That the power of law is greater than the power of military force is proven by Europe. For centuries nations tried to defend themselves from one another by war -- and even a world war didn't work -- it just led to a second world war.
What did end up protecting European nations from attack? Law! Since the European Parliament was formed in 1952, NO European Nation has fought a war with another. There have been civil wars, and wars outside the union - but inside the Union disputes are settled by taking them to court.
After World War I the allies punished the whole nation of Germany - and all that did was lead to Hitler and World War II. Then we tried law -- the Nuremberg trials prosecuted the individuals responsible for the war crimes -- while at the same time the Marshall Plan helped former enemies to rebuild their societies and prosper. That turned them into friends -- sending cell phones and cars, not bombs.
Afghanistan should finally teach us a much-needed lesson: Weapons, war, retaliation and sanctions against whole societies can't really protect others -- or ourselves. It can't protect against terrorists hijacking a plane on 9/11, or from viruses invading, or from catastrophic climate change. A new nuclear arms race with China and Russia can't protect us from nuclear war.
What it can do is endanger the whole human race.
Now is the time for a major national and global conversation on how we evolve new and improved systems of democratic and inclusive enforceable world law to enhance human security and protect the rights, freedoms, and very existence of all of us citizens of planet Earth.
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Arthur Kanegis directed "The World Is My Country" about World Citizen #1 Garry Davis who helped spark a movement for World Law - including the unanimous UN vote for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. http//TheWorldIsMyCountry.com
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