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Originally Posted by webwench
No one did or can 'give' us the right, we claimed the right to take action because we could, and because it was in our economic and political interests to do so. Call me cynical, but this is the nature of nationhood, and you see this scenario repeated in different places and times featuring different players throughout history. We need no other motive beyond 'it is in our interests to do this' to do something, and we certainly aren't required to seek permission from the U.N. or anyone else to do it.
Note that I am not defending the rightness or wrongness of these particular actions, and I have no interest in getting into another Iraq flamewar. I'm just answering that 'who gives you the right?' question honestly.
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I assume, therefore, that you would have just as dispassionate an attitude toward another country "claiming the right" against us--say, North Korea, by way of a nuclear attack?
I understand your point--that this is the pattern that powerful nations have followed for as long as we have kept track of such things. Nations that have aspired to empire have certainly followed this pattern, always to their ultimate detriment. Is there no room for idealism in this country any longer? Because we can, therefore we do--is that our only abiding value? Is there no possibility that this nation--so fond of telling all who will listen of its greatness--will for once break the might-makes-right cycle? Or is that asking for too much?
Joe B.