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Now we are beginning to understand why the international rule of law is so important.

(67 Posts)
Whitewavemark2 Mon 05-Jan-26 08:55:28

We watched as various countries have failed to comply with the international rule of law regarding things like the refugee convention.

We watched as countries like, Israel, Russia, and so on, broke the international rule of law with impunity, but failed somehow to understand the seriousness of it.

We watched as Trump has played fast and loose with the world order, and failed to understand the seriousness of it.

Now Trump is threatening a NATO country.

Do we now understand the need for the international rule of law and why it is so important to everyone on this earth.

eazybee Wed 07-Jan-26 15:09:48

These similarities don’t come from a single source like the Ten Commandments, but from common human needs for cooperation, safety, and social stability.

Which is clearly expressed in the Ten Commandments.
If we were all able to live by them live would be far easier.
But many people today appear to reject any concept of a higher moral authority.

Mamie Wed 07-Jan-26 12:23:19

DaisyAnneReturns

nanna8

Every country has different beliefs and standards and I think those very few precepts which all agree on should be upheld. Maybe the 10 commandments. That was probably why they started in the first place.

I dont agree. While countries differ in beliefs and traditions, there are many shared moral standards across cultures. These similarities don’t come from a single source like the Ten Commandments, but from common human needs for cooperation, safety, and social stability.

Having lived in France for 20 years I am very much aware of how belief in Liberty, Equality, Fraternity underpins French society and French life.
I read some posts on Gransnet these days and get the impression some people have turned into Anarchists. 😮

Menopauselbitch Wed 07-Jan-26 12:08:21

Putin warned NATO but he was ignored and so acted on it.

petra Tue 06-Jan-26 16:14:32

Cossy

Oreo

The UN is toothless and has been for ages, no point to it now at all.
The bigger stronger countries will always do what’s best for themselves in the world.
Europe has to keep the US onside as we don’t have any friends elsewhere!

Don’t you mean the UK?

The UN didn’t exactly cover themselves in glory in the Balkan war.

www.hrw.org/legacy/summaries/s.bosnia9510.html

WithNobsOnIt Tue 06-Jan-26 16:04:23

The so called Intenational Rule of Law is broken by countriesvvery week. It is just a bit of a joke really and not worth the paper it is written.onm

As for the United Nations.Long past its sell by date..With no real power.
In short just a Boys Club.

Whitewavemark2 Tue 06-Jan-26 15:08:02

In 1981 Margaret Thatcher whilst throughout her life, a strong supporter of Israel, criticised Israel over its actions in the Golan Heights and I have posted her quote which I think gets to the absolute basic of the principle which relates to the situation we find ourselves in today

The Principle: She stated, "If we are not going to live by a system of international law, we are going to live by international anarchy. Then no people anywhere in the world are safe".
Rejection of Selectivity: She emphasized that "You cannot be selective in your defence of law – you cannot say: 'I like that law, I will uphold that one, I will not uphold the other'".

Whitewavemark2 Tue 06-Jan-26 14:51:37

What is the alternative to some form of international rule of law?

MollyNew Tue 06-Jan-26 14:51:13

Trump doesn't respect international law. He says the USA is "entitled" to take over countries to protect itself. He is accustomed to getting his own way, like a spoiled toddler, so the international community will have to find a way to stand up to him.

Grantanow Tue 06-Jan-26 14:44:07

I have little faith in the UN: only a minority of members are democracies. Nor do I have much faith in international law when there is no effective and consistent enforcement mechanism.

DaisyAnneReturns Tue 06-Jan-26 14:34:51

nanna8

Every country has different beliefs and standards and I think those very few precepts which all agree on should be upheld. Maybe the 10 commandments. That was probably why they started in the first place.

I dont agree. While countries differ in beliefs and traditions, there are many shared moral standards across cultures. These similarities don’t come from a single source like the Ten Commandments, but from common human needs for cooperation, safety, and social stability.

issibon Tue 06-Jan-26 14:04:05

UK has already been invaded
Invaders everywhere in hotels HMOs

Oreo Mon 05-Jan-26 23:06:50

No I don’t mean the UK.

Cossy Mon 05-Jan-26 22:52:02

Oreo

The UN is toothless and has been for ages, no point to it now at all.
The bigger stronger countries will always do what’s best for themselves in the world.
Europe has to keep the US onside as we don’t have any friends elsewhere!

Don’t you mean the UK?

