The US Should Avoid Making the Same Mistakes

247

December 27, 2021

Published in Frankfurter Rundschau
(Germany) on 19 December 2021
by Andreas Schwarzkopf (link to original link to original)

Translated from by Kirsty Low. Edited by Michelle Bisson.

U.S. defense policy has led to autocrats using the war on terror to justify human rights abuses.

Instead of playing down the issue, the Department of Defense should end U.S. military operations in the Middle East and the Biden administration should simultaneously put an end to the war on terror. Errors of judgment and overhasty missile launches are not the only things to blame for the deaths of thousands of civilians. Other examples of misguided actions include cases of imprisonment without trial, targeted killings and unfounded surveillance. And that is not to mention the people who remain detained in Guantanamo Bay.

All these factors have not only heightened feelings of resentment toward the U.S. in many countries but have also given rise to imitations. Many autocrats justify the persecution of political opponents and the abuse of human rights with reference to counterterrorism measures.

However, with the global war on terror continuing on, it is becoming ever more difficult to put a stop to these controversial actions. Critics have rightly pointed out again and again that this war is legally and institutionally rooted in U.S. politics.

Consequently, there is only a faint hope that the latest report will stimulate debate in the U.S., which, if it were to happen, would at least represent a first step toward condemning such excesses.

Fehler nicht wiederholen

Die Verteidigungspolitik der USA hat dazu geführt, dass Autokraten Menschenrechtsverstöße als Krieg gegen den Terror rechtfertigen. Ein Kommentar.

Statt abzuwiegeln, sollte das Pentagon die US-Militäreinsätze im Nahen Osten beenden und die Biden-Administration den Krieg gegen den Terror gleich mit. Nicht nur Fehleinschätzungen und übereilte Raketenabschüsse haben Tausende Zivilisten getötet. Inhaftierungen ohne Gerichtsurteil, gezielte Tötungen und anlasslose Überwachung sind weitere Fehlentwicklungen. Von den in Guantanamo immer noch einsitzenden Menschen ganz zu schweigen.

All das hat den Unmut in vielen Ländern gegen die USA nicht nur wachsen lassen, sondern zudem Nachahmer gefunden. Viele Autokraten rechtfertigen ihrerseits mit Antiterror-Maßnahmen, wenn sie politische Gegner verfolgen lassen oder Menschenrechte verletzen.

Allerdings wird es mit zunehmender Dauer des weltweiten Kriegs gegen den Terrorismus immer schwerer, das umstrittene Vorgehen zu stoppen. Kritikerinnen und Kritiker haben zur Recht immer wieder darauf hingewiesen, dass dieser Krieg rechtlich und institutionell in der US-Politik verankert ist.

So bleibt nur eine schwache Hoffnung, dass der jüngste Bericht die Debatte in den Vereinigten Staaten anfacht, um die Auswüchse zumindest in einem ersten Schritt anzuprangern.

This post appeared on the front page as a direct link to the original article with the above link .

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