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October 8, 2004
The Siren Song of "Internationalization"
John Kerry says ad nauseum that he wants to "internationalize" the occupation in Iraq. He says that we should "go to the UN" and attempt to garner support from the "international community."
He says that he would have (or might have, it depends on the day) supported the war if only the president had built up the proper international support.
Really.
The problem, you see, is that John Kerry is not exactly consistent in his support of "internationalization.
He voted against the first Gulf War. The vote in the Senate took place after we had lined up the support of the "world community." This would include France. And Germany. And most of the Arab states. And...but you get the point.
And as far as "internationalization" goes, need we remind the Senator that virtually none of President Clinton's military actions had UN approval?
Haiti was a "unilateral" action by the US.
In Bosnia we intervened under the aegis of "NATO". But nowhere in NATO's charter does it give itself the right to use military force in a third country. It is a defensive alliance, the operative phrase in it's charter being in Article 5
The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence....None of the former Yugoslav republics presented any threat to the United States or to any part of Europe. Comparisons to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand are specious. Now, I think that our involvement in Bosnia was a good thing, if a bit belated. But an argument can be made that it was "illegal".
Posted by Tom at October 8, 2004 9:28 PM
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