Oreo Mon 05-Jan-26 22:43:46

The UN is toothless and has been for ages, no point to it now at all.
The bigger stronger countries will always do what’s best for themselves in the world.
Europe has to keep the US onside as we don’t have any friends elsewhere!

Whitewavemark2 Mon 05-Jan-26 22:36:16

Galaxy

I think the idea of international law is complete fiction. It is like some epic game of lets pretend. Who do people think will enforce international law and when will they start.

The UN has policed many situations where the international rule of law was being broken notably during the later half of the last century into this century, but it has certainly failed to act so decisively during recent times, largely I think because of the failure of the strongest countries to support it.

So it isn’t a fiction, it isn’t perfect, but it certainly worked when the countries of the world recognised its value snd necessity for a smooth running of world order.

Oreo Mon 05-Jan-26 22:32:44

Cossy

MayBee70

We won’t need a world war to destroy the world. Once Trump starts drilling for oil in places like Greenland ( and encouraging more countries to ignore global warming) it won’t take many oil spills to damage the arctic regions. What is the point of someone devoting their lives to make themselves and their family rich beyond belief only to destroy the very world they live in?

I really don’t think the good people of both Greenland and Denmark will roll over and allow this to happen and Carney in Canada has already made his distain for Trump very very clear!

What we need are more strong, solid world leaders to tell Trump it’s over and for his own govt to take a very hard long look at themselves and him!

Not going to happen.

Oreo Mon 05-Jan-26 22:31:56

Galaxy

I think the idea of international law is complete fiction. It is like some epic game of lets pretend. Who do people think will enforce international law and when will they start.

I agree.

Cossy Mon 05-Jan-26 22:23:44

MayBee70

We won’t need a world war to destroy the world. Once Trump starts drilling for oil in places like Greenland ( and encouraging more countries to ignore global warming) it won’t take many oil spills to damage the arctic regions. What is the point of someone devoting their lives to make themselves and their family rich beyond belief only to destroy the very world they live in?

I really don’t think the good people of both Greenland and Denmark will roll over and allow this to happen and Carney in Canada has already made his distain for Trump very very clear!

What we need are more strong, solid world leaders to tell Trump it’s over and for his own govt to take a very hard long look at themselves and him!

Cossy Mon 05-Jan-26 22:19:45

Smileless2012

^Now Trump is threatening a NATO country^ of course he is, he'll do whatever he likes because no one is prepared to stand up to him.

Agreed

Galaxy Mon 05-Jan-26 21:54:42

I think the idea of international law is complete fiction. It is like some epic game of lets pretend. Who do people think will enforce international law and when will they start.

Wyllow3 Mon 05-Jan-26 21:41:02

MayBee70

We won’t need a world war to destroy the world. Once Trump starts drilling for oil in places like Greenland ( and encouraging more countries to ignore global warming) it won’t take many oil spills to damage the arctic regions. What is the point of someone devoting their lives to make themselves and their family rich beyond belief only to destroy the very world they live in?

Indeed. it is beyond my understanding, as the poor in the US are faring badly and it will get worse.

I think he'll be taken down from within by elections, actually, just how soon is the problem, as he is taking welfare systems apart and more people are behaving as in an anarchy. Last night late on R4 there was a programme on some rich "Christian Nationalists" who are buying up whole chunks of land around a small town and they intend to run it as a mini state within a state - tough for anyone who happens to live there, I reckon they will sell out and move, for the values are "kinder, kuche, Kirche" as regards women, girl children - they are already in a position where they can wreck the local economy once the size of their group doubles, and can you imagine what the schools will be like as regards the curriculum, and their plans for voting are "one per household" - ie the man.

LemonJam Mon 05-Jan-26 15:13:51

Trump is authoritarian and moving the US away from democracy imo.

butterandjam Mon 05-Jan-26 14:59:56

Smileless2012

^Now Trump is threatening a NATO country^ of course he is, he'll do whatever he likes because no one is prepared to stand up to him.

I'm pretty sure Canada and Denmark, and the rest of the EU, will stand up to any US designs on taking over Canada and Greenland.

MayBee70 Mon 05-Jan-26 14:41:45

We won’t need a world war to destroy the world. Once Trump starts drilling for oil in places like Greenland ( and encouraging more countries to ignore global warming) it won’t take many oil spills to damage the arctic regions. What is the point of someone devoting their lives to make themselves and their family rich beyond belief only to destroy the very world they live in?

BlessedArt Mon 05-Jan-26 14:41:16

Times have changed. The League of Nations was also effective at some point. No one is standing up to Trump, Russia, China, or Israel anymore. This is very scary.