‘Western Leaders Are War Criminals’ By Mick Meaney

[Demeter]

http://rinf.com/alt-news/contributions/western-leaders-are-war-criminals/3188/

26/04/08 "RINF" -- -- The former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mahathir Mohamad, has echoed calls for Western leaders to be charged with war crimes over the illegal invasion of Iraq. Speaking at Imperial College in London Mahathir, who was in office from 1981 to 2003, singled out US President George Bush, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Australia’s former prime minister John Howard as he wants to see them tried “in absence for war crimes committed in Iraq”. The event was organised by the Ramadhan Foundation which is a leading British Muslim youth organisation working for peaceful co-existence and dialogue between communities. Mohammed Shafiq, spokesman for the group said: “It was an opportunity for students to put a range of questions about war crimes and the international situation. He said that people have to stop killing each other and use arbitration, negotiation and discussion as an alternative to violence, war and killing.” ...The event was incredibly well attended with over 450 people and 200 more had to be turned away.

Among the mountain of war crimes Western leaders are guilty of include:-

The illegal use of napalm and other chemical weapons

Intentionally torturing and abusing detainees

Blocking aid convoys

Killing unarmed civilians, including shooting into family homes

Western leaders are also guilty of many other violations of the Geneva Convention, the Charter of the United Nations, the Nuremberg Charter, International Law and the Constitution of the United States, including crimes against peace and crimes against humanity.

International law professors have called the attack against Iraq “a fundamental breach of international law (that) would seriously threaten the integrity of the international legal order that has been in place since the end of the Second World War.”

Mahathir Mohamad’s statement appears to be valid as the International Criminal Court defines the following as international crimes:

(a) Crimes against Peace:

Namely, planning, preparation, initiation or waging of a war of aggression, or a war in violation of international treaties, agreements or assurances, or participation in a common plan or conspiracy for the accomplishment of any of the foregoing:

(b) War Crimes:

Namely, violations of the laws or customs of war. Such violations include, but not be limited to, murder, ill-treatment or deportation to slave labor or for any other purpose of civilian population of or in occupied territory, murder or ill-treatment of prisoners of war or persons on the seas, killing of hostages, plunder of public or private property, wanton destruction of cities, towns or villages, or devastation not justified by military necessity:

(c) Crimes against Humanity:

Namely, murder, extermination, enslavement, deportation, and other inhumane acts committed against any civilian population, before or during the war, or persecutions on political, racial or religious grounds in execution of or in connection with any crime within the jurisdiction of the Tribunal, whether or not in violation of the domestic law of the country where perpetrated.

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. We should us this as a signature line for every post all over the web.

in fact, I will start:

(a) Crimes against Peace:

Namely, planning, preparation, initiation or waging of a war of aggression, or a war in violation of international treaties, agreements or assurances, or participation in a common plan or conspiracy for the accomplishment of any of the foregoing:

(b) War Crimes:

Namely, violations of the laws or customs of war. Such violations include, but not be limited to, murder, ill-treatment or deportation to slave labor or for any other purpose of civilian population of or in occupied territory, murder or ill-treatment of prisoners of war or persons on the seas, killing of hostages, plunder of public or private property, wanton destruction of cities, towns or villages, or devastation not justified by military necessity:

(c) Crimes against Humanity:

Namely, murder, extermination, enslavement, deportation, and other inhumane acts committed against any civilian population, before or during the war, or persecutions on political, racial or religious grounds in execution of or in connection with any crime within the jurisdiction of the Tribunal, whether or not in violation of the domestic law of the country where perpetrated.

[Usrename]

2. In accordance with the Nuremberg Principles.

Principle I

Any person who commits an act which constitutes a crime under international law is responsible therefore and liable to punishment.

Principle II

The fact that internal law does not impose a penalty for an act which constitutes a crime under international law does not relieve the person who committed the act from responsibility under international law.

