Doing the U.S.' Dirty Work

This supposed "war on terrorism" by the U.S. has been fought legally and illegally, using every trick in the book, and then some, to achieve its goals. One of its major elements has been circumventing constitutional principles, international law and whatever legitimate restraints there are, in order to engage in improper treatment of prisoners or, even, suspects. From the very start, the U.S. has used its great power to force other countries to cooperate in this scheme, either serving as conduits or safe havens for detainees improperly held or actually doing the U.S. dirty work by torturing those people.

Afghanistan has been one of those American partners-in-crime, and the souring in the relationship between the two countries has brought this to the fore. There are many more crimes committed by the U.S. on Afghan soil than the ones by Robert Bales. We can only hope that they are revealed and do not go unpunished.

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