International Law

Perhaps the most dramatic example of the state of "international law" is the Israeli targeting of the UNRWA compound in Gaza. The UN agency had given the IDF the exact coordinates of the facility, painted the place bright blue, (how thoughtful) then opened their doors as a place of refuge for terrified civilians. Once the IDF knew it was full they bombed it, sending a message that "no place is safe". It would be as if all the deer were painted orange and feeders full of apples were put out on opening morning. Hamas was still able to set off three cherry bombs and a sparkler and claimed they would drive Israelis into the sea.

Terms are bandied about such as "humanitarian crisis" or "proportional response" or "collective punishment" as though they had some sacred meaning. I would have thought Rumsfeld Cheney and the "War on Terror" would have polished off such idealist romanticism (that is, any crumbs left by Reagan, Clinton) yet many continue to plea for international norms to be adhered to. Remember the Geneva Conventions? Nuremberg Trials? Unfortunately they only apply to losers. "International norms"concerning civilians are being adhered to, think Warsaw, Dresden, Tokyo, Hiroshima. The only "proportionality" recognized is the ratio of bullets to caskets. These are the same norms you will find in the Congo or Sudan.

One crucial aspect of this post-modern/humanitarian age is being able to control information and here the Israelis are the acknowledged masters. Who needs ugly old Joe Lieberman when you have Tzipi Livni and Dana Perino. Even Bloombergs getting in on the act. No reporters allowed in, not even 'embedded" ones. Brilliant. So what we are witnessing is the modern re-development agency at work, the "Katrina effect", tearing down the slums , removing the undesirables, and opening it up to the highest bidder. Valuable property once it's been cleared. The International Law at work here is the law of supply and demand, the law of returns on investment. And not a peep from Hillary. What will Condi call her book?

Another tool of management is the show trial, so to show the world the US is serious about The Law it will prosecute a few Blackwater "contractors" and a few grunts for killing 600,000 Iraqi civilians (give or take a few) and collective guilt is assuaged and we can move on. Guantanamo is closed and Justice is served. Expect the same sort of hand wringing and reprimands once the carnage ends in Gaza. Ceremony of Innocence indeed.