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15 November 2007 / Amir A Majid
Issue: 7297 / Categories: Features , Human rights
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Not so sacred cows?

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The Bush administration has tested the loyalty of the true friends of the US, says Dr Amir Majid

I f one lines up American sacred cows, respect for the peace-promoting UN, habeas corpus and adherence to the rule of law are bound to front this queue. Unfortunately, to the utter dismay of friends of the US, these three sacred cows have been slaughtered by President Bush and his advisers. The Bush administration has tarnished the American image, violating ideals and leaving many Americans embarrassed to claim that they are the citizens of the land of freedom and liberty.

MARGINALISATION OF THE UN

It is a principle aim of the UN to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war”. Before military action against Iraq began in 2003, the Bush administration was asking the UN to hurry up and authorise it and its partners to attack Iraq—an anomalous fidelity to the UN key objective.
When France threatened to veto this “authorisation” because she was genuinely not convinced that war was the only option, the

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