In my view, the greatest task facing, say, the next American president on the foreign policy realm is to reestablish the moral authority of the United States as a human rights actor. Now I don’t wanna overstate the case. The U.S. does still have an important voice, say, to stop genocide. The U.S. has actually been an important rhetorical voice on Darfur because the United States does not commit mass murder. It’s not, you know, ethnically cleansing hundreds of thousands of people. So in that sense there is some still residual moral authority to the United States. The U.S. can also credibly promote democracy because, you know, whatever flaws we have in the United States, it still is a credible democracy. But the U.S. cannot with a straight fact promote the fight against torture; the fight against forcible disappearance; the fight against arbitrative detention; the fight against unfair trial; because there are all abuses that the Bush administration has practiced in the name of fighting terrorism. So the real challenge facing a new government is to end those practices; to repudiate them; to hold the authors accountable in some meaningful way; and to recommit the United States to serious respect for human rights even in the tough moments – even when the U.S. is at threat. And in doing that, I think that the United States can reclaim its position as one of the leaders, if not
the leader of the human rights movement at the governmental level. That is absolutely essential, I think, in the long term if the human rights movement is to have the power that it has enjoyed in an earlier era.
Recorded on: 8/14/07
Discuss
Jeff Pollock on January 8, 2008, 8:23 AM
Ever since 9/11, we have squandered an opportunity to be the most liked and supported Democracy/world power. For 2008, consider an experienced but change-capable, more balanced cross-party non-partisan political Pres.-VP pairing like McCain-Lieberman or Bloomberg-Richardson.
Jeff Pollock on January 8, 2008, 1:23 PM
Ever since 9/11, we have squandered an opportunity to be the most liked and supported Democracy/world power. For 2008, consider an experienced but change-capable, more balanced cross-party non-partisan political Pres.-VP pairing like McCain-Lieberman or Bloomberg-Richardson.
John Smith on January 14, 2008, 2:26 PM
On 15-May-1948, why did the American Government advocated a document which called for the creation of the State of Israel?
The moslems (islamists) will listen to us if we stop the unconditional support of the State of Israel. Inform the Israelis that Americans can nolonger afford to spoil them.
John Smith on January 14, 2008, 7:26 PM
On 15-May-1948, why did the American Government advocated a document which called for the creation of the State of Israel?
The moslems (islamists) will listen to us if we stop the unconditional support of the State of Israel. Inform the Israelis that Americans can nolonger afford to spoil them.
Roseanne Kaznak on January 16, 2008, 3:20 PM
NEVER VOTE FOR ANOTHER REPUBLICAN PRESEDENT AGAIN!
Roseanne Kaznak on January 16, 2008, 8:20 PM
NEVER VOTE FOR ANOTHER REPUBLICAN PRESEDENT AGAIN!
Omar Sapayeen on January 17, 2008, 9:16 AM
I don't think America can regain its lost 'authority' on human rights. That America's become a user of torture and arbitrary imprisonment against people does not just speak for the Bush administration. It speaks for the current members of congress, and the people in general.
I hope America does lose its standing as the 'leader of the free world'. The US has developed a messiah complex, whereby it sees itself as the exception to all rules that other countries are bound to abide by. Some see this as a form of imperialism, the American empire. That can't be allowed to happen.
Why can't America simply return to being a country like all others, that exercises its influence only when necessary, for its own needs? No bribing dictators to play nice, no funding regime changes and coupes..No funding assassinations of state leaders.
To play big brother to one side in any given conflict means being the enemy to the other side. Can we really afford to be engaged in having a say and a role in every conflict, and being the bad guy in the eyes of which other side we label as our foe?
Omar Sapayeen on January 17, 2008, 2:16 PM
I don’t think America can regain its lost ‘authority’ on human rights. That America’s become a user of torture and arbitrary imprisonment against people does not just speak for the Bush administration. It speaks for the current members of congress, and the people in general.
I hope America does lose its standing as the ‘leader of the free world’. The US has developed a messiah complex, whereby it sees itself as the exception to all rules that other countries are bound to abide by. Some see this as a form of imperialism, the American empire. That can’t be allowed to happen.
Why can’t America simply return to being a country like all others, that exercises its influence only when necessary, for its own needs? No bribing dictators to play nice, no funding regime changes and coupes..No funding assassinations of state leaders.
To play big brother to one side in any given conflict means being the enemy to the other side. Can we really afford to be engaged in having a say and a role in every conflict, and being the bad guy in the eyes of which other side we label as our foe?
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