[WAR] The Banality / Evil of American Exceptionalism

[Zenaan Harkness]

What's depressing is how a former deputy CIA director can call for the
clandestine killing of Russians and Iranians - on national TV - and this
is not decried/ shouted down/ understood by North American TV
commentators as fundamentally wrong and unethical.

The USA regime reality show is a sad and pathetic indictment indeed...



** Peter Lavelle: The Banality of American Exceptionalism
– Morell and Trump
(http://theduran.com/peter-lavelle-the-banality-of-american-exceptionalism-morell-and-trump/)
------------------------------------------------------------
By Peter Lavelle on Aug 15, 2016 07:37 pm
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 02: Former Deputy CIA Director Michael Morell is
sworn in prior to testimony before the House Select Intelligence
Committee April 2, 2014 in Washington, DC. The committee heard testimony
on the topic of "The Benghazi Talking Points and Michael J. Morell's
Role in Shaping the Administration's Narrative." (Photo by Win
McNamee/Getty Images)

“American Exceptionalism” is a bane on the U.S. and the world. Not only
is it dangerously absurd and arrogant, but also it is overwhelmingly
accepted among Americans without much thought. This way of thinking
automatically disregards international law and any semblance of common
sense.

The U.S. tells the world that it is not accountable to anyone and all
are accountable to Washington. The claim to be the “exceptional” country
means all other countries are expendable. This is not a foreign policy,
it is threat to use force at any time and any place of Washington’s
choosing.

A perfect example of this was an interview with former CIA Deputy
Director Michael Morell on the Charlie Rose TV program. Morell declared
that America must make the Russians and Iranians “pay a price in Syria.”

Rose: “We make them pay the price by killing Russians?”

Morell: “Yeah.”

Rose: “And killing Iranians?”

Morell: “Yes … You don’t tell the world about it. … But you make sure
they know it in Moscow and Tehran.”

During the interview, Morell also says that the U.S. ought to kill
Iranians and Russians “covertly.” (Rose and the American public don’t
appear to have a problem with this, neither did the New York Times, the
Washington Post, CNN, MSNBC, Fox, Post, CNN, MSNBC, etc.)

Rose and Morell made no mention Russia and Iran are actually the
countries serious about eliminating (western-backed) terrorist groups in
Syria – and both do legally under international law.

Rose and Morell also spoke to each other and their audience as if
existing in a sealed media vacuum. Their “exceptional” conversation was
for consumption by the “exceptional” audience – the American public.

Morell is one of the architects of America’s illegal invasion of Iraq in
2003. He has never been held to account for that disaster. Who has? In
fact he has had a remarkable career for person of unexceptional
intellectual skills and unexceptional opinions. A frequent guest on the
Rose program, he is widely seen as currying favor with the Hillary
Clinton campaign. Fine, he is politicking and promoting himself. But the
world is watching.

The Russians and Iranians are certainly paying attention. What
conclusions should they draw from the Rose-Morell gabfest and the
American media in general? It is obvious: Washington’s diplomatic and
public policy rhetoric is hollow and simply lies. Washington will and
does resort to murder – and war – if it suits its purposes.

If Washington acts outside of international law, why should other
countries feel bound by it? Calling for the killing of Russians and
Iranians is an act of war. Countries have the right to defend
themselves.

When Donald Trump made reference to the second amendment of the
Constitution (relating to personal gun ownership), the media went
frantic. The criticism levelled against Trump was he was calling for
violence. Well, that’s odd.

There is room for interpretation regarding what Trump actually said, but
there is no doubt a former CIA deputy director openly called for the
killing of foreign nationals. No one really took notice, as if it was
perfectly natural. This is what “American Exceptionalism” has done to
the American mind, media, and the powers-that-be. Meanwhile, the world
watches on.

Peter Lavelle is host of RT’s political debate program CrossTalk. His
views may not necessarily reflect those of his employer.