“He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from oppression, for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.” – Thomas Paine
“Dissent is the highest form of patriotism.” – Howard Zinn
“If there is a country that has committed unspeakable atrocities in the world, it is the United States of America.” – Nelson Mandela
“If those in charge of our society – politicians, corporate executives, and owners of press and television – can dominate our ideas, they will be secure in their power. They will not need soldiers patrolling the streets. We will control ourselves.” – Howard Zinn
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“If the Nuremberg Laws were applied, every postwar president would have been hanged.” – Noam Chomsky
The above quote was made in 1990 and did not include Presidents after Bush Sr. With the criteria, one can easily see to which ones following, the quote applies.
His reasoning:
Truman for the atomic bomb ( deliberate targeting of civilians as mass murder), plus counter-insurgency work in Greece
Eisenhower for his role in the CIA overthrow of the Arbentz government in Guatemala, maybe also an intervention in Lebanon and the role of CIA in Iran
Kennedy for Bay of Pigs invasion (“outright aggression”), Operation Mongoose, and his involvement in Vietnam
Johnson for Vietnam escalation
Nixon for Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos
Ford he acknowledges as tricky but his support of Indonesian invasion of East Timor (“near-genocidal”)
Carter as “least violent” but supported the Indonesian government despite atrocities
Reagan for “the stuff in Central America,” support of Israeli invasion of Lebanon
Bush (Sr.) for his involvement in the Gulf War
In making his assessment, Mr. Chomsky uses the Nuremberg principles that follow
“The crimes hereinafter set out are punishable as crimes under international law:
- Crimes against peace:
- Planning, preparation, initiation or waging of a war of aggression or a war in violation of international treaties, agreements or assurances;
- Participation in a common plan or conspiracy for the accomplishment of any of the acts mentioned under (I)
Violations of the laws or customs of war which include, but are not limited to, murder, ill-treatment or deportation to slave labor or for any other purpose of civilian population of or in occupied territory, murder of ill-treatment of prisoners of war or persons on the Seas, killing of hostages, plunder of public or private property, wanton destruction of cities, towns or villages, or devastation not justified by military necessity
Murder, extermination, enslavement, deportation and other inhumane acts done against any civilian population, or persecutions on political, racial, or religious grounds, when such acts are done or such persecutions are carried on in execution of or in connection with any crime against peace or any war crime”
“There is a voice that doesn’t use words. Listen.” – Rumi
As Rumi said, be still and listen to the voice that comes from within you. Search your conscience and decide if you will now stand against ignorance, war, and hate.
Peace,
Léa
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