"The Arrogance of Power"

I find it quite remarkable how casually the Americans talk about invading other countries or killing foreign leaders, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. I suppose it's part of the imperial mindset that leads them to believe that theirs is a God-given right to do as they damn well please. Although Obama has made an effort to appear different, his is, at best, a perhaps watered-down version of "might makes right" or Pax americana.

With very few exceptions, all this talk of breaking international law goes unchallenged in the United States. No one asks the tough questions about the legality, let alone morality, of the proposed actions. People naturally assume that this is alright, and the debate centers, largely, on how long it's going to take and how much it's going to cost. In other words, "manifest destiny" is fine, if it's cheap and quick. Bomb the hell out of some backward country, kill whomever is in power, put a puppet in charge, and never mind the mess. Meanwhile, talk about democracy and the rule of law, and condemn any "intervention" on the part of lesser powers.

This is, as Sen. William J. Fulbright so aptly called it, "the arrogance of power".