We spy on the U.N. Word is that's nothing new...

...but it doesn't make it right. Raw Story has the report of how we expanded our surveillance of U.N. Security Council members as the vote for a resolution recommending war in Iraq approached in early 2003. If you recall, the Bushlings cancelled the vote when it was obvious that we couldn't win it, especially because of the defection of Mexico and W.'s great friend Vicente Fox.

The report makes interesting reading. I don't know how much of this is new, but in light of the recent NSA stories, another example of the misuse of the NSA points out an agency out of control and an administration willing to work outside of both the law and international protocols and customs. It's no wonder our allies continue to hold us in distain.

Add to the mix that the CIA is investigating its own "mistaken" renditions. Rumfeld once famously said something to the effect that "war isn't pretty," but do we have to make our movie script so completely sordid? Are we bungling, ruthless Romanians? Apparently. (Sorry, Romania. Just using an old cold war image.)

Part of my concern with this New Normal so basely crafted by the Bushlings is the amount of work needed over time by future administrations to repair the damage to our international reputation and standing. I've had readers, who may have been international, point out that America's standing has been pretty debased, going all the way back to the Vietnam War. I, however, like to point out that Carter raised our human rights credentials, Reagan, to his credit, strengthened ties to Europe, and Bush 41 may have strengthened for a time our ties to Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Morroco, et al. Clinton worked well with Europe, however haltingly at first, over Bosnia and Kosovo. We've always had up-and-down relations with the U.N., but we've maintained an ongoing involvement and discourse with the body and never worked openly to undermine it until John Bolton, in spite of the Jesse Helms faction that worked against it in past years.

Now we're approaching a total breakdown of our international image on all levels. Our domestic spying scandal only perpetrates the breakdown. Add increased surveillance of U.N. members in New York, who are supposed to have diplomatic freedoms, and you have us increasingly viewed as a rogue nation.

This is nothing new, I agree, but more indiscretions add up to more diminishment. When will this ugly trend stop?