America's exceptionalist justice

[CHIMO]

Consider the following scenario. A group of Irish republican terrorists carries out a bombing raid in London. People are killed and wounded. The group escapes, first to Ireland, then to the US, where they disappear into the sympathetic hinterland of a country where IRA leaders have in the past been welcomed at the White House. Britain cannot extradite them, because of the gross imbalance of the relevant treaty. So far, this seems plausible enough.

But now imagine that the British government, seeing the murderers escape justice, sends an aircraft carrier (always supposing we've still got any) to the Nova Scotia coast. From there, unannounced, two helicopters fly in under the radar to the Boston suburb where the terrorists are holed up. They carry out a daring raid, killing the (unarmed) leaders and making their escape. Westminster celebrates; Washington is furious.

What's the difference between this and the recent events in Pakistan? Answer: American exceptionalism. America is subject to different rules to the rest of the world. By what right? Who says?

Consider another fictive scenario. Gangsters are preying on a small mid-western town. The sheriff and his deputies are spineless; law and order have failed. So the hero puts on a mask, acts "extra-legally", performs the necessary redemptive violence and returns to ordinary life, earning the undying gratitude of the local townsfolk, sheriff included. This is the plot of a thousand movies, comic-book strips, and TV shows: Captain America, The Lone Ranger, and (upgraded to hi-tech) Superman. The masked hero saves the world.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2011/may/05/america-lone-ranger

[Enrique]

1. that's how we roll

that could be our national motto. :patriot:

[Confusious]

2. While I agree that american exceptionalism is bullshit

It's kind of a bad analogy. Britain could just request to have them extradited and we would comply. I can't really think of a reason why we wouldn't.

[OwnedByFerrets]

7. Then exchange China for Britian. We are harboring

many people that China considers "terrorists" and enemies of the state. The analogy is a good one.

[provis99]

3. ain't international politics a riot?

it's all about might makes right, and hypocrisy is the order of the day.

[bertman]

4. Hey now, the corporate media said bin Laden was guilty and the 9/11 Commission

backed them up. That's all that's needed for a FAIR TRIAL when a terr'ist is involved, ain't it??

REC.

[Lucky Luciano]

5. Yawwwwwwn!

:eyes:

[OwnedByFerrets]

8. Yes, yawn. You would probably be the FIRST to scream bloody

murder if his scenerio actually happened. Hypocrite.

[MacNfries]

6. World Vigilantism ... when the laws of justice fail!

So does Pakistan says "no more ... USA, stay out of our country" ... yeah, right!

Not if they want their $3 billion a year from us, they don't. I'm still wondering why we even need to be in Afghanistan unless we want an under-the-table cut on the poppy market.