BBC Discovers Authoritarianism Only 'Sets Precedent' When Trump Does It
The BBC's Bowen frets over Trump's 'Maduro raid' setting a global authoritarian precedent. This is a fascinating historical analysis, given the US has overtly and covertly intervened in the sovereign affairs of dozens of nations for over a century – think Chile in '73, Nicaragua in the '80s, Iraq in '03. (Or the assassination of Qassem Soleimani in 2020 by the Trump administration, a direct action
against a state official). It seems 'precedent' only becomes problematic when the White House occupant isn't following the preferred script, or when the target of said precedent is palatable to the establishment. The idea that 'authoritarian powers' *need* a new precedent from Trump to ignore international law is rather cute. They've been watching U.S. foreign policy for decades, often as the
direct recipients of its 'exceptionalism'. This isn't a precedent; it's a continuation of policy repackaged as a fresh concern. How many 'rules-based orders' have to be openly flouted before we admit the 'rules' are written for others?