Bag's Rants

Where is the US going next?

I think we've been concerned for some time over the path the US has been taking under Bush and the UK under Blair.

In many ways the US is the pinnacle of western civilisation. They have a society and a capability to do so many good things and be a productive and tolerant leader on our planet. They have the power and the influence to change the world for the better. Their society is not perfect with so many injustices and inconsistencies but it is one of the best on the planet. They have never used this capability up to now except to fiddle with other countries policies to ensure they meet the US demands for whatever is good for the US.

At the moment under Bush they are using that power more actively. Unfortunately it is the dark side that seems to have taken them due to the events of 911. All they are doing at the moment seems to be turning the world against them. This is not good news as it is a self fulfilling prophesy where more restrictions and attacks are called for which causes retaliation in an every downward spiral calling for more draconian methods.

Bush started off with his either you are for us or against us speech. A good political ploy as it forced people who were not all in to make the final step which they didn't really want to. Pakistan threatened with destruction if they did not join in. How many of the coalition of the willing are actually willing? Then they used this coalition to perform tasks not everyone agreed with but were drawn along. Slowly, countries have pulled out as the sympathy was lost and now the lines are blurred between the fences. People want to help the US but it's attitude makes resistance easier and compromise unlikely. Nobody believes what is being said. It's my way or the highway isn't quite working as well as a few years ago and the US is meeting resistance from it's former allies as they query every statement and discuss compromises. Hell, even Blair is starting to be mistreated by the US so will he bite the hand that pets him? Probably not as he needs this for his future. Sad that he should have one when so many do not because of his actions.

Lately they have had the travesty with human rights which removed many basic human rights and legalised torture. Finally formalising an unofficial policy put in many years ago. The US is making a strategic move from the high ground down into the murky waters of a dictatorship. They are giving up their humanity and compassion and joining in with the savages. Can someone explain to me now the difference between the US torturers and Iraqi torturers? I can only think of one at the moment, subjects won't end up maimed, and that will change as the US starts down the slippery slope. To me this is the single issue that defines how far America has fallen from the intentions in their constitution and as a culture. America under this leadership has made the world a much more dangerous place than it did before. Don't get me wrong the UK is just as bad and if justice was to be served those responsible in both countries would be held accountable.

Now we have a US diplomat, not very diplomatically, saying NK has either a future or nuclear weapons but cannot have them both. No wonder the world is rushing to procure these weapons everyone who the US doesn't like is under a threat of some sort. If I was NK I wouldn't be testing weapons any time soon I would start packing them up for transport leaving a big button on the side as a just in case. I must confess I don't want NK, Iran or any of these people to have nukes but I accept this needs to include us as well. Who has the biggest stock of nukes in the world? If anyone is serious about any negotiations it must include compromise. Force is a last resort not the first. With this lot it is give them their instructions, if they don't obey, force them through sanctions or attack. Hell, won't be long before another attack happens and the US won't know who on the planet is involved as almost everyone will have a reason. Will they attack them all?

Most of us are with you America but Bush is making it really difficult. I hope not too many irreversible things are done by the world against the US before he leaves office. Although with the talk about two CVBG's moving to the middle east makes me think another disaster is in the making. I don't believe that the US can handle Iran at the moment but at the same time when has thinking gone into US policy since 911. My main concern is that if things take a turn for the worse that the US will start looking at it's nukes as a solution to it's current issues and this would not be good news for anyone.

In addition, at the worst time just before an election, it seems that like the UK some of the citizens of the US are getting fed up with politics. Unlike the UK, with their style of democracy the US can still make a difference. Only a little one because like the UK their democracy isn't really working either. Path A or Path B. None of which are too far apart except in a couple of key areas.

I know the American people know what is right and wrong. I have my fingers crossed that whoever they put in does the right thing.

posted by Bag @ 1:20 pm