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Watching the #visabanforrussians proposal as a US citizen who visited the EU in 2003, 2005 while my country was bombing an occupying a sovereign country. @bctallis/1564020483300941824On twitter.com
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Arguably American tourists were far more culpable for dismantling of the Iraqi state, the bombing of Fallujah, and the mass torture of Iraqi prisoners than their Russian counterparts are now.Permalink On twitter.com
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We had way more freedom of action, space to protest, and meaningful elections (even if, admittedly both political parties endorsed the war until 2006). We bear meaningful collective accountability for the war crimes committed in our name.Permalink On twitter.com
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But I can't imagine a visa ban for Americans significantly ramping up pressure against the war on Iraq.Permalink On twitter.com
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And European complicity is a real phenomenon in both cases, though far greater in the Iraqi case.Permalink On twitter.com
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Disappointed tourists pressuring their government are orders of magnitude less effective than, say, stopping bombers and refueling at Ramstein {in the case of Iraq) or stopping spending Euros on Russian gas (in the case of Ukraine).Permalink On twitter.com
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Personally, my 2003 trip was a moment to build deep ties with antiwar Europeans that I would have never met had a visa ban been out in place. Meanwhile other Americans partied while Baghdad burned.Permalink On twitter.com
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However wrong the latter may seem, Europeans live in the glassiest of glass houses on this front. Your weapons go everywhere, fueling wars worldwide, just like those of Americans.Permalink On twitter.com
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Heck a good portion of you partied while your national armies co-invaded and occupied Iraq.Permalink On twitter.com
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I'd love to see some self-reflective divestment from war, surveillance, and banking for klepticrats in lieu of blanket prohibitions on ordinary citizens.Permalink On twitter.com