is complex. On the one hand, our government's angle is to attack, rather than defend. This is an acknowledged tactic in war that bears scrutiny. On the other hand, critics claim, not without a good leg to stand on, that universality applies. Some go so far as to call the US government's actions in the GWOT acts of terrorism themselves.
Today the US Supreme Court handed down a decision that has the blogs chattering...
Hamdan Summary
Explicitly, the Court has affirmed today that as regards the treatment of prisioners, the Geneva Conventions against torture DO APPLY. The catch (there's always a catch) is that the "enemy combatants" being held at Gitmo are not, as a class in this so-called GWOT, signatories to the Geneva Conventions.
The principle of universality, wherein the US government would treat others in the same manner they would expect others to treat us, is such a basic tenet of our civilization that I find it difficult to comprehend how our government has gotten us into such a horrible situation. Granted, the CIA, et al, has probably been doing this sort of thing, torturing secret "detainees", for a bit longer than the past six years. Here's an article on that subject...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,,1664207,00.html
Written over six months ago, Klein's commentary on the subject was no epiphany for me, but the point is well made that Americans need to get with the program when it comes to what we really stand for. Turning a blind eye to the criminality of our elected officials, and their cadre of henchmen, is why we're here in this mess today.
I'll end this with an appropriate quote...
"If you're well-adjusted these days, then you're just not paying attention."
-Dave Maynard on WBZ radio, circa mid-1980's
posted by Jeff Barnard at 4:29 PM
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