“There are only two valid reasons for launching a war. When it is based on retaliation, or with approval of the UN Security Council. Neither apply to the action supported by our prime minister,” writes political columnist MICHAEL MOORE. 

It’s a cop out to claim Israel and the US need to sort out the legality of commencing a war. More so, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese  doing this as an afterthought.

I have long admired Albanese’s approach of respect for world leaders, even when they were not showing respect themselves. However, support for an illegal war conducted by a certifiable president and an Israeli war criminal demonstrates seriously poor judgement. 

What on earth made the prime minister jump in so quickly to support the actions of Donald Trump?

There are only two valid reasons for launching a war. When it is based on retaliation, or with approval of the UN Security Council. Neither apply to the action supported by our prime minister.

International laws have been put in place to avoid the “might-is-right” approach that led to the two world wars in the 20th century. Australia’s Herbert “Doc” Evatt was part of drafting the UN Charter to ensure the International Rule of Law.

In one stupid statement, kowtowing to the American allies, Albanese has undermined the non-partisan efforts for 80 years to maintain peace throughout the world.

Albanese said Australia was first to back the military action to “prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent Iran continuing to threaten international peace and security”.

The only other countries offering this sort of unguarded support to the US and Israel were Canada and Ukraine.

Although pointing the finger at Iran, the reality is that over the last hundred years the US has started more wars than any other nation. Over the same period, and much longer, Iran has started none.

The US and Israeli rhetoric makes a great deal of Iran’s proxy players such as Hezbollah and Hamas. In the same sense, isn’t the US a “proxy” of Israel?

For the last four years, as Israel has slaughtered men, women and children in the Gaza strip, the US has been a proxy, busily providing support and countering negative motions in the UN.

A short while before the full-scale attack on Iran, the negotiators in Oman announced that agreement on the Iranian nuclear program was close. President Trump ignored his own deadline. How can a president like this be trusted? How can he be respected?

According to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, “we knew that there was going to be an Israeli action… we knew that would precipitate an attack on American forces”. 

This was the excuse for US forces attacking to minimise their own casualties. The Israeli war criminal, Netenyahu, who claimed in his TV interview that “he has waited 40 years for this” was once again pulling the puppet strings on President Trump.

US Senator Bernie Sanders identified the action as “an illegal, premeditated and unconstitutional war” with the aim to “fulfill Netanyahu’s decades-long ambition of dragging the US into armed conflict with Iran”.

Trump’s excuses are pathetic and constantly changing

Trump’s excuses for starting this war are pathetic and constantly changing. Gregg Carlstrom, in The Economist, wrote that Trump “doesn’t sound convinced by any of it. He’s throwing spaghetti at the wall”. He caved to Prime Minister Netenyahu and the Israeli lobby.

The US has started many wars. Since World War II Australia has largely been supportive. Ironically, the current Middle East war even lacks support in America with only 25-33 per cent of Americans in a range of polls agreeing with the action.

The Australian Labor government has modified its stance. As local MP  Andrew Leigh explained in his newsletter: “While it is up to the United States and Israel to explain the legality of their actions under international law, the Australian Government has said clearly that we stand with the people of Iran”. That is very different from the initial statement of support for the US and Israel. Standing with the long-suffering people of Iran does make sense.

But Labor is wrong! It is not up to the protagonists to explain the legality of their actions. The war is illegal under international law and ought not have Australia’s support. President Trump does not need any encouragement – every effort should have been made to contain him in Venezuela and now the Middle East. 

It seems that the UN has failed in one of its key objectives as the international rule of law is being replaced with “might is right”.

Michael Moore is a former member of the ACT Legislative Assembly and an independent minister for health. He has been a political columnist with “CityNews” since 2006.