That is, the U.S. arrogates to itself the prerogative of not only speaking with authority on the security of a continent 3,500 miles away but intervening around the world in its alleged defense.
Flattering her hosts, she further said: "As founding members of the NATO Alliance, our countries have worked side by side for decades to build a strong and secure Europe and to defend and promote democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. And I am delighted that we are working even more closely now that France is fully participating in NATO's integrated command structure. I thank President Sarkozy for his leadership and look forward to benefiting from the counsel of our French colleagues as together we chart NATO's future."
Regarding the phrase "to defend and promote democracy, human rights, and the rule of law," evocative of almost identical terms used two days earlier in reference to Yemen, Clinton's Paris speech was fairly overflowing with similar language.
The words recently have been tarnished and debased so thoroughly by the use they have frequently served - justifying war - that they are at risk of deteriorating into not so much noble as suspect abstractions.
Worse yet, they are incantations employed to praise oneself for uniquely possessing them and to castigate others who don't. ["Our work extends beyond Europe as well....European and American voices speak as one to denounce the gross violations of human rights in Iran." But not in Saudi Arabia, Western Sahara, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, post-"independence" Kosovo, Estonia and Latvia, etc.]
Clinton's speech contained these terms and phrases in the following sequence:
democracy, human rights, and the rule of law
unity, partnership, and peace
global progress
reconciliation, cooperation, and community
security and our prosperity
importance of liberty and freedom
peace and security
development, democracy, and human rights
human potential
democratic institutions and the rule of law
