The hypocrisy of the American government has escalated to a point where the future and foundation of our nation is in serious danger. This danger is disturbingly evident in the ominous difference between what we preach and what we practice.

Take, for example, the review conference on the non-proliferation treaty that recently ended in failure this past month. The United States went into the meeting with two priorities: North Korea and Iran. It called for amendments to the treaty which would block the development of nuclear weapons by these countries. Yet, at the same time, the United States regarded its obligations under the treaty as voluntary, not mandatory and refused to reaffirm disarmament commitments. Such behavior is easily perceived as arrogant.

The United States develops new nuclear weapons and pursues the idea of weapons in space, which is prohibited under the treaty, while it selectively scolds other nations for pursuing nuclear energy programs, which is not prohibited under the treaty.

The rationale of the United States is that the development of nuclear weapons will aide in stopping proliferation by acting as a deterrent. The problem is that the United States has lost its credibility and its rationale has no merit.

A recent report by the World Policy Institute depicts this hypocrisy: “Arming repressive regimes in all corners of the globe while simultaneously proclaiming a campaign for democracy and against tyranny undermines the credibility of the United States in international forums and makes it harder to hold other nations to high standards of conduct on human rights and other key issues.”

Prior to the war on terrorism, 27 countries were banned from purchasing U.S.-made military equipment because of human rights abuses, nuclear testing and/or the harboring of terrorists. After the war began, however, many of these bans were lifted and military assistance was subsequently provided to nations contributing to the fight against terrorism.

It is puzzling to find out that two years after these restrictions were lifted, 20 of the top 25 U.S. arms clients in the developing world were classified by the State Department as being either undemocratic regimes or governments with records of major human rights abuses.

Countries included are Angola, Algeria, Colombia, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Georgia and Uzbekistan, to name a few. Some of these offer strategic military value, while others offer oil. They all offer business to arms manufacturers, however.

Though dealing arms and providing military assistance to undemocratic regimes seems to be contradictory to our quest for democracy, our government justifies such businesses by claiming that these countries are partners in the war against terrorism. The CIA used the same reasoning when it worked hand in hand with Osama bin Laden, while battling Soviet forces in Afghanistan.

Ironic, isn’t it? Essentially, America is bankrolling the abuse of human rights. We preach respect for the dignity of human life, yet we fund its destruction. We claim to fight terror, yet we create it. We want to rid the world of weapons of mass destruction, yet we develop new ones.

It is this hypocrisy that discredits and endangers us. Already, hundreds of thousands of civilians have been affected by the Iraq war. More than 1,600 American soldiers have died. Terrorist attacks continue to increase throughout the world. Basic human rights are being neglected, and instances of torture by the orders of military and civilian leaders are grotesquely indicative of our hypocrisy.

It is time that we consider our collective fate. Despite our differences, it is imperative that we realize our future will be endured together. Should we bring our children and grandchildren into a world of fear and lies or should we stand up together, as one, and demand that the right to life is universal and the act abusing that right is unacceptable? We are the source of our ruler’s power; ultimately, it is our decision.