US Seizes Russian Tanker: Rule of Law for Thee, But Not For Me
The United States, champions of rules-based international order, are reportedly quite upset that Russia feels hard done by with the seizure of the oil tanker Marinera. Moscow claims the US military acted 'in breach of the UN maritime convention.' This, from a nation that unilaterally invaded Iraq, bombed Libya, and maintains an extra-legal detention camp at Guantanamo Bay, might strike some as a
tad ironic. The US routinely asserts jurisdiction over international waters for its own perceived security interests, often with a remarkable lack of reciprocal outrage from mainstream Western media. While RT highlights Russia's indignation, the broader context is clear: Washington deploys 'rule of law' as a cudgel against adversaries, reserving a different, more flexible standard for its own
actions. The 'breach' mentioned here is only a breach when *they* do it. When the US acts, it's just 'protecting interests,' or perhaps, 'exporting freedom.' Oh, the clarity of a selective moral compass.