Did Bush manipulate Iraq data?

[Chaerophon]

Sad but true, though the progress toward a greater amount of rule of law is there, thanks to the support of nations like . . . The United States and its European allies.

Well, since the closest and best platform for a true international systemic "rule of law" would presently seem to depend upon a reliance upon the United Nations and a desire to reform it so as to better reflect a standardized international protocol rather than render it obsolete, it seems altogether obvious that, given the Americans lack of regard for the multilateral support of the closest thing that we have to a "tribunal of law" and their general hijacking of the institution on the basis of their overwhelming "financial support", they desire to be judge jury and executor on international matters and care little for the development of any sort of an international standard.

Personally, I don't think that the "law standard" is even partially achievable when it comes to international affairs; however, to make the argument that the US is somehow a 'front runner' in the call for standardized international law seems a little bit fishy given the current state of affairs. Granted, Iraq broke 1441; however, unilateral action contrary to the wishes of what we have that best represents a law tribunal seems to smack of vigilanteism (within the current context of international law) given the lack of immediacy with which the rest of the world regarded the Iraqi threat. Reform from within, not from without, will be the key if this goal is to ever become even the slightest reality. At no point has the United States attempted to reconcile themselves with or reform the United Nations. Threats and finger pointing abound, but, given the fact that they have made the argument that they should not be punishable by international law in the same way that are "rogue states", one has to wonder how seriously they take the ideals which you posit them to value so highly.