Introduction
In the world of diplomacy, treaties are supposed to be sacred—binding agreements between nations that are meant to be honored in good faith. Yet, history has shown us time and again that the United States has built its power on the selective adherence—or blatant disregard—of these agreements. From broken treaties with Native American tribes to their more recent breaches in international law, the United States has continually demonstrated a troubling pattern of operating with impunity when challenged, resorting to tribalism, brute force, and deception to maintain its global position. My own experiences with the U.S. legal system, where laws and constitutional rights were trampled upon, are just a microcosm of the broader reality that America’s lawmakers are often lawless themselves.
The Historical Record: Broken Treaties with Native American Tribes
The earliest example of the United States’ disregard for treaties is its treatment of Native American tribes. Between the late 18th century and the 19th century, the U.S. government signed over 500 treaties with various indigenous nations. Nearly every single one of them was broken. These agreements promised the tribes land, resources, and sovereignty, but as America expanded westward, the treaties were systematically violated.
Take, for example, the Treaty of Fort Laramie (1868), which guaranteed the Sioux Nation control over the Black Hills in South Dakota. In the 1870s, gold was discovered in the region, and the U.S. government quickly reneged on the agreement, allowing settlers to invade and occupy the land. Despite the Sioux’s legal victory in United States v. Sioux Nation of Indians (1980), where the U.S. Supreme Court acknowledged that the land was taken illegally, the government refused to return the land, offering financial compensation instead, which the Sioux have continually rejected.
This is just one instance where the U.S. government used brute force and deception to renege on its promises. History shows us that when the U.S. is challenged, it reverts to what it knows best—force and manipulation.
The United States and International Law: A Global Pattern
Beyond its borders, the United States’ track record with international law and treaties is just as grim. The U.S. has refused to ratify critical international treaties that the majority of the world respects. For example, The International Criminal Court (ICC) was established to prosecute individuals for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. Yet the U.S. has refused to be part of it, exempting itself from accountability for its actions abroad. Ironically, the same government that claims to stand for justice around the world evades international scrutiny.
One glaring example of this hypocrisy is the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC in 2002. While over 120 nations have ratified the Rome Statute, the U.S. has not, fearing that its own leaders, military officials, and intelligence operatives could be subject to war crime investigations. In fact, when ICC prosecutors opened an investigation into potential war crimes committed by U.S. forces in Afghanistan, the U.S. imposed sanctions on the court officials involved, a move widely condemned by the international community.
Violations of International Humanitarian Law: Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantánamo
Let’s not forget the long list of international laws violated during the U.S. invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2003, despite not obtaining a UN mandate for military intervention, the U.S. invaded Iraq, citing false claims of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). This unilateral action violated the UN Charter, which prohibits military action without Security Council approval except in cases of self-defense. Thousands of civilians lost their lives, millions were displaced, and the entire region was destabilized, all under the guise of enforcing “freedom and democracy.”
In Afghanistan, the U.S. conducted drone strikes and military operations that often led to the deaths of innocent civilians, violating the Geneva Conventions—a series of treaties that protect non-combatants in conflict zones. The U.S. also used Guantánamo Bay as a lawless zone where detainees were held indefinitely without trial, subjected to torture, and denied basic human rights, again violating both domestic and international law.
“The lawmakers who are supposed to uphold the Constitution are lawless themselves, and their actions are no different from the country’s broader history of violating treaties when it serves their interests.” – Ewing Redmond Samuels III
Treaties Violated By The United States
- Treaty of Fort Laramie (1868) – Guaranteed the Sioux Nation control of the Black Hills in South Dakota, violated when gold was discovered, leading to the U.S. taking the land.
- Jay Treaty (1794) – Agreement with Great Britain to resolve post-Revolutionary War issues, but the U.S. delayed British evacuations from forts in the Northwest Territory.
- Treaty of New Echota (1835) – U.S. promised Cherokee Nation compensation for their lands in Georgia but forced them off in the Trail of Tears, violating terms of fair exchange.
- Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) – Ended the Mexican-American War, promising land rights to Mexican citizens in annexed territories, which were later violated.
- Treaty of Kanagawa (1854) – Opened trade with Japan, but the U.S. later violated promises of mutual respect through unequal treatment and extraterritorial rights.
- North Atlantic Treaty (NATO) (1949) – Mutual defense agreement violated by U.S. unilateral actions, like the Iraq invasion (2003), done without NATO consensus.
