(FinalCall.com)�It was troublesome, but not surprising, to read July 17 newspaper headlines disclosing how the CIA has a license to kill Saddam Hussein as part of several options available to get rid of the Iraqi leader and topple his regime.

President Bush has apparently signed an executive order that allows the CIA to use dirty tricks, U.S. Special Forces, paramilitary teams, and opposition groups, alongside the economic, political and diplomatic pressure already exerted on Iraq. Such pressure has already resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of Iraqi babies and civilians, instead of changing their horrid living conditions.

One does not need to be an apologist for Saddam Hussein to fear the return of the bad old days when the U.S. helped to overthrow regimes and plotted the murders of political leaders it didn�t like. The arguments for U.S. action always sounded noble, and usually included a refrain about freeing suffering people. But in the end, the U.S. usually only ended up supporting a new dictator�who was ready, willing and able to do U.S. bidding. Saddam Hussein may be called a wicked despot today, but in the 1980s, he was a reliable U.S. tool in a proxy war against Iran.

Now the tide has turned and a man who was once in bed with the United States is called one of the world�s most dangerous men and a supporter of terrorism.

It is not a question of supporting Saddam Hussein. It is concern that almost monthly there is legislation, an executive order, or media campaign to justify putting more and more power into the hands of government. As this power is sacrificed on the altar of patriotism, there seems to be no end to how far government reach will extend. And, at the same time, asking the government to explain anything as civil liberties are curbed and bad U.S. foreign policy is floated is seen as unpatriotic.

But to question government is not treason. It is possibly the most important virtue of this nation, which rules as the world�s only superpower. America is supposedly founded on the right to question government and the right to disagree with government, especially when it comes to wrong-headed policies. That means asking questions about why things are done and why things are timed to occur at to most benefit those in power and their allies.

These revelations of a White House-sanctioned execution of a head of state are typical of activity many countries find disconcerting about America. Even European nations have grumble from time to time about the U.S. tendency to act and demand that the world follow its lead. Like any nation, the U.S. has the right to defend itself from attack and has the responsibility to be on alert against attacks that could harm its people.

But to openly sanction the murder of a head of state only opens the door, potentially, for others to do the same thing. The international community needs leadership from the United States. But the world needs true leadership, leadership that upholds the rule of law and a single standard of justice for all. The world needs leadership that respects other nations at all times�not just when an international umbrella is used to justify actions. Eroding the rule of law by plotting the murder of leaders doesn�t only makes things better. It makes things worse. One could even wonder, could Israel use the American model to justify taking out Yasser Arafat?

Acting alone to smoke-out and hunt down "bad guys" only works in the movies. It is not the proper way for a superpower to pursue its foreign policy objectives.