George Tenet and other senior U.S. civilian and military officers, for their alleged roles in abuses committed at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison and at the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1557842,00.html
Does the international community have the right to prosecute US governement officials for war crimes and crimes against humanity? Remember we have assisted the Hauge in prosecuting others.
2006-11-11 22:50:42 · 10 answers · asked by paulisfree2004 6 in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
If we adhere to the most basic of morals, that we must apply the same standards to ourselves, that we apply to others.
Then there is no doubt that international law should also apply to us.
Unfortunately the USA is alone in exempting itself from international law, the world court, and virtually every understanding that the rest of the world is expected to comply with.
The Geneva conventions were written in an attempt to criminalize the atrocities committed leading up to, and during WW2, this was not an easy task as allied forces had themselves done some immoral things.
Torture was of course, an obvious war crime, and it has been so since Geneva.
Unfortunately during this extremist Bush regime, the US has done the unthinkable, not only has it tortured, and contracted out torturing or anyone who it sees fit to accuse of being a terrorist, but it has tried to change the law to avoid prosecution, and to legitimize torture in the future.
The USA has unparalleled economical, political, and military power so it is difficult to hold them to account if they are unwilling to cooperate, I would be surprised if the charges filed in Germany will lead to anything, but the people filing seem to be confident that the court has no excuse this time to dismiss the case.
The world would be a better place if the USA had to conform to international law, the key players in the Bush regime should be tried for war crimes.
2006-11-12 02:57:51 · answer #1 · answered by Ringo G. 4 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Bloody hope so mate
pherhaps to name a few others they might bring charges against
George Bush--- illegal war on Afganistan and Iraq
John Blair--------Aiding and abetting
John Howard---Guilty of stupidity and international butt kissing
for those who havent read the article and think america is above the law(joke)
"In bringing the new case, however, the plaintiffs argue that circumstances have changed in two important ways. Rumsfeld's resignation, they say, means that the former Defense Secretary will lose the legal immunity usually accorded high government officials."
2006-11-12 07:24:56 · answer #2 · answered by fua57 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Gee ain't it a pity we don't answer to the international community?
I can't wait until the USA wakes up and gets out of the UN. Watch that ship sink without our eveil capatalist dollar to fund it.
And how hilarious is it that GERMANY feels ok pointing it's finger at anyone concerning camps? HAHAHAHA!!! They got some balls! Don't they have a mass grave they need to make believe isn't there? Yeah, real archetypes of fairness and morality the Germans are. They really should be quiet, forever.
So, international community, you prosecute us all you want. Our president laughs at you anyway, along with any American who has taken the time to study internationalism, and recognizes it as the unworkable joke that it truly is. Bwahahaha!
2006-11-12 06:56:58 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Germany doesn't bring the charges. The Iraqis do. Germany tries the case. They will try for war crimes on an international basis.Thats all germany does. They are the courtroom. Not the plaintiff.
2006-11-12 06:55:26 · answer #4 · answered by messier 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
This was the reason Bush set up his own torture legislature to over-ride the Geneva Convention rules Truman signed in the 40's after WWII. Our new Congress sure has it's work cut out for itself come February..With Bush's obvious attention to the intent and malice of this topic with the new legislation, makes him guilty of the war crimes. This is why the Bush Administration has puppet Bolton blocking everything at the U.N. now, with his spam artist KKKarl Rove and crew agreeing to the actions. America doesn't agree with our changes though on Capital Hill..I see this as treason with our Constitution and Bill of Rights, Bush also has had his hands on for the last 6 1/2 years with major modifications. The modifications were done behind the backs of the American public too. Read what Bush did to modify the amendments to the recent Constitution for his failed Dictator bit, you will be appalled.
2006-11-12 09:15:41 · answer #5 · answered by Jenny_is_Hot 6 · 3⤊ 3⤋
Why should they have the right. Rumsfeld and Gonzales were acting on information and trying to help protect our home soil. Everything is fair in love and war. If we start letting other countries determine what is justified for us then where does that put our armed forces?
2006-11-12 07:32:27 · answer #6 · answered by Michael K 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Please allow me to point out that the Secretary of Defense did not authorize any of these supposed abuses at Abu Ghraib and in fact, ordered the prosecution of those involved after relieving Gen. Karpinsky. Additionally, I have heard of no abuses at Guantanamo.
I seriously doubt that those who are calling for this prosection will enjoy it when the US begins investigating and prosecuting their goverment officials for abuses because what's good for one is good for all.
2006-11-12 08:29:58 · answer #7 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I would think that the President and vice president should get in on the action, the war in Iraq has been illegal from the start based on the lies of the Bush administration to congress.
2006-11-12 08:10:43 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
I can't wait for the trial.... in the next century.
Don't you know that the USA is above any international law?
Nevertheless, I like the idea.
Good luck, mate.
2006-11-12 07:02:57 · answer #9 · answered by RainbowGirl 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I wonder if I missed the part about Germany filing charges against Osama Bin Laden , or the leaders of Iran, or the leaders of Syria, or the leaders of North Korea ? Seems odd that only the US is on trial doesn't it ?
2006-11-12 06:54:02 · answer #10 · answered by meathead 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