The United States turned 250 on July 4. The celebrations were spectacular: 850,000 fireworks launched from ten sites across Washington, military flyovers every hour, a speech from a president who promised it would be the “largest fireworks show in history”. At Mount Rushmore the night before, Donald Trump declared America “the most extraordinary republic ever, ever, ever”.

But anniversaries have a way of exposing what lies beneath the pageantry. And beneath this one, the foundations are crumbling.

While Trump spoke of American greatness, Iran began a six-day national mourning for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed in a US-Israeli airstrike on February 28. The timing was not incidental. The casket of the slain leader lay in state on the very day America celebrated its independence. 

While Trump spoke of American greatness, Iran began a six-day national mourning for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed in a US-Israeli airstrike on February 28. The timing was not incidental. The casket of the slain leader lay in state on the very day America celebrated its independence. 

More than 10 million mourners were expected in Tehran. Representatives from over 100 countries attended. And yet, hours earlier, the world learned that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had issued a confidential directive on June 26 instructing all US embassies to warn host governments that attendance would be treated as an ‘unfriendly act’ with consequences for bilateral relations. US ambassadors in several African countries reportedly warned that participation could result in cuts to development assistance. Rubio personally pressed at least five Arab nations.

The result? At least 13 countries—three from Eastern Europe, five from Africa, two Persian Gulf Arab states, two major East Asian powers—withdrew or scaled back their delegations. Some reportedly apologised to Iran through intermediaries, explaining their inability to attend.

This was not diplomacy. This was an empire claiming jurisdiction over grief itself. Think about what that means. A nation that built its mythology on freedom and self-determination now deploys its vast diplomatic machinery to dictate who may mourn and who may not.

This was not diplomacy. This was an empire claiming jurisdiction over grief itself. Think about what that means. A nation that built its mythology on freedom and self-determination now deploys its vast diplomatic machinery to dictate who may mourn and who may not.

The United States has arrogated to itself a papal power of excommunication—casting the enemy dead beyond the pale of legitimate........

© Middle East Monitor