It is well known that US imperialism uses the slogan of 'democracy' to justify its interference and invasion of countries around the world. For instance, to justify its invasion of Iraq and its subsequent execution of Saddam Hussein, the US government and media raised a huge outcry against Saddam Hussein and his alleged ruthless repression of opponents. According to the apologists of US imperialism, even toppling and assassination of foreign leaders and military occupation of sovereign countries are warranted if it is in defence of democracy.

The real face of American democracy, however, was recently exposed in the proceedings in the US legislature in March. President George Bush vetoed a bill that would have outlawed the use of specific torture techniques by the CIA, including the notorious 'waterboarding'. Waterboarding is a technique dating back to the 16 th century Spanish Inquisition, which has been classified by even the US military as inhumane. It involves strapping down the victim, covering his or her face with cloth or cellophane, and pouring water over them to give them the sensation of drowning. Bush did not deny that waterboarding amounted to a particularly inhumane form of torture. He claimed, however, that it was a necessary 'interrogation' measure to fight “terrorists” and 'make America safer'. When seen in conjunction with the outrageous crimes against prisoners carried out at American detention camps at Abu Ghraib in Iraq and Guantanamo, the hypocrisy of American “democracy” becomes clear.

There is a trend to blame only George Bush for the recent crimes of US imperialism, and to suggest that things will be different under the new Presidency that will take over from January 2009. This is just a delusion. Irrespective of whether it has been a Republican or Democratic administration, US imperialism over many decades has been known to engage in the most ingenious and dehumanising forms of torture, including mass torture. It cannot be forgotten that it pioneered the use of the atom bomb as well as chemical warfare, such as the use of napalm bombing during the Vietnam war. The current US Republican party candidate for the next US election, John McCain, is supposed to have been a strong opponent of torture. However, he too voted against this bill to outlaw waterboarding and other forms of torture so as not to send the 'wrong message' to the enemy!

What is clear is that US imperialism is the worst violator of democracy and civil liberties of people around the globe. It is only by vigorously fighting US imperialism, and exposing its lying propaganda, that the peoples of the world can ensure their own safety and security.