Most of us here were against the invasion of Iraq, correct? [View all]

[Tommy_Carcetti]

We were disturbed by it, sickened by it, saw it as totally unjustified, saw it as a violation of international law, etc. Some of us, myself included, even went out and protested against it.

Likewise, our current president was against the invasion of Iraq when it happened. After he was elected, he oversaw the withdraw of combat troops from Iraq. The one major military operation he ordered--Libya--did not involve a single American military foot on foreign soil. And while it is true that his foreign defense policy is far from reproach (i.e. drones), it should just as likewise be crystal clear that in terms of use of diplomacy over military force he is exponentially better than his predecessor. Mediated solutions in places like Iran and Syria simply would not have happened in the Bush Administration.

And contrary to what one might think, most of the foreign world actually understands the concept of different American administrations and different policy approaches those administrations might think. And I truly believe that when compared to the Bush administration, the world has found the Obama administration to be far more willing to consider diplomatic solutions to crisis than the Bush administration was. In other words, they aren't the warmongers that the Bush guys are.

So with all of the above facts in mind, can we go ahead and dispense with the notion that the United States lacks the moral authority to call out Vladimir Putin and decry his invasion of sovereign Ukrainian soil as illegal, immoral and in violation of international law and recognized treaties to which Russia is a signatory. Note: I am not arguing that the United States should intervene militarily in the situation. I am simply referring to our ability to speak out against something that I think we all ought to recognize is just wrong on Russia's part.

Moreover, aside from official United States policy, as private citizens and human beings, why do we even need to feel burdened by our nation's past errors in taking a strictly personal position on a foreign matter? I've come across more than one person who feels they simply cannot speak out against Putin because they were a citizen of the United States when it invaded Iraq. It's as if they insist on wearing the heavy albatross of the past administration's deeds around their own neck and that said albatross mandates they remain silent on all matters, lest they be branded some sort of hypocrite. Relax. You were against the Iraq War when it started, and you were ultimately vindicated by history. You are more than free to criticize another country who seeks to take it upon itself to invade another country on pretextual and unjustified pretenses.