Us Moral Authority Undercut By War On Terror

[Purveyor]

The 9/11 attacks prompted an outpouring of international sympathy and support for the United States, but Washington's subsequent "war on terror" undercut the superpower's moral authority.

Ten years later, analysts say, America has not fully recovered its standing as a steadfast defender of liberty and fierce protector of the rule of law, handing Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda at least a partial victory.

Critics accused president George W. Bush of riding roughshod over civil liberties, signing off on torture, extraordinary rendition and warrantless surveillance as he waged his "war on terror" no matter what the cost.

Sweeping into office in January 2009 on a message of hope and change, President Barack Obama was supposed to be the leader to boldly restore those liberties, but he is now being tarred with the same brush as his predecessor.

MORE...

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/08/17/us-moral-authority-undercut-by-war-on-terror/

[Faryn Balyncd]

1. K and R

[Democrats_win]

2. The victims of 9/11 would not be proud of our cowardly response.

We killed more innocent civilians in our pseudo-9/11-revenge wars that were really about oil and re-"electing" president dumb-ass bush.

[grasswire]

3. Title of this should be "U.S. Moral Authority Undercut By Defense Industry

Because it is that stranglehold the MIC has on Congress that brings us the War on Terror. Well, let's take that one step farther. The stock holders of the Defense Industry are really the driving force behind the MIC, behind the War on Terror.

So it is those who profit from war who undercut our moral authority. The politicians just go along because they are bought.

Get money out of politics and we might get some moral authority back.

[bemildred]

4. Talking out both sides of your mouth has that effect. nt

[Uncle Joe]

5. That could be the only result.

Bush's enabled path to the highest office in the land undercut our moral authority, his administration; was illegitimate from the beginning its' foundation built on toxic ground, this precluded any in-depth, sustained moral based decision making on their part.

Blind ambition and cynicism brought them to power, and thus became their taskmaster, that doesn't make for good moral authority.

Thanks for the thresd, Purveyor.