Intellectuals are in a position to expose the lies of governments, to analyze actions according to their causes and motives and often hidden intentions.
It followed international law and treaty obligations. It collected evidence, brought the evidence to the highest existing tribunal, the International Court of Justice, and received a verdict – which, of course, the U.S. dismissed with contempt.
It could be – and it has been argued, in my view rather plausibly, though neuroscientists don’t like it – that neuroscience for the last couple hundred years has been on the wrong track.
It is also a course of action that strikes a blow against the regime of international order, but which offers the weak at least some protection from predatory states.
