Resolution 1373
After discussing Anthony Aghie's, "On making war on the terrorist: imperialism as self-defence" I found myself most interested in his point regarding Resolution 1373. The resolution basically furthers a state's autonomy to exert their full power against terrorist attacks. While this seems rational and legal it is as Antonio Cassese describes, "ambiguous and contradictory."
The United States was able to justify their illegal attack on Afghanistan for harboring the 9/11 terrorists, according to international law. Their attack was legitimized in part by of a former resolution passed on the day following 9/11. Resolution 1368, that emphasized the allowance of states to take self-defensive measures in response to terrorist attacks. Between these two resolutions, the United States has taken it upon themselves to construe the international law to their advantage.
In multiple aspects, the United States can be seen as what Anne Marie Slaughter defines as a "rogue state." But at the same time, the United States is seen as a defender/example of proper statehood. The country operates within a grey area of international law that protects from any sort of censorship by the International Community. Therefore, the illegal activities performed by the United States is almost always legitimized; such as the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.
In all forms of justice and law and fairness and respect and just the general distinction between right and wrong, how the United States operates in regards to international law is wrong in my opinion. The US's active coercion of the UN system makes it difficult for other countries to emerge from the classification of an "uncivil" state. The UN system is meant to protect and enforce laws that have been agreed upon by countries to ensure the safety and sovereignty of ALL nations. As the US continuously subordinates these laws they are slowly but surely taking control of the entire international system.
The War on Terror, coined by the United States, has given the allowance of states to "defend" themselves outside of legality and even pushes it to pre-emptively defend themselves from "terror."
There is now space for nations to attack one another for any reason they see fit. It makes the world a scary place because these laws created to protect citizens no longer has a foundation, and as the social, economic, and environmental state of the world is shifting and advancing/declining the anarchic classification of the international community is no longer abstract but a concerning reality.
The United States was able to justify their illegal attack on Afghanistan for harboring the 9/11 terrorists, according to international law. Their attack was legitimized in part by of a former resolution passed on the day following 9/11. Resolution 1368, that emphasized the allowance of states to take self-defensive measures in response to terrorist attacks. Between these two resolutions, the United States has taken it upon themselves to construe the international law to their advantage.
In multiple aspects, the United States can be seen as what Anne Marie Slaughter defines as a "rogue state." But at the same time, the United States is seen as a defender/example of proper statehood. The country operates within a grey area of international law that protects from any sort of censorship by the International Community. Therefore, the illegal activities performed by the United States is almost always legitimized; such as the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.
In all forms of justice and law and fairness and respect and just the general distinction between right and wrong, how the United States operates in regards to international law is wrong in my opinion. The US's active coercion of the UN system makes it difficult for other countries to emerge from the classification of an "uncivil" state. The UN system is meant to protect and enforce laws that have been agreed upon by countries to ensure the safety and sovereignty of ALL nations. As the US continuously subordinates these laws they are slowly but surely taking control of the entire international system.
The War on Terror, coined by the United States, has given the allowance of states to "defend" themselves outside of legality and even pushes it to pre-emptively defend themselves from "terror."
There is now space for nations to attack one another for any reason they see fit. It makes the world a scary place because these laws created to protect citizens no longer has a foundation, and as the social, economic, and environmental state of the world is shifting and advancing/declining the anarchic classification of the international community is no longer abstract but a concerning reality.
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