The USA used to be the champion of the concept of universal human rights. We were instrumental in pushing for a review of the Geneva Conventions after WWII, when it became clear that certain old ways of viewing war weren't going to cover all of the problems encountered during that war. We were also instrumental in pushing for the 1977 Protocols, which were then vilified by the neocons of the Reagan regime.
The neocons are back in power again, and so much for universal human rights. Apparently, now, human rights are only for us not them. Rights for some but not for all. And if someone else violates rights or refuses to accept the concept of a rule of law, the accepted (neocon) view seems to be that it is then just fine for us to violate them too. Tit for tat. They're terrorists! So we should act just like them. They violate the Geneva Conventions so we will too. It's just sad.

Bookmarks