Principle III

The fact that a person who committed an act which constitutes a crime under international law acted as Head of State or responsible government official does not relieve him from responsibility under international law.

Principle IV

The fact that a person acted pursuant to order of his Government or of a superior does not relieve him from responsibility under international law, provided a moral choice was in fact possible to him.

Principle V

Any person charged with a crime under international law has the right to a fair trial on the facts and law.

Principle VI

The crimes hereinafter set out are punishable as crimes under international law:

(a) Crimes against peace:

(i) Planning, preparation, initiation or waging of a war of aggression or a war in violation of international treaties, agreements or assurances;
(ii) Participation in a common plan or conspiracy for the accomplishment of any of the acts mentioned under (i).

(b) War Crimes:

Violations of the laws or customs of war which include, but are not limited to, murder, ill-treatment or deportation of slave labor or for any other purpose of the civilian population of or in occupied territory; murder or ill-treatment of prisoners of war or persons on the Seas, killing of hostages, plunder of public or private property, wanton destruction of cities, towns, or villages, or devastation not justified by military necessity.

(c) Crimes against humanity:

Murder, extermination, enslavement, deportation and other inhumane acts done against any civilian population, or persecutions on political, racial, or religious grounds, when such acts are done or such persecutions are carried on in execution of or in connection with any crime against peace or any war crime.

Principle VII

Complicity in the commission of a crime against peace, a war crime, or a crime against humanity as set forth in Principle VI is a crime under international law.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuremberg_Principles

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. oohh...thank you...this is great !!!

I betcha most people, including me, could not state the definition of war crimes.
So a little public education might help, eh?

Anyone wanna print this up and hand it out at church?

Leave it lying around at the grocery store?

or????

ideas???

I am really, truly. seriously, finally totally pissed...

:mad: :mad: :mad:

[genna]

4. Against Republican war crime arguments

I have no doubt that if the U.S. follows Bush's course after he leaves office, the world community will be restless and these charges will multiply.

Before the U.S. public goes into a fervor, what does the left really want to accomplish by asking Obama and Hillary about war crimes? Before the issue is raised throughout the country, I think the left should try to figure out what it stands to gain by saying our military engaged in war crimes.

How would you argue against these arguments if this becomes the debate?

1. Justified act of U.S.
a. Bush had Congressional approval for a military action: disbanding nuclear threat from Iraq.
b. The international community evidence was not later justified only after a careful examination of Iraq.
c. Bush is an elected leader trying to defend his country against nuclear threats.
d. Given the options against Iraq, Bush used the most careful means he could employ to disarm Iraq.

2. War crimes require intent to do harm and cause actual harm beyond military necessity.
a. Clear and continuous threat of death to military forces who came to Iraq to justifiably disarm Iraqi people.
b. Have punished any military forces who have done harm beyond military necessity.
c. Military actions have been measured and responded to exigencies on the ground.
d. No evidence of systematic abuses anywhere in Iraq.

3. The UN and community of nations have been consulted every step of the way.
a. At its worse, nations can accuse Bush of being careless and not getting unanimous support for this military action.
b. The U.S. has continued to be steadfast in repairing the breach this military action has cause and is paying without loss of life, limb, and national monies to repair the necessary damage inflicted on military targets.

The left gets hit with being unpatriotic because the military is questioned on protecting national security. What is the left's alternative to the real threat that has been created by Congress deferring to the executive branch. How does the left propose to cover the U.S. now that we have created this tough international political environment?

[Demeter]

5. The Only Way to Save This Nation Is to Prosecute the Criminals

If we cannot, or will not do so, we will not survive as a nation, an idea, or a people. Nor will we deserve to survive.

Just as the only way out of labor is childbirth, so the only way out of the punishment of history and politics is atonement. We must do the right thing as a nation, as a people, if we ever want anything to be right and working again.

[micraphone]

6. Great, now go get 'em

Chinny, Rummy, Wolfy, et al.

BTW can we go after Fat Tony with this too? Just askin'.