The Pakistani Spectator

The pulling out of  the 142,000 American troops from Iraq in two phases by  2011 is a good omen of  President Obama Administration to reduce American troops deployment which not only have cost US huge military expenses but given it a look of empire.  One can hope that it lead to expulsion of troops from other parts which for the last 30 years, particularly after the disintegration of Soviet Union, is portraying US like an Caesarian Empire and not as a nation-state republican its founding fathers dreamt.

America was built on the teachings of  John Locke (1632-1683) and  Montesquieu 1689-1755) that people have a right to resist in arms (revolution from below) against an unrepresentative and repressive rule).  The founding fathers of America such as George Washington John Adam, Alexander Hamilton,  Thomas Jefferson adhered to the principles — all providing a guideline for principles of democracy at home and abroad of which American role in today’s world affairs is a total negation of.

American has 726 military bases (small and big) in 120 countries;   925 bases inside America. The idealist imperialism of Woodrow Wilson is no more and they flung across the world like Roman legionnaires on the marches of empire. The parliamentarian ethics American had in the shortest 7 article Constitution with 27 amendments is more or less death under imperialist Presidency, particularly under Bush II.   James Madison who is regarded as the father of the American Constitution said that in no part of the Constitution is more wisdom to be found than in the clause which confides the question of war or peace to the legislature, and not the executive. …. The trust and the temptation would be too great for any one man. Under Bush Administration policies were adopted in large to solve political problems with military use.  63 retired military officers were appointed to very important senior positions in civilian capacity. Bush’s dictum was that either it was his way or highway.  Under his administration  the treaty of International Criminal Court signed by Clinton was not forwarded for Senate approval; opposed Test Ban Treaty of which 163 countries were members; and withdrew from Anti Ballistic Missile Treaty etc.

A drift in the American foreign policy started after the World War II period  after it supported non-representative governments and military actions under the bloc politics rivalry.  However, they were less contrary to its principles until 1960s.  America which held veto power in UN did not use until 1970.  It played the role of moderators in UN for the maintenance of world security and principles under the UN charter.  It was after the emergence of a realist school in White House and Capitol Hill, to which George W Bush actively belongs,  that its role started of a giant settling disputes at power point than diplomacy and international settlement.  The invasion of Iraq taken without the legal requirement of the UN Charter where a consent was required by the Security Council is regarded an aberrance of all.

There has been the growth of hawkish trends among US legislators which was contrary to their tradition in past.   For example,  the ex majority leader (R) Tom Delay who four years ago said that America would have easily won Vietnam had George W. Bush been President.   Or Ron Suskind, a Bush Whitehouse adviser, who said that strength and expansion of US is based on military superiority as depicted.  He is on record saying  We (US) ‘re an empire now and when we act, we create our own reality.Such trends can push America deeper into the fire of war.  US should be bona fide in its claim to defend liberty and justice because these principles are true and right for people no matter in part of the world, but not to go anywhere and fight any foe to promote liberty and freedom as once President Kennedy said .  He realized the limits of  US power by reverting his statement in June 1963, shortly before his assassination, that US could not unilaterally impose our will.  What did US gain out of  Iraq since 2003.  Afghanistan will not be any exemption.   How many innocent men, women and children have been killed and still dying.   America invaded Iraq because there was violation of human rights and its involvement in nuclear bombs which later on proved wrong.  The leading American media and think tank realized that the charges against Iraq were baseless.  Iraq was attacked in lieu of  no consensus in UN Security Council on military action.   Thanks to the veto power of France and Russia, or probably China, otherwise it would have rubbed the already weaker image of UN into no where.  America attacked Iraq in violation of  UN Charter, international law and comity of nations.

People are looking forward for new dawn  under President Obama to restore  the relics of American foreign policy goodwill, promotion of liberty and fraternity is drifted towards warlike and imperial showdown of power.  It should not behave like an empire.