The world has long relied on international law to keep powerful nations in check and protect innocent people from war's worst horrors. This system, built after the devastation of the 20th century, aimed to ensure that force didn't go unchecked. But today, this system is under threat. Powerful nations are increasingly acting without consequences, and this is causing serious problems.

One of the most glaring examples is Gaza. The United States is supporting military actions there that have led to the deaths of thousands of civilians, many of them children. The United Nations has reported that nearly 70% of verified deaths in Gaza are women and children. This raises serious questions about whether international humanitarian law is being followed.

Human rights experts have warned that the scale of civilian harm, the blocking of aid, and the destruction of civilian infrastructure may violate the Geneva Conventions. Yet, instead of addressing these concerns, the response has been to dismiss them or punish those who raise them. When the International Criminal Court tried to hold people accountable, it faced political retaliation. This sends a clear message: international law only applies to the weak.

This trend isn't just happening in Gaza. In January, the United States carried out a military strike in Venezuela to capture President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. This action was taken without international authorization, raising concerns about its legality. This incident highlights a troubling pattern: powerful states are acting as if legal constraints no longer apply to them.

This isn't about defending any specific government or excusing corruption. It's about whether the United States still believes that law restrains power or if power now defines the law. As one former UN official warned, a world where even genocide doesn't trigger accountability is a world without red lines. In such a world, impunity becomes the norm.

Americans should be worried about this trend. When legal norms collapse abroad, they don't stay there. They return in the form of instability, retaliation, and the normalization of civilian harm. A world governed by precedent rather than principle is more volatile and dangerous for everyone.

Maine has a strong tradition of speaking out for fairness and restraint. These values still matter. Silence in the face of impunity isn't neutrality; it's permission. The choices made now will be remembered. The question is whether we will insist on law and accountability or accept a world where power alone decides who is beyond judgment.

When Power Ignores the Rules: A Look at Global Law and Order

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