Pope Benedict XVI criticised George Bush as he declared states had to set ethical limits in what they do to protect their citizens from terrorism.
He also suggested some countries had flouted humanitarian law in recent wars.
[..]Although the Pope did not identify any specific countries, Vatican sources made it clear he was referring to the U.S. particularly.
The Pope made his comments in an annual message for the Roman Catholic Church's World Day of Peace, celebrated on January 1. In the message, which is traditionally sent to governments and international organisations, he also repeated his belief that war in God's name is never justified.
[..]'The new shape of conflicts, especially since the terrorist threat unleashed new forms of violence, demands that the international community reaffirm international humanitarian law,' he wrote. Read full article
This isn't the first time a world figure has used veiled language to warn George Bush about his tactics. Kofi Annan's final speech--given at the Truman Center--was just as strong. Read how our allies in Saudi Arabia characterized the speech (courtesy of Watching America)
Kofi Annan has good reason to have a go at the United States. Under his watch, the United Nations has been damaged beyond repair, mostly by his greatest critic the United States. So it was no surprise that Annan chose the perfect setting to deliver his last major address as secretary general. At the presidential library of Harry Truman - the 33rd U.S. President and a founder the United Nations - Annan mounted a scathing attack on the administration of the 43rd U.S. President, President George W. Bush, who has reduced the world body to near irrelevance.
Annan, who steps down at month's end to be succeeded by Ban Ki-Moon of South Korea, referred to Truman's legacy to be cautious, noting that "no nation can make itself secure by seeking supremacy over all others."
He slammed the Bush Administration for America's waning international credibility.
"When it (the U.S.) appears to abandon its own ideals and objectives, its friends abroad are naturally troubled and confused. States need to play by the rules towards each other, as well as towards their own citizens," he said. "No state can make its own actions legitimate in the eyes of others. When power, especially military force, is used, the world will consider it legitimate only when convinced that it is being used for the right purpose - for broadly shared aims - in accordance with broadly accepted norms."
Still think you're winning hearts and minds, George?
