By SYD BAUMEL

As someone who subscribes to the elementary principle that justice is not justice if it’s not justice for all, count me among the millions (billions?) of people who simply cannot listen to George W. Bush without experiencing an almost visceral ambivalence, a "gathering intestinal malaise," as Bush's wordmasters might put it. 

As I watched our President’s – I mean the U. S. President’s – October 7 address from Cincinatti in which he sought to make his strongest moral case for a no compromise crackdown on Saddam Hussein, I decided – in a kind of exasperated surrender – to suspend at least some of my disbelief and try and take him at his word – to listen as if he really meant what he said and had a valid case to make. 

In doing so, I found myself agreeing with very much of what the de facto leader of the world said. But given President Bush’s past actions, his policies, and the America über alles political company he keeps, I remained as distrustful as ever of his motives, his means to ends, and the partiality with which he presumes to mete out justice. 

I decided to try and articulate my newfound support for George W. Bush while reconciling it with the broader values I find so lacking in his words and deeds. Here, countering rhetoric with rhetoric, is where my thoughts led me.

Referring to the aggressive military record of Saddam’s Iraq, George W. Bush warns that weapons of mass destruction in the hands of belligerent nations are a threat to world peace. He insists Iraq must either destroy all such weapons and their means of production (verified by rigorous UN inspections, "anywhere, anytime") or be forced to do so. I agree. But disarming a bully when other bullies are still in the playground is unfair – and potentially destabilizing. All "bullies," and those who support them, must be stripped of their weapons of mass destruction. 

But that's still not enough if security for all is the goal. The world community should oversee the destruction of all weapons of mass destruction wherever they may be found, because no country or militant group can be trusted never to use such weapons offensively. Once that is done, countries would no longer need these terrible weapons as a deterrent. Security would be provided by the world community itself – by a global intelligence agency and peacekeeping force under the control of a democratic world federation of national states (more on that in a moment). 

George W. Bush warns Hussein’s generals that in the event of an invasion they would be wise not to follow orders from their cornered commander-in-chief to commit atrocities. "They must understand that all war criminals will be pursued and punished," Bush cautions. It’s good that he says that. But why won't he take that advice himself? Why won’t he put some calcium into his own backbone and ratify the International Criminal Court as a precondition of military intervention in Iraq, so that no one, not even his fellow Americans or George Bush himself, may act without the care and caution that comes from knowing one will be accountable for one’s actions? 

George W. Bush says Iraq must be compelled to comply with UN Security Council resolutions to stop persecuting its own citizens. I agree. But such a demand can only be fair if all countries are compelled to comply with similar resolutions, and it can only be just if such resolutions are the judgements of world courts interpreting the laws of a democratic world legislature. The world deserves better than the resolutions of an unrepresentative power elite (the Security Council) dominated by five veto-bearing permanent members. A new, representative system of global law and justice – to which all people and nations would be accountable – is a desperately needed tool for resolving the conflicts that fuel war, terrorism, and the hostility from which George W. Bush seeks to protect his fellow Americans.

Finally, George Bush, his cabinet, and advisors say they want to export democracy and freedom to select countries. Let them demonstrate their avowed commitment to these ideals at the highest, most inclusive level. Let the world’s sole superpower reject feudal notions of a Pax Americana in favour of a true world democracy. Let this egalitarian new world order be constitutionally created with separation of church and state; freedom of religion and belief; a universal bill of rights for people, the planet, and all creatures; maximal self-government at the national, regional, and local levels; an economic template for sustainable development, fair trade, and global poverty reduction; and strong safeguards to prevent our global village democracy from being hijacked by bottom-line bandits. Let this greatest of all democracies be further guarded by checks, balances, and maximum oversight to ensure, among other things, that its peacekeeping and intelligence services never become instruments of oppression and that no leader be above the law. Where there is a will for world peace and justice, there is a way. And the United States – as the bellwether of change in the world today – is a key to making it happen. 

George W. Bush has some good ideas; but only if they are applied evenhandedly to serve all people, not just a privileged few. Otherwise, they are old and dangerous ideas that will perpetuate the conflicts of the past and present and fail to bring the world closer to its rendezvous with peace and justice. 

World Federalist Movement

"An international citizen's movement working for justice, peace, and sustainable prosperity. We call for an end to the rule of force, through a world governed by law, based on strengthened and democratized world institutions. We are inspired by the democratic principles of federalism."

"The One World Trust was formed 50 years ago by the All-Party Group for World Government to promote a greater sense of world community. The Trust believes that sustainable world peace, prosperity and justice will only be achieved when individuals see themselves as world citizens as well as citizens of their own nations."

"The World Citizen Foundation is a nonprofit nonpartisan think-tank dedicated to the design of solutions to international problems based on the fundamental principles of equal human dignity, liberty, democracy and constitutionally protected basic rights of all."

The Simultaneous Policy is a grassroots global democratic strategy to create a voting bloc for the simultaneous implementation of global legislation for global problems. Noam Chomsky says, "Can it work? Certainly worth a serious try."

"The Commission calls for a global neighbourhood ethic and commitment to core global values that can command respect across frontiers of race and religion. It also makes a plea for enlightened leadership that looks beyond the next election.
The report makes clear that in urging action to improve governance, the Commission is not advocating movement towards world government."

"This project is based on the Sacred Writings of Baha'u'llah, Prophet-Founder of the Baha'i Faith, who proclaimed over one hundred years ago, 'The Earth is but One Country and Mankind its Citizens.' He also warned, 'The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established.' 

'Being a world citizen doesn't exclude a sane and legitimate patriotism for one's own country, but it embraces a wider loyalty, a love for all humanity and a sense of responsibility for the fate of the earth as well.'" 

Does the idea of being a planetary citizen of a democratic global government appeal? Then check out this fresh website by two idealistic young Americans.

"The Global Democracy Experiment is YOUR democracy. It is your forum to vote, to elect, to express your opinions, and be elected into the Parliament, into the Court or even into the office of the President! 

". . . .Besides elections, the forum allows you to debate, discuss and share your views in a truly international environment!"

"This email list . . . serves to facilitate discussion and debate among World Federalists and other interested individuals on various WFM related subjects.