America is not the world's policeman – in Syria or Iraq (Interview with Hans Blix)

[morningfog]

Nathan Gardels: Based on your experience, and what you've seen in recent days, do you believe the verdict of the Western intelligence agencies that Assad used chemical weapons is credible and reliable?

Hans Blix: The indications are certainly in the direction of the use of chemical weapons. Also, the circumstantial evidence points to the Assad regime carrying out the use of such weapons.

However, since the Western powers have asked for United Nations inspections – and Syria has accepted and inspectors have been put in the field – we all should wait to see the report of the inspectors before action is taken.

As we’ve seen before, the political dynamics are running ahead of due process.

Gardels: An echo of Iraq under President Bush?

Blix: In a way, yes. Then, too, the Americans and their allies asked for inspections for mass destruction weapons. Then, too, they said, “forget it, we have enough evidence on our own to act. We are the world police. Our publics are demanding immediate action!”

I do not go along with the statement by the US that “it is too late” for Syria now to cooperate. That is a poor excuse for taking military action.

Only last March, the West was satisfied with inspections concerning the use of chemical weapons. Why can’t they wait again now? In one month when you have accurate tissue samples we will know for sure exactly which kind of chemical weapons have been used and who possesses such weapons.

Gardels: But now it is President Barack Obama, not George Bush, taking on the role of world policeman?

Blix: Yes. He was the only one, some time ago now, who talked about international legality. I was heartened by that. But now I’m afraid the politics of the moment are pushing him in a direction we’ve seen before in the United States.

British Prime Minister David Cameron also doesn’t seem to care much about international legality. And this time, neither do the French.

As far as they are all concerned, a criminal act has been committed so now they must engage in what they call “retaliation.” I don’t see what they are retaliating about. The weapons weren’t used against them. It should be the rebels who want retaliation.

If the aim is to stop the breach of international law and to keep the lid on others with chemical weapons, military action without first waiting for the UN inspector report is not the way to go about it.

This is about world police, not world law.

http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Global-Viewpoint/2013/0827/America-is-not-the-world-s-policeman-in-Syria-or-Iraq?cmpid=addthis_twitter#.Uh3eOkzZDl8.twitter

[DiverDave]

1. Do you stand by when someone is getting killed?

No, we are not the worlds policeman, but to stand by and watch someone kill another, when we can stop it.
I say we have a moral obligation to help out the weak.
Unfortunately, it seems that we only help out the rich and the big corporations.
Syria has oil, right?
Then THEY can say its for moral reasons, when we all know its for the oil company's to get more money.

I dont care about profits, I DO care about human beings dying a gruesome death.

I say take out the murderers, without hurting more innocents.

[malaise]

3. Yes you do stand by when it's the US army or its allies

killing the people. Who the fugg is killing people with drones. WH okilled all those people in Iraq? Who continues to kill all those people in Pakistan.
Give me a fucking break. The US is not the world's police - it is the biggest bully on the planet and is responsible for a whole heap of killing.

Spare me please. The US is the biggest warmonger on planet earth bar none.
All this freedom and democracy PR is undiluted bullshit.

[JaneyVee]

4. I think the Govt gassing its own people might be the bigger warmonger.

[BlueMTexpat]

7. And you have positive proof - rather than inference - that the Govt did this??

I think that is more likely that our own covert ops did.

There are lots of precedents.

[malaise]

8. Worse that a foreign government starting an illegal war and occupation

and using depleted uranium.

Whatever

[JaneyVee]

9. I mean, at least we're doing it in the name of "National security",

Whether one believes that or not. But gassing your own citizens is a level of warmongering that is completely unjustifiable. Just the sheer brutality of warring with your own citizens, gas or not, is the utmost definition of warmongering.

[DiverDave]

12. Have you seen what these types of weapons do to people?

I dont care, woman and children should not die choking and blinded with blisters inside and outside of their bodies.
IF we can stop it, we should.
Gruesome deaths

[BlueMTexpat]

6. And who is doing the killing?

In the Syrian civil war, both sides are killing. How do we - who know so little even about our own country - know who is who?

One who bombs and strafes from high above certainly cannot tell the difference between the innocent and the guilty.

As for this particular latest - and most heinous incident - how do we know that some of our own covert operatives, in bed with corporate interests, were not involved? Think of 1954 in Iran, for example.

It is time for us to stand down and for everyone to take a VERY deep breath about military intervention in Syria. The US is NOT the world's policeman. We cannot even tell the good guys from the bad'uns. All too often the bad'uns are US.

[JEB]

10. Like we did in Fallujah?

http://www.google.com/images?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&channel=s&hl=en-US&biw=&bih=&q=white+phosphorus+fallujah&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ei=-QQeUvqULKXxigKIj4GYAg&ved=0CCoQsAQ

[marmar]

2. k/r

[JEB]

11. We aren't the world's police.

We are the world's vigilantes, acting outside the rule of law.