THROWBACK TO 1998: STUDENT CALLS ON U.S. TO IMPLEMENT INT’L LAW FOR ALL

In this 1998 clip, an Ohio State University student told then-US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright (1997-2001) that US policy should be consistent in enforcing international law, whether in Iraq, Israel or East Timor. He alleged the United States disregards international law for its allies, such as Israel, which has received the most US foreign aid since 1948.

The United States emerged as a superpower after World War II, which some call the second imperialist war. During that time, the US conducted the first atomic bombardment, killing an estimated 214,000 Japanese and leaving thousands of others to suffer disfigurement, side effects of radiation exposure, and diseases like leukaemia and cancer.

The United States became one of the founding members of the United Nations, which gave it veto power on the UN Security Council, the UN body with the power to pass legally binding resolutions.

Unfortunately, this has allowed the United States to use its military force and diplomatic and economic power to subjugate other countries, such as Korea, Vietnam and others. After the 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union, the United States began to invade countries without international consensus and under the premise of the UN’s ‘Responsibility to Protect’ principle.