- Antarctic Treaty (1959) – Prohibited military activity and mineral exploration in Antarctica, violated through covert military exercises and mining discussions.
- Geneva Conventions (1949) – Promises regarding the treatment of prisoners of war and civilians violated through practices like torture and detainment at Guantánamo Bay.
- Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (1968) – Commitment to non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, yet the U.S. continued development and modernization of its nuclear arsenal.
- UN Charter (1945) – Specifically the prohibition of aggressive military action without UN Security Council approval, violated by the Iraq War (2003).
- Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty (1987) – U.S. withdrew from and violated this Cold War arms control agreement by developing missile systems covered under the treaty.
- Paris Climate Agreement (2015) – Agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but violated by formally withdrawing from the agreement in 2020 under President Trump.
- Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) (1968) – Committed to disarmament but violated through continued nuclear modernization programs.
- Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928) – Outlawed war as a national policy, but the U.S. participated in several wars without Congressional declarations (e.g., Vietnam, Iraq).
- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) (1966) – U.S. violated commitments to civil rights by maintaining practices like mass incarceration and the death penalty.
- Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) (1993) – Prohibited development of chemical weapons, but U.S. retained stockpiles for years past treaty deadlines.
- UN Convention Against Torture (1984) – Agreed to end torture, but violated through the CIA’s use of waterboarding and other techniques at black sites.
- Montreal Protocol (1987) – Agreed to phase out ozone-depleting substances, but the U.S. delayed action and enforcement of some harmful chemicals.
- Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) (1972) – U.S. violated by continuing research and stockpiling of biological agents for military purposes after agreeing to ban them.
- Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961) – Agreed to protect foreign diplomats, but violated during incidents such as wiretapping foreign embassies.
These violations exemplify how the United States has consistently disregarded international agreements when deemed inconvenient to its national interests.
My Experiences: Lawmakers Who Are Lawless
My own experiences with the U.S. legal system reflect this same disregard for law and justice. Despite constitutional guarantees and international human rights protections, I was wrongfully convicted and imprisoned. The very lawmakers and judges sworn to uphold the U.S. Constitution and its principles acted with complete disregard for both domestic and international law. Evidence was withheld, witnesses were tampered with, and due process was trampled upon.
How can we trust a system where those who are supposed to enforce the law operate above it? My wrongful conviction and subsequent removal are not isolated incidents—they are part of a broader pattern of lawlessness that infects the U.S. legal system from the highest levels of government down to local courts.
Conclusion: A Legacy of Lawlessness
The United States’ consistent failure to abide by treaties—whether with Native American tribes, international organizations, or its own citizens—reveals a troubling legacy of lawlessness. The U.S. operates under a veneer of legality, but when challenged, it relies on deception, brute force, and manipulation to maintain its global dominance. Whether it’s the refusal to honor treaties, the evasion of international accountability, or the failure to uphold constitutional rights domestically, the United States has shown time and again that it cannot be trusted to abide by any agreement.
What we are witnessing is a nation that demands the world to follow rules it does not respect. Whether you’re a Native American tribe, an international ally, or a citizen like me, you can expect the U.S. to abandon its agreements the moment they no longer serve its interests.
This is a call to action for the international community and for individuals affected by U.S. lawlessness. The time for accountability is long overdue. The treaties and laws that the United States has chosen to ignore must be enforced, not only for justice but to end this long-standing pattern of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
In my upcoming blogs, I will continue to delve into how these violations reflect broader systemic issues in the U.S. legal system and why international human rights mechanisms must be invoked to address them. I am living proof of how the U.S. government disregards its own laws and those of the international community, and I have the facts, evidence, and citations to back up every word.
For more specifics, examples, and the facts surrounding my own case, visit my website : ewingsamuels.com.
Citations:
- U.S. National Archives: Treaty of Fort Laramie (1868) and other Native American treaties
- International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC): Geneva Conventions and violations
- United Nations: UN Charter and international treaties the U.S. has violated, including the Iraq War (2003)
- International Criminal Court (ICC): U.S. stance on the Rome Statute and investigation into war crimes
- U.S. Department of State: Overview of the Paris Climate Agreement and the U.S. withdrawal
- Arms Control Association: Information on treaties like the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty and U.S. violations
Until Next Time…
I Am,
Ewing Redmond Samuels III
