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The Missing Pillar

Posted by KATHY KATTENBURG in International, Politics, War.
Sep 23rd, 2009 | Comments

Jennifer Rubin of Commentary, reacting to Obama’s UN speech:

Now, in his four pillars of foreign policy, what was missing? Why, human rights and democracy, of course.

I was stunned when I read this. I didn’t know Rubin (or anyone else at Commentary) believed in human rights or democracy. Oh, wait. Now I remember. Human rights are for humans, duh. That lets out the inmates of Guantanamo, Bagram, Camp Cropper (and formerly Abu Ghraib), as well as the hundred or so creatures held at those CIA secret interrogation centers. They are all terrorists, by definition, because the United States does not capture, detain, or interrogate anyone who is not a terrorist. If we’ve got ‘em, they are terrorists, by definition. And also by definition, terrorists are not human beings.

Why do you think we call them all “terrorists,” hahahaha! If we called them “suspected terrorists” or — god forbid — “human beings,” we would have to give them human rights!

Now that I’m thinking about this, I remember it’s also part of that “American exceptionalism” thing — that is, “Human rights and democracy are one of the pillars of American foreign policy… except for America.”

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Leonidas

Thats nice Kathy but it really doesn't address the absence of democracy and Human rights as pillars does it? Its really an ad hominem attack piece on Rubin and others at that site, rather than addressing the issue she brought up isn't it?

Anyhow here is my take on the issue itself

Human rights most certainly should have been one of the pillars. If 4 was a "magic number" this still is not a problem as two of his pillars non-proliferation and disarmament & the promotion of peace and security, are essentially the same.

As for democracy, its wise of him to have not included that, despite it being a worthy goal. Such an assertion could cause difficulty in relations with certain countries including allies (at least nominally) like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, not to mention with China and other non democratic nations who while not allies should not be given a banner to unite them.

Human rights is fair game though, even if it does make some countries a bit uneasy if its mentioned, but it can also been seen as a self criticism for Abu Gharib and GITMO and therefore if we include ourselves among those we criticize it takes some of the sting out.

Silhouette

Democracy is fair game. How can we pose as a democracy in foreign lands when now 80% of the american public want the Public Option in health care and their very elected leaders won't vote to let them have it?

America not allowing the Public Option to go forward is a de facto declaration to the rest of a watching world that we no longer are a democracy. Expecting them then to bend to our buzzword "democracy" will have lost all its punch. No country will take us seriously anymore...an unfortunate and often neglected longterm fallout of what's going on with the health care "debate". I infer irony here because a debate happens when significant numbers fall pretty equally on either side of an issue. There no longer is a debate. What we have now is just patent oppression of the People...

GreenDreams

Sadly, we have paid lip service at best to democracy and human rights for our entire history as a nation. In our last 50 years alone we have brought dictators to power all over the world: Pinochet, the Marcoses, Noriega, Castro, the Shah and others. We built the Communist nation of China from a desperately poor third world country to the next superpower. We helped overthrow the elected governments of El Salvador and Chile. And of course, we were the last major nation to give up slavery, and not without a fight.

DLS

Hangups about legalisms associated with terrorists aren't a serious issue here.

The main thing was that the speech was largely full of fluff and "four pillars" is just sadly aping FDR.

DLS

"now 80% of the american public want the Public Option in health care"

Don't you mean 180 per cent? One bogus figure is as good as another, and 180 is even better.

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