Pax Americana

A new bill, part of the National Defense Authorization Act, was approved last week by the US House Armed Services Committee and is heading for the floor this month. If passed, it will allow the US military to attack any "associated forces that are engaged in hostilities against the United States" anywhere in the world.

As House Democrats protested, this bill will "grant the president near unfettered authority to initiate military action around the world without further Congressional approval".

The real concern for the international community is that the translation of such US domestic law into action would collide with international law and infringe upon the sovereignty of other nations.