Annan Wants Treaty Outlawing Terrorism, Killing Innocents Never Justified

[NNN0LHI]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBF64R456E.html

Annan Calls for Treaty Outlawing Terrorism, Saying Killing of Innocents Is Never Justified

MADRID, Spain (AP) - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan proposed creation of a treaty outlawing terrorism Thursday, denouncing attacks that target civilians and arguing that no political grievance justifies killing the innocent.

Speaking at a world terrorism conference, Annan said military reprisals cannot always be ruled out. But prevention, such as addressing the causes of extremist violence, is the best counterterrorism strategy, he said, adding: "human rights and the rule of law must always be respected."

"We cannot compromise on the core values," the secretary-general said in remarks to terrorism experts and world leaders from 50 countries, including Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

"There is no cause under the sun that could justify the deliberate killing of civilians," said Anand Panyarachun, former prime minister of Thailand. "The killing of civilians is unjustified under any circumstance."

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The USA will never agree to this. Can't wait to hear Bolton saying that the USA will never give up its God given right to kill as many innocents as it feels is necessary.

[nickinSTL]

1. Killing Innocents Never Justified

You're right, the US will never agree.

How many did we kill in Iraq?

[denverbill]

2. I agree with you. The US will never agree to it.

We'd have to stop paying people like Orlando Bosch to blow of Cuban commercial jetliners, and right-wing mercenaries in Columbia.

We don't consider it terrorism if it's us committing the crimes.

[ixion]

3. so, about those 100k innocents killed in the illegal invasion

I wonder if those will count. :-(

[politicat]

4. I like the idea, but I worry that it's impossible to enforce

Kind of like outlawing the flu. If people are oppressed and unable to amend their situations through legal and peaceful means, and have no other options, covert acts of war are what's left.

I also worry that they will not address the metacause of extremism, which is religious overdose (including things not generally thought of as religion, such as nationalism, ethnic supremacy, etc....) How do we go about addressing that cause?

Not that the PNAC would ever agree to it; they'd be up against the wall for their own war crimes. I do hope that it will be one of those cases where, once X% of the world signs on, all are subject to the treaty.

Pcat

[mutus_frutex]

5. That is exactly what I thought.

It would be unenforceable. The only sting it would carry would be the stigma of not ratifying such an agreement. As others have mentioned, the US would truly suffer. This is quite similar to the International Court: the US gvmnt would never agree because they fear that they would be held accountable. Of course, they would hide behind the argument that the accusations are frivolous..

Cheers..