The United States isn’t doing well in the international opinion.
This isn’t exactly a news flash. Thousands of bad decisions and blunders are to blame, but how can we recover the image of “the land of the free and the home of the brave?”
Of course, there isn’t an easy answer to that question.
Some argue that the United States should pull out of Iraq immediately, which would most likely destabilize the area even more.
Motives aside, the Iraqi conflict could have been handled in a better way. We obviously underestimated the amount of troops necessary to secure the nation.
We haven’t done well in the public relation battle. No matter what your opinion may be, it looks bad to pitch a war on weapons of mass destruction and come up empty-handed.
Misinformation equals ineptitude in the international scene.
But now what? How do we reclaim the political capital that has been squandered?
The United States should, as a small gesture, place the emphasis on human rights.
Several things could be done on that front that would help our image and most importantly, help people.
Aid should be rushed to the Sudan, where untold thousands are dying in the name of “ethnic cleansing.”
The United States should also reconsider its detention centers.
The Abu Ghraib scandal brought our integrity into question.
Guantanamo Bay raises further questions. Guantanamo Bay serves a nefarious purpose. Since the people detained there are not on America soil, it is easy to turn a blind eye to their rights.
Is there some doubt that the due processes of the law won’t find terrorists guilty?
America acts like financial power is the only power worth having. Money is undeniably powerful, but the opinion of the world is indispensable for a super power.
With a renewed positive image, the United States could gain a better international standing than money can buy.
How can the United States profess to be a leader in human rights when we have got Guantanamo Bay in our back yard?
It’s not like we have anything to lose from helping people, anyway.

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