I've been meaning to address this since it happened, and honestly, I thought we'd apologize for bombing a wedding (of all things). It looks like we won't, though. We should, just as a PR ploy, if nothing else. It would also be the right thing to do.
Here's what happened. A US fighter plane was flyinh over the wedding and saw small arms fire from a building. Thinking he was under attack, the pilot of the plane bombed the building into rubble killing 30 people. An honest mistake, right? Except that when on patrol, or even making bombing runs, US planes fly at 30,000 feet.
So how exactly did this pilot think he was being targeted with those AK-47s and handguns. Nothing that could have even reached the aircraft. If the plane was down at 2,000 feet or so he might have had a legitimate concern.
But we won't apologize for the deaths or injuries because the pilot thought he was under attack. No wonder the US is seen as an arrogant bully and wannabe imperial power. We act like the lives of our citizens and our soldiers are the only ones that matter. This type of behavior is what has lead to almost every attack on US soldiers or civilians since the Marine barracks in Beirut. It is guaranteed that if we continue with our current disregard for the rights of other peoples, we end up with renewed acts of terror against US interests.
It is time to decide whether we are an imperial power or a republic and deal with the consequences of that choice. If we are to be an empire, then we should accept that other nations will resent us and act accordingly. If we are to remain a republic, then we have to accept that other nations are our equals, and seek to address the sources of worldwide resentment of our nation.
I know which option I prefer.
Posted by Chris at July 8, 2002 01:18 PM