What concerns me about all this is this idea of American exceptionalism. That the US (and perhaps those such as Israel who fall under the protection of American Emperial patronage) are somehow entitled to act in a manner that other nations are not. For example. Let's say a wanted Pakistani terrorist, someone responsible for some real atrocities in Pakistan managed to smuggle himself into the US and disappeared amongst sympathizers in say Chicago. Many years pass and the Pakistani's discover his location. Then, without informing the US they smuggle in a commando group go to his location and kill him and half a dozen others, carry his body away and vanish through mexico.
What would the US have to say about this? They would go mental. Violation of sovereignty blah blah. So if it is ok for the US and it is ok for Israel why is not ok for everyone else to just trample over the norms of international law and national sovereignty. Oh because Bin Laden is so bad, so exceptional, that it is ok? I don't buy that. George Bush and Tony Blair killed far more. The Israeli government are dripping with blood. We could go on and on. I am sure I can think of other vicious killers with blood on their hands. So what makes Bin Laden the exception and why does the US think the rules don't apply to itself? Finally, Empires come and go. What is to stop the likes of China from doing the same when the Empire game changes hands and they are the worlds emperial power? If we believe in the principle of international law, (however flawed the concept right now) as the US claims it does, then they have to demonstrate their respect for it themselves
