Why Doesn’t International Law Apply to the West?

What's The Point Of International Law? – Second Thought

New video every other Friday!

Citations and Further Reading:

Goldsmith, J. L., & Posner, E. A. (2005). The Limits of International Law. Oxford University Press.
Hathaway, O. A. (2023). Reclaiming International Law from Extraterritoriality. Harvard National Security Journal, 14, 336-372.
Karnow, S. (1997). Vietnam: A History. Penguin Books.
Krasnor, E. (n.d.). Foreign Aid in Post-Colonial Africa: Means for Building Democracy or Ensuring Western Domination?
Posner, E. A., & Yoo, J. C. (2004). Judicial Independence in International Tribunals. California Law Review, 93(1), 1-74.
Turse, N. (2013). Kill Anything That Moves: The Real American War in Vietnam. Picador USA.
Yale Law Journal. (2009). Universal Exceptionalism in International Law. Yale Law Journal, 118, 1762-1798.
Yoo, J. (2003). International Law and the War on Terrorism. California Law Review, 91(5), 1699-1744.

Follow and Support Second Thought!
CashApp: $JTChapman

About Second Thought:
Second Thought is a channel devoted to education and analysis of current events from a socialist perspective. Welcome!

[tyoma_]

Remember guys, Second Thought is not suicidal

[eyyy]

"The biggest insult to The Holocaust is not the denial of it, but it's use as justification to commit the Palestinian Genocide" - Norman Finkelstein

[midnattsol]

The sad part is that the people who watch these kinds of videos are the people who know all this already anyway

[TheDotdotdot]

“We will never find justice in a world where criminals make all the rules”

[javierbehaklanzaro]

As a bachelor in International Relations, I can tell you that international law is as useful as toilet paper

[etep]

American Rules Based Order: Rules for thee, not for me.

[watercat]

As a Vietnamese, thank you for bringing US’ atrocious crimes to attention…

[rikbrown]

I have been saying this for years. In Australia there is a lot of noise being made about Chinese activity in the SCS. My arguement has always been the same: Why would the Chinese follow international norms and laws if nobody else has to? The selective application of international law weakens it to a point of uselessness.

[rubadub]

The Empire is crumbling, and the cracks are now there for all to see.

[abdullahtshabal]

It's also a pleasant surprise that South Africa of all places, has openly questioned the legitimacy of the ICC and ICJ, with their statements much more explicit over the last 2 years

[jessetorres]

Apparently, to apply to every country except The U.S. & Israel.

[gscsilvavaladares]

We never lived a true democracy, be it in our contries or internationaly, but this misery we live in will not last forever, not the neocolonial based order, nor capitalism.

[JakeP]

JT, thank you for sticking to your guns on this Genocide, I know it's costed you sponsorships and partners, but your work is greatly appreciated.

[SonicRyan]

if seeing what's happening to Palestinians doesn't make your stomach turn and put you on the verge of tears, even just being told about it, I could not trust you with making major policy decisions

also yeah, the idea that the ICC is "built for Africa" is so racist

[dawggonevidz]

Interesting timing. A little over 13 years ago, an Australian publisher published evidence of US war crimes. The evidence was in the form of voice recordings and helicopter gunship footage from a camera mounted on an autocannon. It showed the helicopter killing a journalist and some bystanders who were looking at the photo he'd just taken with a long telephoto lens, and then shooting the civilian who tried to help the wounded, as well as the children in the vehicle that good Samaritan arrived in. That publisher has just ended 12 years under arrest, without trial. Much of the time was served in an embassy of a neutral country to avoid being shipped off to some US black site. That publisher was freed two days ago. The helicopter crew was never charged.

[Zyo]

Canada hasn't been much better with our politics on this subject.

[kateshane]

Many years ago I heard a man who escaped the worst of ww2 speak. At the end of sharing his experience, he asked a question of the audience. " If this should happen in your country, where would you go?" This question has always haunted me. It is people like JT that give me hope, that we can avoid having to find out, by sharing his wisdom. Thank you.☺

[Maus_]

For a person who has right-wing friends (libertarians)
Your channel is a friendly reminder of how important it is to stay socialist in this world of unholy mergers between state and capital. Thank you, JT.
Cheers mate from Ireland

[coolshah]

Fascists stick together and it's never been clearer than now.

[mxmax]

Thanks for this and all your videos ❤ I started watching over a year ago after listening to the Communist Manifesto. My fear was that socialism wouldn't work "in practice" (thanks to years of Western propaganda including at University); but after watching your videos and studying more, I started to be able to see a Socialist future.
Then, at the end of one of your videos a while back, you urged us to "get organised". This spurred me to join my local Socialist Party and I have since been very active and connected with comrades IRL. So please know that your videos are having a real impact and inspiring people to make the change they want to see.
I also joined your Patreon, love the early access!