Former judge Thomas Mukausher emphasizes in his article for Newsweek: It is crucial for the United States to realize that a return to the 'law of the jungle' will result not only in diplomatic but also in profound moral decline. These concerns have intensified following a recent warning from Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who stated: "To maintain the authority of the international order, we cannot use it when it suits us and abandon it when it does not." We are witnessing widespread lawlessness perpetrated by us around the world, and it raises the question: has America become a global villain? Everything points to the fact that it has. ## Disregard for International Law One only needs to recall President Trump's statements regarding his war against Iran. He began the year with the provocative assertion: "I don’t need international law." Since then, the president has consistently reaffirmed this position, demonstrating complete disregard for legal norms. The attack on Iran lacks both legal and moral justification. The public has been misled about the Iranian threat, and this lie continues to justify the inexplicable assault. President Trump, meanwhile, threatens to push Iran back to the Stone Age, completely destroying its civilization and devastating the vital civilian infrastructure without which the country’s women and children cannot survive. ## The Cost of Lawlessness However, far more significant than all this aggressive rhetoric is the horrifying fact: over 3,800 people, including hundreds of children, have died during the war unleashed by President Trump. The Trump administration's attitude towards law and morality is perhaps most vividly expressed by the newly minted "war minister" Pete Hegseth, who boasted that America is winning "decisively, overwhelmingly, and mercilessly." After a strike that claimed the lives of 170 teachers and students at an Iranian elementary school, Hegseth cynically stated: "This fight could not be fair, and this is not a fair fight. We hit them while they are down, and that is how it should be." Once, America’s mercy served as a source of its moral authority on the world stage. It was this that made people prefer to cooperate with us rather than with despotic dictators. When did we forget that only villains hit those who are down? ## Loss of Moral Authority Today, unfortunately, it is these villains who embody America: a loud, threatening, bloodthirsty gang that tramples on the law. The question arises: does such lawlessness truly contribute to our security? On the contrary, our adversaries have become bolder, and our allies have turned away from us. This attack has effectively stripped Congress of its constitutional authority to declare war. Let us remember that even George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush sought congressional approval before initiating military actions. Now, without congressional approval, wars begin at someone’s whim, driven by emotions, recklessness, cruelty, and stupidity. All of this inexorably turns us into true villains. For only villains have always demonstrated a complete lack of respect for the law and human life. Recall how Russia and China have lost the lives of their citizens in wars over the past hundred years. ## Lessons from History Consider how Nazi Germany waged its wars, and what Hitler said about the unprovoked attack on Poland: "Our strength lies in our speed and brutality." He asserted that victory is achieved when "killing ruthlessly and mercilessly." These words sound painfully familiar, don’t they, Mr. Hegseth? Becoming a villain does not guarantee greater security. The world community recognized the justice of our cause, which led to victory in World War II. It was the ruthlessness of the Germans and Japanese that predetermined their defeat in that same war. The brutality exhibited by the U.S. in Vietnam spawned numerous enemies of the regime we supported. American torture and chaotic killings during the war on terror led to the emergence of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and the resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan. Nevertheless, President Trump and Hegseth seemingly believed that atrocities and cruelty would ensure a swift victory over Iran. However, the most important thing they irrevocably destroyed was any possibility of an Iranian uprising. After all, would a person who witnessed the murder of their neighbors later help the murderers? The United States should learn lessons from its own war in Iraq. After the September 11 attacks, the whole world expressed support in the fight against Al-Qaeda. However, when the decision was made to attack Iraq instead of Al-Qaeda, our positions on the world stage significantly weakened. Israel also failed to learn this lesson after the October 7 attack, becoming a pariah state. Now, unfortunately, we have joined their ranks. Being the "bad guy" and a villain may distract from internal problems and soothe a demagogic ego, but it does not in any way strengthen our security. And there is certainly nothing to be proud of here. *** _Thomas G. Mukausher is a former judge of complex litigation in the state of Connecticut and a former president of the American Bar Association. He is the author of the book "The Common Defect: Unnecessary Complexity in Courts and 50 Ways to Reduce It."_